Log Cabin Rustics Blog: Sanding Log Cabin Rustics

Scott R., Washington

Thank you for personalizing this experience and following up with me. That means a lot. We're looking forward to receiving the chairs and other items. I'll stay in touch concerning follow up orders to furnish our cabin.

More Testimonials >

Log Cabin Rustics Posting Page

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Sanding

The most basic tool a new log furniture builder needs to get acquainted with is sandpaper. The use of these paper squares should be familiar; yet there are secrets to be learned when purchasing large quantities of sandpaper. Some hints may seem obvious, but sanding your newly built furniture is a very important process to make sure nobody gets any splinters. Today we are going to list the different grits and what they are commonly used for, and take a look at the different types of sandpaper that are available.

There are three different abrasives commonly used for furniture finishing; garnet, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide. All three are easily identified by their color. The red-colored garnet paper is commonly used for hand sanding. Grey to white colored sandpaper is made out of aluminum oxide, and is used for either hand or power sanding. When you’re about ready to put the last smoothing touches on your log furniture, black silicon carbide sandpaper is the correct choice.

The first common sense rule is to start with a lower number grit and work up to higher numbers for the best finish. Start out using sandpaper with a 110 to 150 grit for preparatory finish. Don’t use anything less than 100 unless you have to remove an existing finish. When you’re ready to apply the finishing touch, grab a 300 or so grit to polish it off.

Sanding your furniture can be the most tedious part of building log furniture; but it can also be very rewarding. Grab a friend to help you, take the pieces outside, and enjoy the exercise and the sunshine.

Labels: log furniture, sanding, sandpaper