Need Sanding Advice

William Young · Jan 15, 2005

I made this 10" partly spalted locally grown birch bowl this afternoon. I am still learning lots. With this one I succeeded in getting uniform thickness throughout so that was a plus for me. But when I hold it the right way in the light I can still see very fine circular sanding lines mostly toward the centre inside. . I sanded through the various grits with it turning on lowest speed as well as hand sanding with the grain with it stopped but it is just cheap hardware store sandpaper. I'm hoping when I get some Norton 3X paper next week I will have better luck.
My main inquiry is about when and with what grit do you start wet sanding and what are you using for the liquid. I have never wet sanded anything before so maybe that is part of the problem.
W.Y.

Dr_dewey · Jan 15, 2005

try searching the archives for sanding advice

this was recently posted and you were here - Old Griz possibly asked the same thing.

if not then start again with the next grit up from when you started, its the same as sanding flat. Wet?? use what ever you have, a diluted finishing oil, BLO, WD40.

you make pens its the same method. You should know this by now.

Norm Smith · Jan 15, 2005

Hi William,
I dont wet sand, but lots of turners do. I do go through the grits making sure as I go that the heavier lines of the previous grit is sanded out. I sometimes only go to 400 grit but usually go to 1500, depending on the wood. If you are using a friction polish or wax with the lathe spinning the lines could be caused by the finish.
Good luck,
Norm

William Young · Jan 15, 2005

Thanks Norm for the nice reply. That never enterd my mind but now that you mention it , the friction finish that I applied could very well have contributed to the problem. Dont know why I never thought of that. Perhaps that is why so many are using a danish oil on their bowls and then buffing.

Ray. I never saw that question brought up by anyone before and I am fairly recent to this forum.
Yes ... I have made over 100 pens. I go all the way up to 12000 micromesh with them because the friction polish on pens will show up the slightest of imperfections.
I would never think of sanding to 12000 MM on a large bowl so I was glad that Norm enlightened me on what could very well have been the problem.
W.Y.

dkulze · Jan 15, 2005

Dr. Dewey, what's up with being so caustic? We get repeat threads all the time. Just part of it. Helps newbies learn.

Just a reaction,
Dietrich

C Edward Moore · Jan 15, 2005

Mr Young,

If the marks are from your finish, then buffing with the Beall system might help.

If the problem was in the original sanding, then I wish you could have seen our club demo last Thursday. The demonstrator took a bowl shaped like yours, a random orbit sander, and assorted grit Abralon pads and very quickly produced one of the best prepared bowls I have seen. While he ran through the grits, he did not spend a lot of time on any of them. He made a believer in Abralon of me. He had put some Seal-a-cell on the bowl earlier in the day.

Threads get repeated often. You might benefit from looking back through the old threads.

Have a great day,

Dr_dewey · Jan 16, 2005

"well as hand sanding with the grain with it stopped but it is just cheap hardware store sandpaper. I'm hoping when I get some Norton 3X paper next week I will have better luck"

Suggest you skip "hand sanding with the grain " after sanding the while bowl turning - when you hand sand you won't apply the same pressure and can cause the deeper grooves. If your technique is wrong Norton 3X won't help, it'll just get you there faster.

My friend Dimitry says its a poor excuse for a turner to blame their tools.

Dr_dewey · Jan 16, 2005

old pages

William:

there is a small box above the messages on the left hand side that indicates there are previous messages, in those pages you will find all kinds of good stuff, and possibly answers to your many querys. But you say you have been around forums before and this may be redundant, but maybe the new people will find this helpful. If i remember right you were even a moderator of several forums, now gone under.

Sascha · Jan 17, 2005

hey everybody, been lurking for a while, nice little forum, good advise, but i wish more people were posting. i started turning about 3 months ago, started on a jet mini, got hooked and bought a Nova DVR about 2 months ago. been turning ever since. i love it. the reason i am joining now, was dewey's response. how rude are you. this is such a small forum and i am in fact glad for multiple posts, since i didn't catch most of the posts of the past.
your posts caught my eye when i read william youngs post about the new lathe arrived and you said.........at that price you want quality??

we all make do, but as of right now i just saw a few of your comments that i thought are just out of place. myself, i am looking for a few turners that i can share the FUN with. i already learned a ot from this forum and really enjoy it.

and William, you do good work, i like that plate. let me know if you agree that the friction polish might be the reason.

sascha