I recently built a shelf using a water-based all-in-one poly and stain, but the surface turned out a bit rough. I'm curious if I can sand it down with high grit sandpaper without ruining the stain and seal. Any advice on how to proceed?
1 Answer
Water-based finishes tend to raise the wood grain, which is probably what's causing the rough feel. For future projects, a good tip is to dampen the wood with a cloth first; it raises the grain, then you can sand it down smooth before applying your stain or finish. For this shelf, try using a fine grit sanding sponge and sand lightly along the grain. You might need to add another coat of finish afterward to get it looking perfect!
Do I need to wet the sanding sponge? Also, how high of a grit should I use, like 220 or go higher to 400?
Are there any good resources or guides you suggest for finishing techniques?