Do I Need to Sand New Smooth Untreated Spruce Planks Before Staining?

Honestly, if your planks are smooth and you don’t see any issues, you might be okay to stain them directly without sanding. The main thing is just to ensure the surface is clean and any dust is gone. But if you have doubts, a light hand-sanding always helps. It's all about how you want the final finish to look, so trust your gut!

I’d suggest doing some light sanding just to be safe. Usually, for spruce, a light touch with 320 grit paper should work well if the surface feels even a little rough. You’ll want it to feel smooth before you go ahead and stain, so test with your hand and see how it feels. Also, don't forget to run tests with your stain on scrap pieces to ensure you get the look you want!

You're on the right track with your concern about sanding. If the boards feel smooth when you run your fingers over them, you might not need to sand much at all. For most projects, if the surface feels a little rough, I’d say do a light sanding with around 220 grit. Just make sure to clean the dust as you go. Also, I use a pencil to mark areas I've sanded, so I know when to stop. What’s most important is testing a small piece with your stain beforehand to see how it accepts the color! Good luck with your project!