A Very Important Turning Tool...

[Lee Koepke]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing that Wally.... I've never thought of oil sanding early, always done that in the 400-600 grit stage.

Also, what do we use when they take all the incandescents off the market !!!! Its getting harder to find them at the store ....

[Steve Schlumpf]

Excellent tips Wally! I will have to give that oil sanding method a try!

[Don Alexander]

how many shops have you been in that they have a "used" sandpaper box

i have a used sandpaper box ............................................ its called a trashcan

and its right under my lathe for convenient discarding ofany piece of sandpaper thats been used i have nowhere to put used paper other than the trash box (thats intentional)

[Rick Markham]

THanks Wally, I will definitely be giving it a try now that you have answered what has been giving me a mental block regarding it. Thanks for another tool in my tool chest!

[Bob Aumock]

Wally,

Great info. Have a novice question. Does it matter what type of oil, say Tung Oil, Antique Oil BLO etc is used to wet sand ? I presume you would use the same type of oil to sand with as the piece would be finished with, such as you would wet sand with Tung Oil if the piece was to be finished with Tung Oil, sand with Antique Oil if the finish was to be Antique Oil etc.

Thx,
Bob

[Joe Little]

Wally

This is a great thread, I have learned alot new stuff and revisited the old. Now if we can just get you to post your other handouts

[Wally Dickerman]

[QUOTE=Bob Aumock;1655768]Wally,

Great info. Have a novice question. Does it matter what type of oil, say Tung Oil, Antique Oil BLO etc is used to wet sand ? I presume you would use the same type of oil to sand with as the piece would be finished with, such as you would wet sand with Tung Oil if the piece was to be finished with Tung Oil, sand with Antique Oil if the finish was to be Antique Oil etc.

Bob, you can use just about any finishing oil for oil sanding. If you plan to use oil for a finish then of course use the same oil for sanding. When I apply the oil I don't saturate the wood, I just wipe some on using a paper towel while the lathe is running slowly. The sandpaper will clog quickly so I add a bit more oil and use another piece of sp. After I've finished and am ready to go on to the next grit, the oil will have disappeared.

[BILL DONAHUE]

Wally, thanks for the wisdom. What type of oil do you use and do you hand sand with the grain before moving up to the next grit?

[Lee Koepke]

Wally .. I tried it this evening! Wet sanded a bowl with BLO for the 80 grit and 100 grit .... it certainly made those first grits WAY easier.

Bill ... I did a few passes with the grain before moving up the next level, like I do for pens. with the light at the right angle, you can see where it helps.

[Dan Forman]

I tried this on a small elm vase I turned yesterday, but I used quite a bit of BLO, and with the first two grits. As a result, the paper clogged quickly in all the grits, but the end result was still good - I think. The piece was green and still pretty damp, so it got oil, then a coat of Antique Oil, and is now drying in a bag. It was very smooth though.

Dan

[Wally Dickerman]

Wally, thanks for the wisdom. What type of oil do you use and do you hand sand with the grain before moving up to the next grit?

I just use whatever finishing oil I have on hand. Don't apply too much. Just wet the surface using a paper towel. Hand sanding with the grain? Depends on the wood. Some woods seem to need more sanding care than others. I always do with small spindle turnings though. Pens, finials etc.

[Tom Caldwell]

Thanks for this great post, Wally. Cleared up my questions about the grit progression typically used. I'll defintely try the oil sanding.

[Michelle Rich]

glad you posted this..yes sanding has beconme a 3 hsp. endeavor.. A super sanding job, takes attention to detail & that takes handwork.

[GLENN THOMAS]

If sandpaper can clog when oil sanding what about the pores in the wood. Is this ever a problem when using something like oak ?

[Dan Forman]

If sandpaper can clog when oil sanding what about the pores in the wood. Is this ever a problem when using something like oak ?

I imagine it would fill the pores pretty well.

Dan