Sanding After Staining

Why Is Sanding So Important? Sanding is one of the most important steps when you stain any surface, including wood. Sanding is important whether you are only applying one coat or more.

Sanding is important between coats, unless in some rare instances. You need to apply the correct techniques when sanding after staining your furniture.

In this article, you will learn how to do a sanding job on your wood furniture after staining.

Do You Need To Sand Wood Between Stain Coats?

Yes, it is necessary to sand between water-based stain coats. If the coat is oil-based, then it is not necessary. The typical waiting time for the last stain coat to dry before sanding is 4 to 8 hours.

After that, you can use 220 to 250 sandpaper grit to sand the surface evenly and clean up dust with the direction of the wood grain. By sanding your surface, you can achieve a smooth and even surface.

Should You Sand Before Applying Oil-Based and Water-Based Stains?

It is not required to sand between coats if you use gel stains or oil-based stains. Before applying your desired stain, you’ll only need to sand when you want to eliminate sanding dust with these types of stains.

On the contrary, you need to sand between stain coats if you use stains with water-based types. It is necessary to sand down raised wood grain on the surface.

With that being said, when using other wood stains type, you are only required to sand your surface before you can apply the first stain coat.

Your project will get a better finish when the first and second stain coats glue together before the last sanding.

What Are The Benefits Of Sanding After Staining Wood?

Doing sanding after you stain your furniture surface will help to make the raised grain even and flatten any bubbles on your wooden surface. But you need to use sandpaper with a fine-grit level to achieve your desired results.

After sanding your wood’s surface properly, you will notice that the wood surface will have a smooth dust layer. This is because the scratches from the sandpaper cause more scratches.

Thus, when you apply stain on top of the surface, the color particles of wood stain will have spaces to set. Thus, it can darken the wood more. In this situation, don’t wipe the surface off using a wet rag.

Do You Need To Wait For 4 to 8 Hours For The Stain To Dry Before Doing The Sanding Job?

Typically, the stain takes between 4 – 8 hours to dry. However, this is not absolute. Many factors can speed up or slow down the drying time.

The dry time also depends on the chosen type of stain. Water-based stains can dry faster than oil-based or gel stains.

You need to double-check to see if the previous coat has dried completely before you can apply another stain layer.

Once the stains dry, they won’t feel wet, blotchy, or sticky anymore. This can also be a good indicator that the stain has dried.

It is important to refer to the manufacturer’s product manual to see how long you should wait between sanding and staining.

Some manufacturers may have different dry times. The waiting time will allow the surface to absorb the stain properly, thus creating a good-looking finish.

It is also generally required to apply at least two coatings of stains on most wood pieces. The reason for this is that the stain can penetrate the material.

But, it is crucial to know that the required number of coats depends on the wood types and finish types.

It is recommended only to apply coats number that the surface material can absorb. It is better to go with the recommended stain types and products.

What Are The Required Tools To Do The Wood Sanding Job?

Here are the tools you need to prepare before sanding your wood furniture.

  • Belt Sander: It can remove a lot of wood and adjust the edges of the wood against the wall. The belt sander is used to shape as well as finish wood.
  • Random Orbit Sander is useful to Eliminate course scratches from the wood. It can also help prepare the surface for finishing.
  • Mouse Sander is utilized for the last finish sanding. It has a sharp nose that can bore through doors and cabinets.
  • Drill Drum Sander is designed especially for sanding curved features or round holes.
  • Sanding Block is suitable for small wood pieces and sharp edges.

How To Clean Sanded Wood?

You can use a brush to blow off the dust to clean sanded wood. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to clean the dust or even an air compressor.

After that, take a rag and soak it in mineral spirits or water and use it to wipe the wood surface down.

Moreover, you can also use a tack cloth to wipe your sanded wood before starting to apply stains. Before applying stains, you need to take your wood piece to a place with a good ventilation system.

You also need to protect yourself by wearing a mask and a pair of goggles.

Useful Sanding Tips To Make The Stain Look Good

Follow these tips to make your surface looks great:

When Sanding, Do It By Hand

Sanding manually using a hand is commonly done in the last phase before applying the stain. Although it requires less time, the effect of hand sanding doesn’t always create rough surfaces.

But, if you see some visible scratches, you can change the sandpaper to coarser grit and start again.

Seal Using Waterproof Glue

Sealing is important to keep your outdoor furniture’s end grain from rusting. The stained wood can attract fungi and other bad elements once it is placed outdoors.

That’s why it is a good idea to seal the grain end of the wood using waterproof epoxy glue. They are also pretty easy to use and clean.