I can't tell you how your calm voice and expert instruction has completely changed then way I work. The main takeaway I get from your videos is to slow down and pay attention to what I am doing with these potentially dangerous tools, and you accomplish this without crazy background music and distracting graphics. Thank You!
yeah i agree. i've only just discovered this channel and my sawing/sanding etc has always been fast and aggressive. usually by the end of my project i'm sweating like a pig, cursing, swearing and shouting insults at the wood's momma haha. 'your mom was a fuckin tree!!' but stumbling across this guy, i think i need to slow it down and just enjoy the craft a bit more
I like to sand. I like the way it makes your hand numb and I like watching the wood slowly get removed. I really find it to be meditative. Sanding is one of my favorite woodworking tasks. I’m not kidding. Getting a rough piece of wood to a smooth sanded texture is one of my favorite things.
Yes. Agree. In a digital world inundated with different level of knowledge people, and professionals, it would be great to have that somewhat more identifiable. This was really good. Makes you want to have 6hs of deep dive one each key moment of the video.
I have to tell you this. I have been selling sandpaper in many forms forms for 22 years. This video you made just blew my mind. It’s not necessarily the knowledge you implied it’s how you implied it. So straight forward and so understandable to non woodworkers. Unreal job, I am stealing some of your words to help my business. Huge new fan. You are awesome!
I feel like I’m in a graduate level university course when I watch James Hamilton. He dives deeply, but explains the dive so clearly that even a neophyte like me can learn via his friendly and personal approach to Internet learning.
Maybe I'm odd - I enjoy sanding. Feeling each layer become more even and smooth is a semi-Zen experience for me, and I'm really proud once I've created a very smooth surface.
@@rodshop5897 sure, I guess puffing out a rosewood jewelry box once in awhile is ok but in general sanding is the hardest job in any wood shop. In my next life I’ll stay in college so I can be an engineer.
I'm a super duper novice working on my first shelving project with plywood. This video and your others like it have imparted the years of experience I've felt clueless without. Thank you for the great work.
Never thought about sanding finer on the end grain. I often learn something new from your videos. I recently set up my own sawmill and wood shop. Am now making live edge furniture and gifts.
One thing I’ve found that also helps is ensuring you have good lighting. Ideally low angle/raking light either from windows or from an LED light. Imperfections show up while you can still do something about them.
THIS! Sunlight is your best bet, but hard side lighting *raking light is very good. There are mill marks you CANNOT see in shitty lighting, as I found out today but luckily caught it before it went to the paint shop.
The most sanding I've done on a project was in high school. I was in an engineering technologies class and the one project was to make a CO2 powered model drag car. We were given 4 weeks to build it and I finished the design and shaping after only the 3rd day. We weren't allowed to do anything else during class so I sanded that car up to 4000 grit. It was as smooth a glass when I was done. It also broke the schools record for fastest time down the track
I'm a technical instructor by profession, but I'm nowhere as effective as you are at explaining something in a calm, friendly, logical, and easy-to-follow way as you. I thought I was going to learn a few "golden nuggets" of unknown information, but you opened my eyes up to so many considerations! I totally enjoy your videos and I immediately subscribed. Kudos to you for sharing your knowledge and experience.👏👏👏
Great video. No garbage. No boring stories. No lame humor. Just great information, presented intelligently. I also appreciate that you don't belabor every point. If I want something repeated, I can replay it. Thank you. Just subscribed.
Ive been a carpenter for over 40 years and a trim and finish carpenter for over 20. The one thingI like about it is there's always something to learn and projects to challenge ones self. I appreciate the sharing of your knowledge.
I now know 300% more about sanding than I did at first. The cool thing is I do happen to have a sanding project coming up so this was timely information, thank you!
After lots of experimentation, I've settled on a rule of thumb of roughly doubling the final grit of my long grain when finishing end grain. I've found it gives me the most even match when staining. So if I finish the face at 180, I use 320 on the end grain. For 220, I use 400. Great video, there are some things I hadn't considered that I'm going to start adopting.
That part of the video on long grain and finishing grain required for me a deeper dive and several playbacks. Your shared tule will help me build some technique too. Thanks.
I swear, I press down so hard that I have 6 broken sanders in a box (I keep saying that I will fix them). My "it cant be me" attitude has just been canceled.
I am new to the sanding world but in three months I have fallen madly in love! I am a female in a very male-dominated warehouse and I have picked up skill fast but know I can be much better. I have absolutely made it my mission to be a sanding Superstar basically 😂 I think it is fascinating and a bit of magic and love the fact that each piece has different challenges and I see upwards of 100 pieces daily, EASY. I would enjoy to see some videos for an industrial setting that could include large pieces, both solid and veneer and moulding tips and tricks too! We make various pieces from raw wood examples include; refrigerator end panels, cabinets of all shapes and sizes, moulding, etc. we work with a lot of solid wood but some is just the veneer overlay that you showed in this video. We are sanding 60 hrs+ per week and at that rate I am worried about maintaining a good quality while also managing time to keep the production up to par. I'm a perfectionist with pride lol so I'm worried about what quality my team and I are sending to the next department for paint and stain. Thank you for the video I am so glad I found it and look forward to more!
I've been wood working for fifty years and your videos are excellent and so informative. Keep up the great work and thank you! ( You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. )
What an absolutely transformative video on sanding!! I have been doing is mostly wrong forever. I learned so much in these short 14 minutes, and for that I am eternally grateful! I KNOW applying these principles will help me up my game. As a rank amateur, the ONLY direction I can go is up at this point, and I'm looking forward to trying these principles tomorrow as I begin the project I'm building for my wife for Christmas!! I am VERY excited to see how much better it will turn out by using these great techniques!! Thank you so much!
Stumpy, I have to say that you are my "go to" source on woodworking. I really appreciate all that you do help us less experienced guys that who are just getting into woodworking. Thank you very, very much.
The reward for good sanding...is a good finish. Conversely, the reward for lousy sanding is a lousy finish. Good point about people putting their hands in places you can't see. The sense of touch is sharper than eyesight for most people. Thank you James.
This guy way of teaching his ideas works like a charm. Ive been sanding bad for a while, but after his video ill be able to challenge it totally different.thatd why i never miss a video, lated but shorely.
I've been sanding in my shop for 15 years and I learned a ton here. Everyone acts like sanding is a job for the new guy with no experience, but it really does take skill to do it well.
Oh, and I do like sanding actually. Sometimes. On days when my head just isn't in the game and I don't want to pour over drawings and cut-lists, I love the opportunity to just put on an audio book and sand away. The pencil lines are the first thing I teach every new guy that passes through our shop.
I appreciate how precise you are with your processes. It's always a relief to find someone whose mind works the same way. I did, however, do a double take when you said "no one likes sanding", because it's my favorite part of woodworking! So satisfying.
I’ve been working with wood a long time. I feel I know more than my friends and family. BUT I do know 1/2 as much as you. Thanks for another video that took me to school. Lol
You promised I would learn something new and you delivered! I like the idea of a carbide disk for 60 grit, reducing pressure on the sander, and jumping up grits by 50%. A couple of things you might talk about next time: when to change the sanding pad, how to clean the buildup in sand paper (maybe with an eraser?), and cleaning an orbital sander.
My first time sanding anything. Using a Milwaukee cordless, my daughters to a kitchen table top that I got for free but have wanted forever. Thank you. I need to get some of the liquor thinner and then using the method you taught. Thank you
We can talk all day about sanding techniques.....sure WE can.... Don't get my wrong I would listen.....but not talk.... GREAT channel. Will watch everything you post!
I am new to wood working and enjoy sanding. For me it’s somewhat meditative and I learn a lot about what I did wrong on the project that I can hopefully learn from. Thanks for all the videos, such a wealth of knowledge!
Just so you know, you've rocked my world. I'm an old lady DYIer that bought a 90 year old house which I'm slowly restoring. I have about 220 sf of T&G with about 12 coats of horribly applied paint to sand off including the ceiling. I spent about a day wasting my time trying to sand and only accomplished about 9 sf. I was so disheartened I was thinking about giving some guy 1500 bux to do it. Then I found your video on how to Properly sand....wowza. After watching and using your tips I'm flying through this job. I love the pencil idea and the slow even passes because it keeps me in the zone and I can see my progress which makes it seem less harrowing. lol Today I did all the walls up to my last grit of 220 which I'll be able to finish tomorrow. So THANKS a MILLION!!! If ya got some tips on sanding a ceiling without breaking your neck let me know!!!
Use a 1/3 sheet pivoting sanding head on a long extension. One tip on an old house with horsehair plaster, whether it has had wallpaper that has been stripped off any repairs and the cream has been broken on the surface. Go to your local paint store or stores and look for any light colored mis- tinted latex paint. Paint the entire surface you don't have to be super careful with the edging and cutting. Once you have painted if you can use a large with taping knife to knock off all the nibs of the sand in the horsehair plaster. The rubberized effect of the latex paint stabilizes the surface. If you try to repair horsehair without doing this or even trying to skim it with drywall coating you will drag the Pebbles around and make it a much more difficult job. Once the painting is done and you've scraped it with the knife then do your repairs with the drywall mud or the 45-minute Kwikset. Hope this helps.
@@wisenber lol. if i ever make a woodworking video i'll have to remember to slip "now, wet sand to 320 with butter and cheese" in without breaking a smile.
@@ryane6719 It's so tiny I couldn't see it. I wrongly assumed you were somehow making fun of my comment. My apologies. Festool isn't perfect, I have issues with a couple of my festool tools but there are lots of festool haters out there.
I have done a substantial amount of finish carpentry using alternative methods. I've had a lot of success with those methods but the cost of material and time adds up over time. I really appreciate the effort you put into making these videos to help individuals such as myself make better use of our resources and time. Once again, thank you for your effort.
I always feel I owe it to the tree to make the finish look and feel as good as I can. Time/patience are the main investment in my wood working. Sometimes just want to leave it without a coating, when it is sanded so beautifully
Your videos are amazing. I’ve learned a lot from many different channels but you always explain the why? question so well. I love learning the proper way to do things with theory behind it.
Fellow Red Wings fan here! 👊 I’m refinishing our dining room table for the first time and this video was incredibly helpful! It was instructional with enough detail that was concise and wasn’t overwhelming or superfluous or boring and yet wasn’t lacking. Great video!
Do you ever start with a higher grit (higher than 80) for a touch up job? My dining room table is about 6 years old and has some dry, less smooth areas.
Using dust extraction on a palm or mouse sander helps to extend the life of the sander as it pulls in more cool air, and doesn't rely on the sander alone to cool itself.
Duragrit only makes 40, 60, and 80 grit sandpaper. The other grits have been discontinued. But those remaining grits are my “Go-To” sandpapers. Great video: Thanks!
@@raydriver7300 probably pontoise surrounding I left my town Paris close to 3 decades ago and live today in North America and can see Canada at the end of my street France has became harder I don’t know frog pub but I worked at France 2 TV station as a freelance video assistant .It hard everywhere but I m happier in the US 🇺🇸
@@jolldoes1515 It fascinates me that we can exchange messages in seconds over 6000 miles. My granddaughter was born in Pontoise so you are close. Look up the Frog and rosbif in Rue St Denis in Paris. He worked in the Frog and Rosbif in Toulouse before moving to Paris. I’m in the UK. Stay safe
I love sanding. By hand. I find it very therapeutic for some reason. A very amateur hobbyist here - loving the channel, it's very easy to understand for a home handyman.
I've been using those Abranet pads for years & they are truly excellent. They even become smoother evenly as they wear out, so you can just use a single one in place of a couple of different sandpaper grades. Apart from dealing with really aggressive chip-out or glue removal, I'd not go back to paper or cloth backed stuff on the lathe now because the open mesh builds up so much less heat too.
And I thought I knew how to sand ! How naïve I have been. At the age of 62 I'm learning all over again ! Driving the wife mad because I'm now saying things like: "Stumpy says . . " or when she thinks she knows best: "Not according to Stumpy". That one really gets up her nostrils. . . . . just light hearted humour, while learning some 'game changing' stuff. Thanks for all your excellently presented tutorials.
Wow all this time I've been blindly using 60-grit all the way up to 600-grit for everything I've been doing. Knowing I can focus on 80-120-180 and sometimes 220 grit just made my day :D
I don't like doing cutting lists, I don't like roughing out, I don't like machining, I don't like setting out, I don't like cutting joints, I don't like assembling, I don't like gluing and clamping, I don't like sanding, I don't like finishing, and I sure don't like sharpening, sweeping the shop floor and changing dust bags. But all together............. I love it!
I just bought some more Diablo stuff yesterday too.. Got some 40 grit and 80 grit pads for my 125mm AEG (called Rigid in the US), these will compliment the 120,180,220,320 and 400 pads I got a few months ago. Having just looked at the Duragrit link, I'm nearing the $210US for the 7 piece set, but I have a wider range of grits with the commonly available Diablo stuff.. Also, I'd need to add 30% (plus shipping) to that $210 to get them sent to me in Australia.. So, Diablo it is.
I'm about as beginner as you get. I got into this after replacing the floors in my home and now I'm working on building built in bookshelves in most of the common rooms in my house. Simple and easy to understand I found myself actually staring intently at this entire video able to absorb the information. As one mentor to another great job.
I always enjoy learning something that I thought I already knew but didn’t. Thanks for the sanding techniques especially about proper pressure of the orbital sander, I also wonder how you have a Dewalt sander, but have a Festool hose fit? Do you have a special adapter?
I normally use a Mirka sander and Festool extractor, but I didn't want people thinking you needed a $600 sander to get good results :) The hole just happens to fit the Dewalt. It goes inside the port instead of over the outside.
I've started a home project of putting a new roof on a patio cover my late father built in the 60's. The frame is 4X4 beams of clear wood that had been painted white. I decided to remove the paint with a flat wheel sander so I can later stain and cover with Polyurethane. I then smoothed out the waves with a belt sander and 50 grit paper. Your video taught me (if I was paying attention) to now use an orbital sander starting with 80 grit, then 120, 180, and finish with wiping with a damp cloth and a final sanding with 220 grit. The roof will keep the wood from ever having direct sunlight, although it will be exposed to the Southern California weather.
@@Avital4414 Well the masks with the hair that sticks out wildly to the sides like Bozo work best for me, but everything beyond the gloves is just preference really.
dude. i've been sanding since the early sixties, professionally for a spell back in the day. this tutorial totally explained so many areas where i've run aground. i intend on starting some projects right away so i can practice and perfect. thanks stumps, you're the best.
watching this for my guitar project (i'm not a professional, but i would like to be) and i absolutely love sanding as a part of the process. it takes tons of time and everything hurts afterward, but it's ok because i'm doing what i love, after all. thank you for the great video, and i wish all people in the comments to find joy and satisfaction in their work every day, be it professional or hobby.
No matter how long I've been doing something in woodworking, every time I watch one of your videos I learn something new I can use, in a clear and concise manner. Thanks much and thumbs up to crush a troll.
I love sanding. I love the meditative quality of it. I love the the experience of slowly seeing that wood take on that smooth luster and “mature” before my eyes into a finished product.
Good video. Been a woodworker since I was 10 (built my first boat). Been a professional woodworker for o ver 40 years. Had a shop as large as a dozen employees, and have trained dozens. And, from that perspective, this is almost all excellent advice. My quibbles -- 1. About using your first grit in consistent, even, strokes... with NO bearing down or focusing on certain lower or rougher spots. I'd call that theoretically true, and the ideal approach. But in the real world... it really IS possible to bear concentrate on such areas - which, you're right, does compromis perfect flatness - and then ameliorate that compromise by 'feathering the divot. Feathering in taking larger and longer strokes with that same grit... so that a 'bowl' area becomes an area of long, gradual tapers. Yes, that's next level stuff, but deserves a mention at least. 2. Active dust collection IS ideal. But I never use it, as the hose can get cumbersome. Instead, I keep an air gun handy and occasionally just blow off the sanding disc. Never had the 'pigtail' problem. 3. It appears you are making a mistake that is one of my pet peeves with hook & loop pads. That is, setting a sander down with no disc attached. Doing so... esp. if is then slid around... and very esp. if it is accidentally turned on... will break of the fragile hooks. In the same way that bearing down and generating heat will compromise them. If you aren't actually making that mistake - I couldn't be dead certain from the video - that danger should at least be mentioned. I NEVER allow a sander to be set down or put away sans disc/paper. Thanks for your good work!
I used to hate sanding, grade 7 Shop class ugh!! That teacher did me no favor for the love of the grain. I now, after decades of sanding, know better, and find it thrilling (yeah I'm weird) to see what's underneath that old thick paint(yes I use PPE 😉) or ah ? whatever the people before me used as stain. Omg 😲 sometimes your like, "did they mix tar with Coca-Cola??" 🤣🙄🤨 I6 months ago I finally decided I'll buy myself an orbital sander, and 😲 WOW!! the difference. I will admit to a learning curve. Today I decided to look up how to use it,and thank God I found your videos. So much help I've been watching for hours now. So thank you for your non annoying voice, and for conveying in a way that I can understand. You have introduced me to so many great tips. The one about putting the mark on the sand paper To see if I'm pushing too hard, that's brilliant. I'm going to try the pencil trick now I'll tell you how it goes
i have always enjoyed building, and 6 months ago i have started my own woodworking business, My weakest skill was the finishing. Just as i had completed building a fairly large table, 42" x 72" this sanding video, was PERFECT, Thanks !!
My last project has horrible pacthes and imperfections ... so I watched a channel guy with more than one million subscriber.. things were just more confusing! ... Now I watched you and I went... WHAT? lol. This is SOOOOOO clear and extremely informative that I wonder why youtube waited so long to pop you on my feed! lol. I subscribe! HUGE BIG THANK YOU... Now I see that sanding is AN ART indeed!!! and thank you for the link for duragrit!
Stumpy I love watching your videos. I learn something every time. I am a 58 year old wood worker and consider myself schooled and good at what I do. I am a learner when it comes to wood working and always will be. I learn stuff that I use every day. I don't watch the other guys anymore because when you find what works, and works good l, then just keep coming back. Thank you Edward
After watching your video yesterday, I went home and started sanding my latest project, a walnut cutting board. I needed to level out the surfaces a bit. I grabbed what I thought was an 80 grit disc and started sanding just as you instructed. When I thought it was pretty level, I checked the surface. It felt a lot rougher than I had anticipated. When I double checked the disc, I discovered it was actually a 60 grit. Apparently, these old eyes don't see so well. I remembered what you said about increasing the grit number by 50%. I cracked out the closest grit I had to 90 (which was 80 grit and went to work. Then jumped to 120, 180 and finally 220. The finish was beyond my wildest expectation. I think your formula worked perfectly. I found this particular cutting board design in a woodworking magazine. The walnut pieces are 3/4" x 1-1/8" and laminated such that the board is 1-1/8" thick. I have a special strip assembly that is made up of (2 pieces each) 1/4" x 1-1/8" pieces of Padauk, mahogany, purple heart and maple, each about 18 inches long. I stack and laminate them to form a block that is 2" wide, 1-1/8" thick and 18 inches long. On my miter saw, I make cuts at a 22.5 degree angle and create laminated wedges that are about an inch wide (angle face to angle face). Those short angled strips are sandwiched between two 1/4" x 1-1/8" maple strips (18 inches long) and glued together. The width of the assembled strip ends up at 1-1/2" wide x 1-1/8" thick and is placed about 1/3 of the way within the walnut laminations. I have been considering sending this glued assembly through a thickness planer, rather than sanding with a random orbital sander. My concern is with the small, 1/4" thick laminated pieces of padauk, mahogany, purple heart and maple. They sit at about a 22.5 degree angle to the walnut grain. I'm afraid the planer will rip then out of position, destroying the board or I'll get tear out within these pieces due to the grain being at a different angle than the walnut grain. Have you had any experience with this type of laminations? I assume I need to take very, very thin cuts, but I am still worried about the laminated pieces catching on the blade. I wanted to attach a photo of the board but couldn't. What are your thoughts? Thank you. Don
G’day from Brisbane Australia. I’m a retired painter & timber finisher, that’s means I enjoy getting raw timber into a state of beauty. I really enjoyed watching you and your methods because that’s what I was taught a long time ago. Unfortunately, perfection is my middle name, so when I see others trying to excuse themselves for bad sanding techniques, I like to explain where they went wrong. As you know, in a raw state, timber sanding mistakes aren’t so noticeable, but put some clear finish or even stain on that board &, hello!!!…there’s those scratches grinning at you. Same with glue residue not cleared from the surface, before proceeding with stains or finish coats of clears. Just found you today, 28th Dec 2021, have subscribed & will now follow your Channel, because I enjoy the way you present yourself, & your subject matter. Cheers from here 👍🇦🇺🐨
It is quite evident when the person making the video TRULY knows his business: the clam, Through and complete advice is invaluable. Please keep your good wood work sir!
I'm in the wood finish for over 45 years, and, I still enjoy videos like yours. Of course, there are much , much more ways and trics the professionals use, but as a first hands on for the beginner, I find it a good tutorial. Keep up the good work.
I have never commented on youtube in my life. I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your channel. Your calm voice and direct style are very refreshing. I listen to your channel more than i “watch” as i drive a lot. When i search a topic, I always hope you have covered it so I can learn from you. Great job, classy style, excellent teacher. Keep it up, we are learning a lot from you.
I'm currently 40 years old if I were to ask 20-year-old or even 30-year-old me if I ever thought I'd watch a video about wood sanding techniques or if that specific topic would ever seem interesting at any point in my future, I would have died laughing...... Yet here I am voice to texting a comment on that very same subject matter.... Not only that the information was delivered in such a concise manner I now feel compelled to look up this channel and dig deeper into the art of sanding wood....... I must say this seems like a rabbit hole from which I may never escape
I can't tell you how your calm voice and expert instruction has completely changed then way I work. The main takeaway I get from your videos is to slow down and pay attention to what I am doing with these potentially dangerous tools, and you accomplish this without crazy background music and distracting graphics. Thank You!
Agreed!
yeah i agree. i've only just discovered this channel and my sawing/sanding etc has always been fast and aggressive. usually by the end of my project i'm sweating like a pig, cursing, swearing and shouting insults at the wood's momma haha. 'your mom was a fuckin tree!!' but stumbling across this guy, i think i need to slow it down and just enjoy the craft a bit more
Exactly.
Exactly thanks for your comments.
I agree as well. I don't need someone screaming to get my attention. I can actually retain info from Stumpy and I already have issues with that.
I like to sand. I like the way it makes your hand numb and I like watching the wood slowly get removed. I really find it to be meditative. Sanding is one of my favorite woodworking tasks. I’m not kidding. Getting a rough piece of wood to a smooth sanded texture is one of my favorite things.
This guy is an excellent instructor. RUclips needs to provide an award for teaching exemplars.
Yes. Agree. In a digital world inundated with different level of knowledge people, and professionals, it would be great to have that somewhat more identifiable. This was really good. Makes you want to have 6hs of deep dive one each key moment of the video.
I have to tell you this. I have been selling sandpaper in many forms forms for 22 years. This video you made just blew my mind. It’s not necessarily the knowledge you implied it’s how you implied it. So straight forward and so understandable to non woodworkers. Unreal job, I am stealing some of your words to help my business. Huge new fan. You are awesome!
It's always good to use flattery before stealing some words. You've done well there, sir.
Sandpaper salesmen can be so abrasive.
I think James will forgive you, if you recommend his channel to your customers. ;)
Someone needs to look up imply.
@@terrysullivan1992 What are you implying?
I feel like I’m in a graduate level university course when I watch James Hamilton. He dives deeply, but explains the dive so clearly that even a neophyte like me can learn via his friendly and personal approach to Internet learning.
I luh dis guy
Maybe I'm odd - I enjoy sanding. Feeling each layer become more even and smooth is a semi-Zen experience for me, and I'm really proud once I've created a very smooth surface.
Same here. It's a messy process, sure, but it's incredibly rewarding as each level progresses.
Amen brother. That's what sets us apart!
Oh sure, until your boss pushes 500 panels over to your bench and says make it fast, they have to be perfect and not one sand through.
@@AuldViolin Hard for the boss to do that in an engineering department...
@@rodshop5897 sure, I guess puffing out a rosewood jewelry box once in awhile is ok but in general sanding is the hardest job in any wood shop. In my next life I’ll stay in college so I can be an engineer.
Yes, please, talk all day about sanding techniques 😍
I'm a super duper novice working on my first shelving project with plywood. This video and your others like it have imparted the years of experience I've felt clueless without. Thank you for the great work.
When I watch these videos I realize that I know nothing. Thanks for doing these. They really help us beginners who don't have a master to teach us.
Never thought about sanding finer on the end grain. I often learn something new from your videos. I recently set up my own sawmill and wood shop. Am now making live edge furniture and gifts.
One thing I’ve found that also helps is ensuring you have good lighting. Ideally low angle/raking light either from windows or from an LED light. Imperfections show up while you can still do something about them.
THIS! Sunlight is your best bet, but hard side lighting *raking light is very good. There are mill marks you CANNOT see in shitty lighting, as I found out today but luckily caught it before it went to the paint shop.
The most sanding I've done on a project was in high school. I was in an engineering technologies class and the one project was to make a CO2 powered model drag car. We were given 4 weeks to build it and I finished the design and shaping after only the 3rd day. We weren't allowed to do anything else during class so I sanded that car up to 4000 grit. It was as smooth a glass when I was done. It also broke the schools record for fastest time down the track
I'm a technical instructor by profession, but I'm nowhere as effective as you are at explaining something in a calm, friendly, logical, and easy-to-follow way as you. I thought I was going to learn a few "golden nuggets" of unknown information, but you opened my eyes up to so many considerations! I totally enjoy your videos and I immediately subscribed. Kudos to you for sharing your knowledge and experience.👏👏👏
Great video. No garbage. No boring stories. No lame humor. Just great information, presented intelligently.
I also appreciate that you don't belabor every point. If I want something repeated, I can replay it.
Thank you. Just subscribed.
Ive been a carpenter for over 40 years and a trim and finish carpenter for over 20. The one thingI like about it is there's always something to learn and projects to challenge ones self. I appreciate the sharing of your knowledge.
I now know 300% more about sanding than I did at first. The cool thing is I do happen to have a sanding project coming up so this was timely information, thank you!
After lots of experimentation, I've settled on a rule of thumb of roughly doubling the final grit of my long grain when finishing end grain. I've found it gives me the most even match when staining. So if I finish the face at 180, I use 320 on the end grain. For 220, I use 400. Great video, there are some things I hadn't considered that I'm going to start adopting.
That part of the video on long grain and finishing grain required for me a deeper dive and several playbacks. Your shared tule will help me build some technique too. Thanks.
You've just given new meaning to the phrase "Hand Finished". Love the bit about not pressing too hard. I'll stop doing that. Great tutorial.
I swear, I press down so hard that I have 6 broken sanders in a box (I keep saying that I will fix them). My "it cant be me" attitude has just been canceled.
So helpful. I love that you didn't just share what to do, but why. I knew some and definitely learned some. The light pencil pattern is genius.
I am new to the sanding world but in three months I have fallen madly in love! I am a female in a very male-dominated warehouse and I have picked up skill fast but know I can be much better. I have absolutely made it my mission to be a sanding Superstar basically 😂 I think it is fascinating and a bit of magic and love the fact that each piece has different challenges and I see upwards of 100 pieces daily, EASY. I would enjoy to see some videos for an industrial setting that could include large pieces, both solid and veneer and moulding tips and tricks too! We make various pieces from raw wood examples include; refrigerator end panels, cabinets of all shapes and sizes, moulding, etc. we work with a lot of solid wood but some is just the veneer overlay that you showed in this video. We are sanding 60 hrs+ per week and at that rate I am worried about maintaining a good quality while also managing time to keep the production up to par. I'm a perfectionist with pride lol so I'm worried about what quality my team and I are sending to the next department for paint and stain. Thank you for the video I am so glad I found it and look forward to more!
I've been wood working for fifty years and your videos are excellent and so informative. Keep up the great work and thank you! ( You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. )
What an absolutely transformative video on sanding!! I have been doing is mostly wrong forever. I learned so much in these short 14 minutes, and for that I am eternally grateful! I KNOW applying these principles will help me up my game. As a rank amateur, the ONLY direction I can go is up at this point, and I'm looking forward to trying these principles tomorrow as I begin the project I'm building for my wife for Christmas!! I am VERY excited to see how much better it will turn out by using these great techniques!! Thank you so much!
As a complete novice, this was incredibly helpful and informative. Love the pencil idea - definitely trying this! Thanks so much 😊
Whoa. Sanding discs? That sounds life changing
Stumpy, I have to say that you are my "go to" source on woodworking. I really appreciate all that you do help us less experienced guys that who are just getting into woodworking. Thank you very, very much.
The reward for good sanding...is a good finish. Conversely, the reward for lousy sanding is a lousy finish. Good point about people putting their hands in places you can't see. The sense of touch is sharper than eyesight for most people. Thank you James.
This guy way of teaching his ideas works like a charm. Ive been sanding bad for a while, but after his video ill be able to challenge it totally different.thatd why i never miss a video, lated but shorely.
I've been sanding in my shop for 15 years and I learned a ton here. Everyone acts like sanding is a job for the new guy with no experience, but it really does take skill to do it well.
Oh, and I do like sanding actually. Sometimes. On days when my head just isn't in the game and I don't want to pour over drawings and cut-lists, I love the opportunity to just put on an audio book and sand away. The pencil lines are the first thing I teach every new guy that passes through our shop.
This is perhaps the most well done and comprehensive video I've ever seen on any topic. You are a gifted teacher. Thank you.
The next time I have some sanding to do I'll definitely rember your tips!
I appreciate how precise you are with your processes. It's always a relief to find someone whose mind works the same way. I did, however, do a double take when you said "no one likes sanding", because it's my favorite part of woodworking! So satisfying.
The details given in this video is what it takes to achieve the highest quality work. This is science of sanding. Thank you.
I’ve been working with wood a long time. I feel I know more than my friends and family. BUT I do know 1/2 as much as you. Thanks for another video that took me to school. Lol
You promised I would learn something new and you delivered! I like the idea of a carbide disk for 60 grit, reducing pressure on the sander, and jumping up grits by 50%. A couple of things you might talk about next time: when to change the sanding pad, how to clean the buildup in sand paper (maybe with an eraser?), and cleaning an orbital sander.
I love sanding. It's my way to destress. I enjoy the small and fine details
My first time sanding anything. Using a Milwaukee cordless, my daughters to a kitchen table top that I got for free but have wanted forever. Thank you. I need to get some of the liquor thinner and then using the method you taught. Thank you
I never knew that tip for end grain! Thank you :- ) for making this vid !
We can talk all day about sanding techniques.....sure WE can....
Don't get my wrong I would listen.....but not talk....
GREAT channel. Will watch everything you post!
Wow. Now THAT was a comprehensive lesson. Going to require it for my wood shop class! Thanks!
You and Steve Ramsey are the two best instructors of the woodworking craft on RUclips IMO. This is an excellent video, thanks very much!
I am new to wood working and enjoy sanding. For me it’s somewhat meditative and I learn a lot about what I did wrong on the project that I can hopefully learn from.
Thanks for all the videos, such a wealth of knowledge!
Wow. I've been working with wood since i was 16,and now,at 47,someone has finally explained sanding. thank you....
Wow! The amount of sanding knowledge packed into this video is incredible. Thank you for making this!
Still the most useful video on this whole channel, and I come back to rewatch often and share with others. Thank you very much!
Great video! I definitely learned a few things. I was taught the best way to conquer sanding was to avoid it as much as possible by hand planing 👍
I totally agree 👍
Just so you know, you've rocked my world. I'm an old lady DYIer that bought a 90 year old house which I'm slowly restoring. I have about 220 sf of T&G with about 12 coats of horribly applied paint to sand off including the ceiling. I spent about a day wasting my time trying to sand and only accomplished about 9 sf. I was so disheartened I was thinking about giving some guy 1500 bux to do it.
Then I found your video on how to Properly sand....wowza. After watching and using your tips I'm flying through this job. I love the pencil idea and the slow even passes because it keeps me in the zone and I can see my progress which makes it seem less harrowing. lol Today I did all the walls up to my last grit of 220 which I'll be able to finish tomorrow. So THANKS a MILLION!!! If ya got some tips on sanding a ceiling without breaking your neck let me know!!!
Use a 1/3 sheet pivoting sanding head on a long extension. One tip on an old house with horsehair plaster, whether it has had wallpaper that has been stripped off any repairs and the cream has been broken on the surface. Go to your local paint store or stores and look for any light colored mis- tinted latex paint. Paint the entire surface you don't have to be super careful with the edging and cutting. Once you have painted if you can use a large with taping knife to knock off all the nibs of the sand in the horsehair plaster. The rubberized effect of the latex paint stabilizes the surface. If you try to repair horsehair without doing this or even trying to skim it with drywall coating you will drag the Pebbles around and make it a much more difficult job. Once the painting is done and you've scraped it with the knife then do your repairs with the drywall mud or the 45-minute Kwikset. Hope this helps.
Southerners must be better woodworkers as they never skip their grits.
instructions unclear. sandpaper clogged with butter and cheese.
@@ElTurbinado That's not clogging. That's lubrication!
@@wisenber lol. if i ever make a woodworking video i'll have to remember to slip "now, wet sand to 320 with butter and cheese" in without breaking a smile.
The amount of northerners who completely missed that joke....
GitRDone Son! GO VOLS!!
Sanding is a big world.. Full of details.. A real woodwork must know sanding tricks.
Project Farm recently did a great head to head comparison of quite a few sandpaper brands. It's worth the time to watch!
For whatever reason he didn't include festool paper.
@@ThekiBoran 🤦🏼♂️
@@ryane6719 💩
@@ThekiBoran lol, I was agreeing with you FYI
@@ryane6719
It's so tiny I couldn't see it. I wrongly assumed you were somehow making fun of my comment. My apologies. Festool isn't perfect, I have issues with a couple of my festool tools but there are lots of festool haters out there.
Just want to say thank you. Started wood working after realizing I enjoyed it a lot as a child. Lots to learn as I just fooled around as a kid.
You are hitting it out of the park with your content lately!
I have done a substantial amount of finish carpentry using alternative methods. I've had a lot of success with those methods but the cost of material and time adds up over time. I really appreciate the effort you put into making these videos to help individuals such as myself make better use of our resources and time. Once again, thank you for your effort.
I love my 80 grit Duragrit block, it’s a great investment.
I always feel I owe it to the tree to make the finish look and feel as good as I can. Time/patience are the main investment in my wood working. Sometimes just want to leave it without a coating, when it is sanded so beautifully
Your videos are amazing. I’ve learned a lot from many different channels but you always explain the why? question so well. I love learning the proper way to do things with theory behind it.
Fellow Red Wings fan here! 👊 I’m refinishing our dining room table for the first time and this video was incredibly helpful! It was instructional with enough detail that was concise and wasn’t overwhelming or superfluous or boring and yet wasn’t lacking. Great video!
Bought a Harvey ambassador and expanded my skill base after discovering your channel; thank you from Houston
I love sanding. It's one of the points in time on a project where I can really see it coming together.
Do you ever start with a higher grit (higher than 80) for a touch up job?
My dining room table is about 6 years old and has some dry, less smooth areas.
Wonderful wonderful wonderful, so much in that I have had to save to watch several times, note not enough at first viewing.
Cheers
Bob
England
Possibly the best woodworking channel out here
Using dust extraction on a palm or mouse sander helps to extend the life of the sander as it pulls in more cool air, and doesn't rely on the sander alone to cool itself.
Duragrit only makes 40, 60, and 80 grit sandpaper. The other grits have been discontinued.
But those remaining grits are my “Go-To” sandpapers.
Great video: Thanks!
You are so easy to listen to. As my French daughter in law taught me: I go to bed less stupid 🌞. Thanks for sharing
But then you wake up and you're back to square one.
J espère que tu feras un saut à Paris with your son and his fiancée!🇫🇷Si ce n’est déjà fait !
@@jolldoes1515 He worked in Frog pubs for a long time and lives 40 km North of Paris.
@@raydriver7300 probably pontoise surrounding I left my town Paris close to 3 decades ago and live today in North America and can see Canada at the end of my street France has became harder I don’t know frog pub but I worked at France 2 TV station as a freelance video assistant .It hard everywhere but I m happier in the US 🇺🇸
@@jolldoes1515 It fascinates me that we can exchange messages in seconds over 6000 miles. My granddaughter was born in Pontoise so you are close. Look up the Frog and rosbif in Rue St Denis in Paris. He worked in the Frog and Rosbif in Toulouse before moving to Paris. I’m in the UK. Stay safe
I love sanding. By hand. I find it very therapeutic for some reason. A very amateur hobbyist here - loving the channel, it's very easy to understand for a home handyman.
how do you feel about the newer sanding "nets" that are becoming more popular? Personally I love them.
I've been using those Abranet pads for years & they are truly excellent. They even become smoother evenly as they wear out, so you can just use a single one in place of a couple of different sandpaper grades. Apart from dealing with really aggressive chip-out or glue removal, I'd not go back to paper or cloth backed stuff on the lathe now because the open mesh builds up so much less heat too.
And I thought I knew how to sand ! How naïve I have been. At the age of 62 I'm learning all over again ! Driving the wife mad because I'm now saying things like: "Stumpy says . . " or when she thinks she knows best: "Not according to Stumpy". That one really gets up her nostrils. . . . . just light hearted humour, while learning some 'game changing' stuff. Thanks for all your excellently presented tutorials.
Never heard of you before watching this video. After 1 minute of watching I decided to subscribe!
Wow all this time I've been blindly using 60-grit all the way up to 600-grit for everything I've been doing. Knowing I can focus on 80-120-180 and sometimes 220 grit
just made my day :D
One time I found a pack of sand paper from a dollar store and figured why not. Well you would be far more productive to just use the dollar bill.
Well said, lol!
It happened to me too (well, with euro coins); the sandpaper had been manufactured in a certain big Asian country...
I don't like doing cutting lists, I don't like roughing out, I don't like machining, I don't like setting out, I don't like cutting joints, I don't like assembling, I don't like gluing and clamping, I don't like sanding, I don't like finishing, and I sure don't like sharpening, sweeping the shop floor and changing dust bags. But all together............. I love it!
I’m the odd man out I actually like sanding, it means that the project is nearly finished.
I don’t particularly like it all the time but I do find it nice time to listen to a podcast or get deep in thought
I like it because its a really good feeling to be able to touch your project and it being smooth
I agree. It's the final stages and the point where you see all the hard workl come together. I find it quite therapeutic.
Agreed! It's a part of the process. :)
I'm the same, means I'm nearly done with the body work and on the way to paint!
So nice to see a video by someone who sounds like he really knows what he’s talking about! Thank you!
I had to laugh when this video popped up. I just picked up some diablo sandpaper and ready to sand for a project. Holy coincidence. 👍
Watch the project farm video as well?
@@_P0tat07_ LOL, yep!
Absolutely.
I just bought some more Diablo stuff yesterday too..
Got some 40 grit and 80 grit pads for my 125mm AEG (called Rigid in the US), these will compliment the 120,180,220,320 and 400 pads I got a few months ago.
Having just looked at the Duragrit link, I'm nearing the $210US for the 7 piece set, but I have a wider range of grits with the commonly available Diablo stuff..
Also, I'd need to add 30% (plus shipping) to that $210 to get them sent to me in Australia.. So, Diablo it is.
@@GenoLoma Well, you can't go wrong with Diablo. Project Farm did the sandpaper shootout and it pretty much came out on top. 👍
I'm about as beginner as you get. I got into this after replacing the floors in my home and now I'm working on building built in bookshelves in most of the common rooms in my house. Simple and easy to understand I found myself actually staring intently at this entire video able to absorb the information. As one mentor to another great job.
I always enjoy learning something that I thought I already knew but didn’t. Thanks for the sanding techniques especially about proper pressure of the orbital sander, I also wonder how you have a Dewalt sander, but have a Festool hose fit? Do you have a special adapter?
I normally use a Mirka sander and Festool extractor, but I didn't want people thinking you needed a $600 sander to get good results :) The hole just happens to fit the Dewalt. It goes inside the port instead of over the outside.
I've started a home project of putting a new roof on a patio cover my late father built in the 60's. The frame is 4X4 beams of clear wood that had been painted white. I decided to remove the paint with a flat wheel sander so I can later stain and cover with Polyurethane. I then smoothed out the waves with a belt sander and 50 grit paper. Your video taught me (if I was paying attention) to now use an orbital sander starting with 80 grit, then 120, 180, and finish with wiping with a damp cloth and a final sanding with 220 grit. The roof will keep the wood from ever having direct sunlight, although it will be exposed to the Southern California weather.
I've been wearing snug-fitting cloth gloves when I hand sand. Much much less fatigue..
Good tip. Which mask do you recommend?
@@Avital4414 Well the masks with the hair that sticks out wildly to the sides like Bozo work best for me, but everything beyond the gloves is just preference really.
@@mickblock as clowns go, I think I prefer Crusty. But I do have nostalgia about Bozo.
dude. i've been sanding since the early sixties, professionally for a spell back in the day. this tutorial totally explained so many areas where i've run aground. i intend on starting some projects right away so i can practice and perfect. thanks stumps, you're the best.
I hate using 80 grit paper, I always endeavor to have my tools do a good enough job to be able to start with 120 grit.
That's true if you have a planer and jointer but not everyone has them. Rough lumber can definitely use the 80 if you don't have those tools.
watching this for my guitar project (i'm not a professional, but i would like to be) and i absolutely love sanding as a part of the process. it takes tons of time and everything hurts afterward, but it's ok because i'm doing what i love, after all. thank you for the great video, and i wish all people in the comments to find joy and satisfaction in their work every day, be it professional or hobby.
need some googly eyes on that orbital sander
I learned the hard way with the waterborne finishes! It had me so frustrated till I talked to a furniture maker! Lol. He straitened me out! Thank God!
No matter how long I've been doing something in woodworking, every time I watch one of your videos I learn something new I can use, in a clear and concise manner. Thanks much and thumbs up to crush a troll.
I love sanding. I love the meditative quality of it. I love the the experience of slowly seeing that wood take on that smooth luster and “mature” before my eyes into a finished product.
Awesome presentation! So clear, no-nonsense and fluff-free!!! Thank you :)
Good video. Been a woodworker since I was 10 (built my first boat). Been a professional woodworker for o ver 40 years. Had a shop as large as a dozen employees, and have trained dozens. And, from that perspective, this is almost all excellent advice.
My quibbles --
1. About using your first grit in consistent, even, strokes... with NO bearing down or focusing on certain lower or rougher spots. I'd call that theoretically true, and the ideal approach. But in the real world... it really IS possible to bear concentrate on such areas - which, you're right, does compromis perfect flatness - and then ameliorate that compromise by 'feathering the divot. Feathering in taking larger and longer strokes with that same grit... so that a 'bowl' area becomes an area of long, gradual tapers. Yes, that's next level stuff, but deserves a mention at least.
2. Active dust collection IS ideal. But I never use it, as the hose can get cumbersome. Instead, I keep an air gun handy and occasionally just blow off the sanding disc. Never had the 'pigtail' problem.
3. It appears you are making a mistake that is one of my pet peeves with hook & loop pads. That is, setting a sander down with no disc attached. Doing so... esp. if is then slid around... and very esp. if it is accidentally turned on... will break of the fragile hooks. In the same way that bearing down and generating heat will compromise them. If you aren't actually making that mistake - I couldn't be dead certain from the video - that danger should at least be mentioned. I NEVER allow a sander to be set down or put away sans disc/paper.
Thanks for your good work!
You're the best. I connected my shop vac to my sander instead of the collection bag and it made a huge difference.
Wow! Just an average DIY gal and just learned how much I didn't know about sanding. Thank you sir. 😊👍
I used to hate sanding, grade 7 Shop class ugh!! That teacher did me no favor for the love of the grain.
I now, after decades of sanding, know better, and find it thrilling (yeah I'm weird) to see what's underneath that old thick paint(yes I use PPE 😉) or ah ? whatever the people before me used as stain. Omg 😲 sometimes your like, "did they mix tar with Coca-Cola??" 🤣🙄🤨
I6 months ago I finally decided I'll buy myself an orbital sander, and 😲 WOW!! the difference.
I will admit to a learning curve. Today I decided to look up how to use it,and thank God I found your videos. So much help I've been watching for hours now.
So thank you for your non annoying voice, and for conveying in a way that I can understand. You have introduced me to so many great tips. The one about putting the mark on the sand paper To see if I'm pushing too hard, that's brilliant.
I'm going to try the pencil trick now I'll tell you how it goes
i have always enjoyed building, and 6 months ago i have started my own woodworking business, My weakest skill was the finishing. Just as i had completed building a fairly large table, 42" x 72" this sanding video, was PERFECT, Thanks !!
Stumpy on the job killed it. Great work
My last project has horrible pacthes and imperfections ... so I watched a channel guy with more than one million subscriber.. things were just more confusing! ... Now I watched you and I went... WHAT? lol. This is SOOOOOO clear and extremely informative that I wonder why youtube waited so long to pop you on my feed! lol. I subscribe!
HUGE BIG THANK YOU... Now I see that sanding is AN ART indeed!!! and thank you for the link for duragrit!
Stumpy I love watching your videos. I learn something every time. I am a 58 year old wood worker and consider myself schooled and good at what I do. I am a learner when it comes to wood working and always will be. I learn stuff that I use every day. I don't watch the other guys anymore because when you find what works, and works good l, then just keep coming back. Thank you Edward
After watching your video yesterday, I went home and started sanding my latest project, a walnut cutting board. I needed to level out the surfaces a bit. I grabbed what I thought was an 80 grit disc and started sanding just as you instructed. When I thought it was pretty level, I checked the surface. It felt a lot rougher than I had anticipated. When I double checked the disc, I discovered it was actually a 60 grit. Apparently, these old eyes don't see so well. I remembered what you said about increasing the grit number by 50%. I cracked out the closest grit I had to 90 (which was 80 grit and went to work. Then jumped to 120, 180 and finally 220. The finish was beyond my wildest expectation. I think your formula worked perfectly.
I found this particular cutting board design in a woodworking magazine. The walnut pieces are 3/4" x 1-1/8" and laminated such that the board is 1-1/8" thick. I have a special strip assembly that is made up of (2 pieces each) 1/4" x 1-1/8" pieces of Padauk, mahogany, purple heart and maple, each about 18 inches long. I stack and laminate them to form a block that is 2" wide, 1-1/8" thick and 18 inches long. On my miter saw, I make cuts at a 22.5 degree angle and create laminated wedges that are about an inch wide (angle face to angle face). Those short angled strips are sandwiched between two 1/4" x 1-1/8" maple strips (18 inches long) and glued together. The width of the assembled strip ends up at 1-1/2" wide x 1-1/8" thick and is placed about 1/3 of the way within the walnut laminations. I have been considering sending this glued assembly through a thickness planer, rather than sanding with a random orbital sander. My concern is with the small, 1/4" thick laminated pieces of padauk, mahogany, purple heart and maple. They sit at about a 22.5 degree angle to the walnut grain. I'm afraid the planer will rip then out of position, destroying the board or I'll get tear out within these pieces due to the grain being at a different angle than the walnut grain. Have you had any experience with this type of laminations? I assume I need to take very, very thin cuts, but I am still worried about the laminated pieces catching on the blade. I wanted to attach a photo of the board but couldn't. What are your thoughts? Thank you. Don
G’day from Brisbane Australia. I’m a retired painter & timber finisher, that’s means I enjoy getting raw timber into a state of beauty. I really enjoyed watching you and your methods because that’s what I was taught a long time ago. Unfortunately, perfection is my middle name, so when I see others trying to excuse themselves for bad sanding techniques, I like to explain where they went wrong. As you know, in a raw state, timber sanding mistakes aren’t so noticeable, but put some clear finish or even stain on that board &, hello!!!…there’s those scratches grinning at you.
Same with glue residue not cleared from the surface, before proceeding with stains or finish coats of clears. Just found you today, 28th Dec 2021, have subscribed & will now follow your Channel, because I enjoy the way you present yourself, & your subject matter. Cheers from here 👍🇦🇺🐨
It is quite evident when the person making the video TRULY knows his business: the clam, Through and complete advice is invaluable. Please keep your good wood work sir!
As a beginner, this has to be one of.. no, THE best sanding video out there!
I'm in the wood finish for over 45 years, and, I still enjoy videos like yours. Of course, there are much , much more ways and trics the professionals use, but as a first hands on for the beginner, I find it a good tutorial. Keep up the good work.
I have never commented on youtube in my life. I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your channel. Your calm voice and direct style are very refreshing. I listen to your channel more than i “watch” as i drive a lot. When i search a topic, I always hope you have covered it so I can learn from you. Great job, classy style, excellent teacher. Keep it up, we are learning a lot from you.
I'm currently 40 years old if I were to ask 20-year-old or even 30-year-old me if I ever thought I'd watch a video about wood sanding techniques or if that specific topic would ever seem interesting at any point in my future, I would have died laughing...... Yet here I am voice to texting a comment on that very same subject matter.... Not only that the information was delivered in such a concise manner I now feel compelled to look up this channel and dig deeper into the art of sanding wood....... I must say this seems like a rabbit hole from which I may never escape