Sanding Wood

If you have wood flooring or wood paneling on the walls or some wood furniture then making them clean is a tough job. Only dusting or mopping is nor enough, to give them a great finish, sanding wood is very important. The process of sanding not only makes the wood smooth but gives it a glaze making it look new and fresh. So, be it wood floors, wood furniture, wood trim, or wood deck, all you need is a good sandpaper to polish it.

Advantages of Sanding

Apart from giving a smooth surface to the wood piece, sanding has many advantages. Given below are few of the most important benefits of sanding wood.

    * Sanding wood trim can provide the surface with a glaze, known as mill glaze. The mill glaze gives the wood a shiny look.
    * Most of the times, chemical stripping leaves some traces on the wood. Sanding is one of the most effective process to remove all the chemical traces on the wood.
    * Sanding also helps in closing the wood pores by crushing the fibers in the wood.
    * It also enhances the bond of non penetrating finishes by crating small invisible scratches in the wood.

Types of Sanding

There are essentially three types of sanding. Following is the brief information about them.

Hand Sanding: This process involves sanding wood with hands with the help of sandpaper. All you have to do is get the sandpaper with a right grit and rub or scrape it on the wood piece. Sandpaper is nothing but a paper with abrasive material on it. For small and household wood pieces, hand sanding is generally preferred. For example, sanding wood furniture is something you can do at home on your own. Some people also go for hand scraped wood floors for the distinguished look.

Machine Sanding: As the name suggests, machine sanding is all about sanding wood by using machines and tools. The primary machine used for sanding is known as a power sander which further has various types, such as, palm sander, vibratory sander, disc sanders, belt sanders, and drum sanders etc. They are used for bigger wood pieces, like sanding wood floors, sanding wood deck, and sanding pressure treated wood, etc.

Wet Sanding: Wet sanding wood is a cleaner option to usual sanding. Wet sanding is performed with a special sanding sponge that is a little damp or liquid sandpaper that needs to be rinsed occasionally while sanding wood. Many people go for wet sanding because it reduces the mess that sanding usually causes. It reduces the amount of sanding dust that spreads with air and makes the place dirty and makes the woodworking more neat and clean.

Process of Sanding Wood

The process of sanding wood is quite simple. Before you start sanding, decide what you need to sand and what kind of finish or ultimate look you desire. Then go to the market and ask for the sandpaper which is quite inexpensive. Buy sandpaper with different grits including coarse and fine ones. Do not hesitate to take suggestions from the shopkeeper regarding sandpaper grits. Also consider the shape and size of the sandpaper that is essential for easy job. A harsh sandpaper will remove too much of surface so buy it carefully according to the stains on wood. If you want to go for machine sanding, then check if you can get the tools on rent. Start with a coarse grit first and gradually use the finer one to get the expected look.

Sanding wood on your own is inexpensive but takes lot of efforts and energy. It is a bit time consuming task that needs a lot of hard work. So, you can hire the professionals but they will charge you a lot. Whatever way you choose, after wood sanding, your wood pieces are sure to look great!