25-11-2011, 09:00 AM
You look as though you've got a nice smooth finish to the veneer with just the scraper and stripper Steve.
I'd endorse Colin's comments, especially about not using sandpaper lower than 600 grit, because whatever grit you start with, you need to use progressively finer grits up the grades - you can't skip any. For example, suppose you started with 220 grit; you couldn't then go to say 600 then 1000, you'd need to go to 320, 400, 600, and so on. Obvious when you think about it - the grits make fine grooves - peaks and troughs, in the veneer and you have to remove the 'peaks' stage by stage. Mark has already mentioned to never sand across the grain, as you'll then have score marks which when varnish of any type is applied, will be highlighted. The reason for this is that a score mark acrioss the grain exposes the end grain. You'll know that if you apply any type of finish to a length of wood, the end grain is always darker than the side grain. The is because the cellular structre of wood is like a bunch of straws, which will readily 'suck up' anything applied to the end grain by capilliary attraction, but not so through the side grain.
Go very easy with sandpaper on rounded edges as the veneer is only 0.6mm and it's deparately easy to cut through the veneer to the base timber. When you sand, the aim is to smooth the layer of shellac or whatever finish you apply - not to cut right through it to the veneer, which defeats the object and puts you back to square one.
Best of luck with it Steve!
I'd endorse Colin's comments, especially about not using sandpaper lower than 600 grit, because whatever grit you start with, you need to use progressively finer grits up the grades - you can't skip any. For example, suppose you started with 220 grit; you couldn't then go to say 600 then 1000, you'd need to go to 320, 400, 600, and so on. Obvious when you think about it - the grits make fine grooves - peaks and troughs, in the veneer and you have to remove the 'peaks' stage by stage. Mark has already mentioned to never sand across the grain, as you'll then have score marks which when varnish of any type is applied, will be highlighted. The reason for this is that a score mark acrioss the grain exposes the end grain. You'll know that if you apply any type of finish to a length of wood, the end grain is always darker than the side grain. The is because the cellular structre of wood is like a bunch of straws, which will readily 'suck up' anything applied to the end grain by capilliary attraction, but not so through the side grain.
Go very easy with sandpaper on rounded edges as the veneer is only 0.6mm and it's deparately easy to cut through the veneer to the base timber. When you sand, the aim is to smooth the layer of shellac or whatever finish you apply - not to cut right through it to the veneer, which defeats the object and puts you back to square one.
Best of luck with it Steve!
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
