[jartzh]

How do you smooth wood that the sandpaper burns? Example endgrain of live oak. I find that the paper works for about 5 seconds then it starts to burn the wood. I am assuming the wood is rounding off the grit on the paper so it stops cutting. What is the answer? wetsanding/scraping/change paper every 10 seconds/different type of paper/...

[EdO]

Slow down. Take a light pass, let it cool, then take another light pass. As the grit gets finer you go slower.

[AlArchie]

I assume you are using a power sander????? Either that or you have super human speed in hand sanding!

Sounds like whatever you are using for a power sander is running way too fast. If you are using a drum type sander on a dremel or other rotary, try slowing the thing down. If this is a fixed speed disc type sander, you may be stuck. High speed with any sandpaper generates a lot of heat from friction. this tends to heat up any resins (natural) in the wood, soften them and mix with the sanding dust to clog the papers's grit. That just makes for more heat from more friction!

The main thing is to either slow down your tool's speed or use that 5 second time as a guide to back off just prior to that, then go at it a few seconds later, but always pull the disc away from the work BEFORE it gets hot.

Al

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Slap on a few coats of that thick latex paint......no one will ever see those burn marks!

[slivers&dust]

still rolling....can't breath....

[AlArchie]

There are those who say that sanding wood is a sin.......and then to lay a coat of paint on top of that? Wow, all I wanna do is get outa tyhe way of the lightning bolt!

Al

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Watch out Al! I hope your well grounded.

[Eddy Smiles]

Fuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?.....after the sandpaper that is!

[Big Dog]

Just to add my bit at this late stage.

I am with the "toooooooooo fasttttttttttttt" camp, but their is a couple of point I would like to add speaking as a carpenter and woodturner.

Sandpaper is a tool, just like your knifes etc. If you want the paper to cut you need to give it time too. To fast and... well you know what it does. It is going faster than it can preform; ie the burns.

You will most likely know, but move down the grades slowly. Each grade is just taking of the marks of the grade before it. Never move down the grade until you have completely removed all previous mark.

You will most likely have to finish of using hand and paper. Cloth paper is best; flexibile and better all round stuff. Sometime when it suits, I scrape with a sharp knife etc.

I you forget all that is posted on this topic at least remember to wear a mask
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[Eddy Smiles]

Finish it up with a paper bag! It'll shine like a diamond in a goat's b#@%!