What Grit Sandpaper For Wood Furniture

Sanding is an essential step in preparing wood furniture for finishing. The right sandpaper grit can make all the difference in the quality of your finished project. But with so many different grits available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose.

In this article, we'll help you choose the right grit sandpaper for your wood furniture project. We'll discuss the different types of sandpaper grits, and we'll provide a chart that shows the recommended grits for different tasks.

Types of Sandpaper Grits

Sandpaper grits are classified according to the number of abrasive particles per square inch. The higher the grit number, the finer the abrasive particles. This means that a higher grit sandpaper will produce a smoother finish.

The most common sandpaper grits for wood furniture are:

80-grit sandpaper: This is a coarse grit sandpaper that is used for removing heavy material, such as paint or old finish.
120-grit sandpaper: This is a medium-grit sandpaper that is used for sanding between coats of finish or for smoothing out rough surfaces.
220-grit sandpaper: This is a fine-grit sandpaper that is used for final sanding before applying a finish.

Choosing the Right Grit Sandpaper

The best way to choose the right grit sandpaper for your wood furniture project is to start with a coarse grit and work your way down to a finer grit. This will help you to avoid sanding away too much material and ensure that you get a smooth, even finish.

Here is a general guideline for choosing the right grit sandpaper for different tasks:

Removing heavy material: Use 80-grit sandpaper.
Smoothing out rough surfaces: Use 120-grit sandpaper.
Sanding between coats of finish: Use 120-grit or 220-grit sandpaper.
Final sanding before applying a finish: Use 220-grit sandpaper.

Tips for Sanding Wood Furniture

Here are a few tips for sanding wood furniture:

Always sand in the direction of the grain.
Use a light touch and avoid sanding too aggressively.
Sand the entire surface of the furniture, even if you're only refinishing a small area.
Remove all of the sanding dust before applying a finish.

By following these tips, you can achieve a beautiful, professional-looking finish on your wood furniture project.