A flawless wood finish requires more than just layers of polyurethane—it’s the sanding between coats that creates that smooth, glass-like surface. This guide explains how to sand polyurethane safely and effectively, from leveling imperfections to prepping for the final glossy...
Even careful painters can end up with caulk smears or over-applied filler around trim and joints. If you sand directly over these smears, the soft caulk gums up sandpaper and creates uneven paint sheen. This guide shows how to remove...
Butt-joint paneling—where two panels meet end-to-end—often reveals subtle ridges or waves after painting. The culprit is uneven sanding or inconsistent backing pressure. This guide covers how to sand wall panel joints flush without telegraphing waves through your finish, using the...
Nothing kills a beautiful paint job faster than orange peel on cabinet doors. Those tiny bumps scatter light and make even premium enamels look amateur. The fix isn’t aggressive sanding that risks burn-through at edges and profiles—it’s a controlled, door-first...
Sand Veneered Drawer Fronts Around Pulls: Safe Grits & MaskingVeneered drawer fronts are thin—often 0.3–0.6 mm—and unforgiving. Around knobs, cup pulls, and finger scoops, pressure concentrates and cut-throughs happen fast. The fix isn’t to avoid sanding; it’s to control it with...
Remove Auto Orange Peel Safely: 1000–2000 Grit GuideFactory and refinish clear can look like an orange’s skin—tiny hills and valleys that scatter light and dull gloss. Leveling that texture (a “cut and buff”) makes paint read like liquid, but it’s...
Prep Anodized Aluminum for Paint: Sand or De-Anodize?Anodized aluminum wears like armor. That hard, oxide shell is why railings, bike parts, and fixtures shrug off scratches and fingerprints. It’s also why repainting them can be tricky: coatings don’t easily bite...
Hand-Rubbed Satin Sheen: 1000–2000 Grit & Wax GuideA flawless satin finish has that quiet glow you see on heirloom tables, guitars, and premium cabinetry. It’s not glossy and not dead-flat—just a velvety, even sheen that hides fingerprints and amplifies wood...
Prep Oak for Dye: Avoid Burnishing (150–180–220 Grit)White oak and red oak take dye beautifully—if you don’t over-polish the surface first. Oak’s open pores and dense latewood can trick you into thinking “finer is better,” but too-fine sanding actually burnishes...
