I was sanding a walnut table top way too fast for years

A client brought in a 1920s piece last month and asked me to match the original sheen, which had this deep, soft glow. I went through my usual grits, 80 to 220, moving quick like always. The old guy who runs the antique shop next door saw me and just said, 'You're rushing the good part.' He was right. I slowed way down, spent a full hour just on the 150 grit step, and the grain popped open like I'd never seen before. How do you all decide when to slow your sanding down on a tricky wood?

3 comments

3 Comments

caleb_hill1mo ago

Learned the same lesson on a curly maple guitar body. Rushed the 180 grit and the figure just stayed flat. Went back, did slow circles with the grain for almost two hours at that step. The chatoyance finally came alive like 3D. Now I watch for when the dust changes color and texture, that's my cue to really settle in.

hunt.taylor1mo ago

That color change in the dust is the real signal.

sandrap404d ago

Oh man, that dust color check is key. I learned that the hard way trying to rush a walnut table. The dust went from light to dark brown and I just kept going like a dummy, totally burned through the good layer. Had to start the whole section over, lol.