That time a cabinet guy told me to stop sanding with the grain

Old timer named Frank came by my shop last Thursday and watched me sanding a cherry panel. He said I was going at it wrong and to hit it at a 45 degree angle instead. I laughed and told him I've been doing it this way for 10 years. Three hours later I had visible cross grain scratches I couldn't sand out without going through the veneer. Had to scrap that panel and start over with a fresh $60 piece of cherry. Has anyone else been humbled by some random piece of advice that ended up being dead right?

2 comments

2 Comments

murray.spencer9d ago

Oh man I gotta push back on this one. Sanding with the grain is literally woodworking 101 and that 45 degree thing sounds like a fast track to disaster if you don't know exactly what you're doing. Frank probably got lucky on his own projects or was messing with you.

west.henry9d ago

Yeah honestly @murray.spencer kinda made me rethink it. I used to be all about the grain thing too but the way he explained it actually clicks with how I've seen some finishes turn out better when you go for a more cross-grain approach first.