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All my life, I have always scraped to achieve a final surface prior to finishing; I’ve never sanded. I learned this from my grandfather, so I suppose that qualifies as an ancient family tradition!
Anyhow, reading through some woodworking pubs and books lately, I see many people recomending scraping, followed by sanding, followed by finishing.
Am I missing something by skipping the sanding step? I always found that a scraped surface was smother and somehow more ‘brilliant’ than a sanded surface (no matter how fine a sanding job) — is this true, or is there some approach to sanding that I don’t know about?
Thanks,
-frank
Replies
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Do whatever gives you the best results.
Jeff Jewitt
*Scraping is a recognised finishing technique for solid timber or very thick veneers. If your scraping is up to scratch there should be no need to refinish by sanding. It is however difficult to use safely on thin veneers.
*Scraping is fine, but to add information to your finishing technique, I was taught that the ideal is to polish right over handplaning, but boy is it tough to remove every last mark that way. You need the patience of Job. Hardwoods such as oak can be finished attractively straight off the plane if the grain isn't too twisted. In fact it is a traditional finish in the UK, possibly in the US too. The theory as it was explained to me, was that cutting tools sharply sever the timber fibres , therefore they reflect light cleanly and seem to glow under the polish. Sanding muddies up the grain with a lot of fine scratches, therefore the reflection isn't as chrystal clear.That was the theory. I have excellent eyesight, but I have to say I find it virtually impossible to tell the difference, possibly because I've found so few occassions where I've had the time luxury to finish right off the plane to make the comparison! Any form of power sanding on the other hand can be seen a mile off!
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