Tips for Using Wet Sandpaper

Lubricating the surface of sandpaper with plain water or water mixed with a little dish soap is a great way to ensure a glossy, polished finish to vehicle paint jobs, wood projects and many other surfaces.

Only use wet sandpaper after you have finished dry sanding a surface. Wet sanding isn't meant to contour surfaces but to eliminate any visible scratches dry sanding could not remove.

Wet sandpapering is a process typically performed between coats of varnish, polyurethane or another type of top coating. Finer grit sanding sheets are recommended if you want to achieve a glossy surface finish.

When sanding wood with wet sandpaper, use 500-grit sandpaper attached to a hard rubber sanding block. Sand the wood surface gently in a circular motion. Periodically dip the block into the water to maintain the wetness of the wood.

After sanding for a minute, wipe the surface to see if imperfections are fading. Once the surface has an even, slightly dull appearance, wipe the surface off with a dry cloth and let it continue drying for several hours.

Now you are ready to apply the second coat of varnish or other finish. Let it dry for at least eight hours. Then wet sandpaper the surface again, wipe it and let it dry. If desired, a third finish coat can be applied.

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Learn more about sandpaper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandpaper