Hey everyone! I have a bit of a dilemma with my latest project, which involves sanding multiple walnut tabletops. I usually hand sand all my projects, carefully going with the grain for a smooth finish. However, since this is my biggest project yet, I'm wondering if I could speed things up with a random orbital sander. My concern is that I might end up going against the grain and damaging the wood's lovely character. Am I just being overly cautious, or can I use an orbital sander effectively by working in stages of grit? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Using a quality sandpaper with good technique makes a significant difference. The difference between using a random orbital sander and going by hand should be minimal if done correctly. For best results, you could use the sander up to your second-to-last grit and then switch to hand sanding for the final grit.
If you plan to apply any type of varnish afterward, you shouldn't worry too much about the scratches from the sander; the resin will fill those and you’ll be fine. Just make sure you sand well up to 220 grit or so, and you should be good to go!
From my experience, it's always a good idea to finish with hand sanding after using an orbital sander. The sander can help with the bulk of the work, making it faster, but hand sanding gives the smoothest surface. So, consider using the sander for most of the sanding, then come back with your hands to perfect the finish.
I totally agree! If I had a more advanced sander, I might use it for lighter grits, but I'm a bit limited with my tools. I generally just use the sander for the coarser grits and do everything else by hand.