If you desire a superior finish on your wood project then special attention must be paid to the finish sand process. I am referring to that final sand just prior to applying stain or primer.

Once you have properly sized your product through the use of aggressive sanding methods and made sure all imperfections are corrected, it is time to finish sand.

The finish sand process is that part of the job that will blend the pores of your material resulting in excellent color balance when applying stain. Finish sanding when done properly will also denibb your work piece and soften the corners eliminating weak areas in the finish.

When I refer to blending the pores it is the process of obtaining a uniform pore opening throughout the work surface. Uniform pore openings will result in consistent stain absorption through out the material with end result being superior color balance throughout the material with no blotchiness of the stain.

Denibbing your work piece will remove the fibers that pop up when any type of stain or primer is applied. These fibers once dried cause rough texture in the seal or primer coat. Removal of these fibers during the finish sand process will ensure a smoother sealer or primer coat and less labor for sanding between coats.

Softening the edges of your work piece during the finish sand process will eliminate the sharp corners that have so little mass as to be difficult to get stain or sealer to properly adhere. These sharp edges become the weak areas in the finish of any wood project as they can be easily damaged even by cleaning.

The only method of finish sanding that will denibb your product, give a uniform pore opening, and soften the edges is the utilization of a flap wheel type head. This head can be as simple as a hand held air or electric motor driven tool or as elaborate as a fully automated multi head sander capable of sanding four sides simultaneously in a single pass.

The point here is Flap Wheel. Flap wheel heads come in all sizes and grits and are available both in a paper only configuration and also brush backed type paper. Both versions work. I prefer the brush backed type as you get more pressure at lower rpm due to the brush supporting the sand paper. Flap wheel heads without brush backing need a higher rpm to sand properly as you are relying on centrifugal force to create the pressure.

Flap wheel

In most applications I use either a 180 or 220 grit brush backed paper for finish sanding. These heads will conform themselves to the shape being sanded. This ensures good consistent sanding throughout the work piece. Areas that are profiled will be sanded as well as the flats.

End Result? You will achieve a better finish that is more durable and spend less time getting there.