We’ve all been there… you’re watching or reading a DIY tutorial and you think “All that sanding seems extra, I can probably get away with not doing that”. We’re here to tell you–if you are planning to paint wood furniture in the near future, this is a must-read!
Prepping wood furniture for painting is a critical step that affects the look and durability of your wood project. Sanding and priming bare wood surfaces gives it a (much needed) smooth base for paint and can prevent most issues like bleed-through and staining. So we wanted to dedicate an entire post on how we prepare wood furniture to get that flawless looking paint finish.
We’ll start by describing all of the grit levels of sandpaper and types of sanders, then explain when and how to use them for the best results!
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Understanding Sandpaper Grits
First we’ll start by explaining grit. Sandpaper grit refers to the abrasiveness of the sandpaper or in other words, how “rough” it is. The grit number tells you the coarseness or fineness of the sandpaper– lower numbers are for coarser grits and higher numbers are for finer grits.
Coarse Grit (60-80)
Coarse grit sandpaper is used for heavy sanding. You’d use it to remove old paint or varnish and to sand down to the bare wood surface. So it can remove material quickly but in the same vein, can leave scratches that will need to be smoothed out with finer grits later.
Best for: Initial sanding, heavy material removal, stripping old finishes
Medium Grit (100-150)
Medium grit sandpaper is mostly used for smoothing out surfaces and removing imperfections after the initial coarse sanding. It prepares the sanded furniture for finer sanding and allows for a smoother surface for painting.
Best for: Smoothing surfaces, preparing for fine sanding
Fine Grit (180-220)
Fine grit sandpaper is used for the final sanding before painting wood furniture. It creates a smooth surface that helps the paint adhere better and look more even. This is definitely a pro tip: Fine grit is essential for achieving that professional, polished look so don’t stop sanding with a medium grit, even if it looks like it’s done.
Best for: Final prep before painting, creating a smooth surface
Very Fine Grit (240-320)
Very fine grit sandpaper is used for extra fine sanding and for sanding between coats of paint or varnish. You can use a sanding block to get that ultra-smooth finish by smoothing the surface between coats. Again, using ultra fine grit sandpaper in between coats is key to really make your furniture stand out!
Best for: Extra fine sanding, sanding between coats, detailed work
Different Types of Sanders and Their Uses
Choosing the right sander is just as important as selecting the right sandpaper. There are different types of sanders available but each one has its own specific tasks and surface that works best. Here’s our overview the most common types of sanders (plus our favorite type of sander)!
Orbital Sanders
Orbital sanders are our go-to! These sanders use square or rectangular sanding pads that move in a circular pattern. They are versatile and user-friendly and ideal for regular wood DIY projects. We mostly use our orbital sander to remove old finish and prep wood for paint or stain.
Best for: Light to medium sanding, smoothing surfaces, removing old finish
Random Orbital Sanders
Random orbital sanders combine both circular and orbital motions to create a random sanding pattern. This motion reduces the risk of swirl marks on the wood, resulting in a smoother finish. You would use this sander for both coarse and fine sanding, plus it can handle flat and contoured surfaces.
Best for: Medium to fine sanding, achieving a smooth finish, versatile use on various surfaces
Belt Sanders
Belt sanders are designed for heavy-duty sanding. They use a continuous loop of sandpaper, or a “belt,” so the material is removed rapidly. With that being said, belt sanders are best for large, flat surfaces to strip old paint or varnish. But we have to caution you, these require careful handling to avoid gouging the wood. It’s also incredibly noisy and dusty but it gets the job done!
Best for: Heavy sanding, stripping old finishes, large flat surfaces
Detail Sanders
Detail sanders (you may also hear them called corner or mouse sanders), have a small, pointed sanding pad that can reach tight corners and intricate details. We use ours to sand down smaller areas, edges, and hard-to-reach spots on a piece of furniture that larger sanders cannot tackle properly.
Best for: Small areas, tight corners, detailed woodwork
Hand Sanders and Sanding Blocks
Hand sanders or sanding blocks are the most basic type of sanding tool. This is just a block with sandpaper attached so the motion is all manually done by you. So while this will require more effort than power sanders, hand sanders give you better control. We use hand sanders for delicate surfaces, touch-ups and prep work situations where power sanders might be too aggressive.
Best for: Delicate surfaces, touch-ups, precise control
6 Step Guide to Sanding Wood Furniture
Now that we understand the types of sandpaper and sanders, here’s your quick 6 step to sanding before painting furniture.
Step 1: Safety First!
Before you start sanding, we’d recommend having safety gear (mask, goggles and maybe even gloves) as well as a vacuum or shop vac for cleaning up dust. It’s easy to just jump into sanding furniture, but you should always prioritize safety when sanding. Wear safety gear to protect yourself from sanding dust and debris. Use a mask to avoid inhaling dust and goggles to shield your eyes.
Step 2: Prep the Surface
Before sanding, you’ll want to make any repairs and clean the piece as part of your furniture prep work. You can use wood filler to make repairs to the furniture. If you have an old piece of furniture, you may need to clean it to remove any gunk, oil or anything else that might get caught in the sandpaper. You can use a cleaning agent like TSP for this. Then once it’s clean and repaired, use a damp cloth to wipe away any last debris, ensuring the surface is ready for latex paint.
Step 3: Initial Sanding (Coarse Grit 60-80)
We’d recommend starting with a coarse grit sandpaper (60-80) on an orbital sander if your furniture has a rough surface or a lot of old stain or paint that needs to be removed. Sand in the direction of the wood grain to avoid scratches and don’t press too hard on the surface. Applying even pressure usually does the trick.
Step 4: Smoothing Surfaces (Medium Grit 100-150)
After the initial sanding, switch to medium grit sandpaper (100-150) to further smooth out the surface. Again you could use an orbital or random orbital sander for this step. Sand the entire surface to remove the scratches left by the coarse grit.
Step 5: Final Preparation (Fine Grit 180-220 to Very Fine Grit 240-320)
Use fine grit sandpaper (180-220) for the final sanding before painting. This step is the key to a professionally smooth surface for the paint, just be sure to sand gently and evenly to remove any major imperfections.
Then as a pro tip, use a detail sander or hand block to lightly sand the surface with very fine grit sandpaper (240-320) before applying your first coat of primer or paint. We’d also recommend using this higher grit to very lightly sand in-between coats.
Step 6: Cleaning Up
After sanding, you may need to use a shop vac to clean the wood surface. If you leave any wood dust on the furniture, then the final finish will not be ideal. So use a tack cloth to remove any residue, dust, and lint before painting or applying finishes.
Final Sanding Tips
- Let the sander do the work! Excessive pressure can damage the wood.
Always follow the progression from coarse to fine grits to avoid uneven surfaces.
Hopefully this comprehensive guide helped you understand what grit sandpaper for wood furniture before painting. By understanding the different types of sandpaper grits and the appropriate sanders for various tasks, you can easily get a professional finish for your DIY project. After proper sanding and preparation, you will be ready to pick up that paint brush!
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Follow the step-by-step guide and avoid common mistakes to ensure your furniture is perfectly prepped for that first coat of paint. Are you preparing for a wood DIY project sometime soon? Check out our recent furniture flip of an old dresser for inspiration and more tips!
