Kevin Zito
KNIFE MAKER
Should I use any?? I normally work with African Blackwood or desert ironwood. Thanks in advance!
What’s a good lube for sanding wood??
- Thread starter Kevin Zito
- Start date
Not if you’re just sanding bare wood. Just sand in progressively finer grits until you get to your final grit. For sanding a finish, I use water or the finish you’re using, IOW, wet sanding.
Having said that, it is sometimes useful to wet the wood with water and sand off the little fingers that might stand up. That’s a final step.
Having said that, it is sometimes useful to wet the wood with water and sand off the little fingers that might stand up. That’s a final step.
Kevin Zito
KNIFE MAKER
Thanks!
Raymond Richard
Forum Owner & Moderator
Elbow grease works the best....... Don't use water on the wood.
EdCaffreyMS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
Agree with the others..... don't put anything liquid on wood when sanding..... it will just be a train wreck. My most important tool when sanding/finishing wood is the air hose....when I think things are good, I blow the dust off, and ALWAYS find areas that need more work. 
Kevin Zito
KNIFE MAKER
That’s pretty much what I thought. Maybe Santa will bring me an air compressor, but I have been kinda bad.
Smallshop
KNIFE MAKER
Custom stockmakers of old often LIGHTLY (damp towel not water on wood)dampened the wood to raise the grain. Then after DRYING and the fur standing up, lightly sand and blow off the dust. They felt this opened the wood up to reveal highlights better... don't know what current guys are doing...this is Monty Kennedy era advice....But maybe worth trying....a custom exhibition grade stock is as figured as any knife scales and same use/look considerations. I have never tested side-by-each. It would be a simple test on a couple wood scraps...