I've been working on my first real woodworking project—building a set of engineering drawers—and I've been using a block plane that I restored alongside sanding to prepare the surface for finishing. Honestly, I'm surprised by how much effort it has taken to get the surface ready with sanding compared to just a few passes with the plane. This makes me wonder: outside of flat surfaces, why would anyone choose to sand instead of plane? For context, I'm using French polish since I've been told it's easier to fix mistakes. I've worked my way up to 400 grit with sanding. What are your thoughts?
6 Answers
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If you’re planing a large surface, try pointing a lamp at it to spot any leftover tool marks. You can scrape those down first, and if you feel any uneven spots, a light sanding with 180 or 220 grit can do wonders—plus, your lungs will appreciate the reduction in dust!
It really depends on your skills with a plane. Planing a surface flat is one thing, but making it smooth can be trickier. I often combine planing, scraping, and sanding myself, but honestly, sanding is my least favorite. Most of the time, I don't have to sand a lot, and when I do, it’s usually because planing just isn't the right approach. Keep in mind that sanding can push dust into the wood, while planing shears it cleanly and helps coatings adhere better. Though planing takes a lot of skill to master, it's generally faster and produces less airborne dust. Don't underestimate the learning curve, though—sanding is something anyone can pick up quickly!
Got it! So if I can get a surface to a semi-gloss finish just with planing, would that be suitable for finishing?
Right, just remember that if you have any curves or irregular shapes, planing can be tough for those surfaces.
It sounds like you’re ready to plan! Start with the plane to get close, then use sanding for the final touches. Just be gentle on the final sanding to avoid overdoing it.
I hardly use sandpaper anymore, my Chinese-style smoothing plane and card scraper do an amazing job, leaving a super clean finish. Just make sure your tools are sharp!
Just a heads up, not every planed surface is finish-ready, but if your plane is sharp and set up correctly, you can absolutely get close to a polished finish!
Are we talking about a manual plane? Because a well-tuned smoothing plane can definitely achieve that smooth finish you’re after!
What about the smoothing plane? Did you forget it exists?