Beall buffing system for lighter wood

I just don't bother with the tripoli if I think the color will cause problems. Billh

Another option is to simply sand to a higher grit and skip the Tripoli altogether.

- Andrew

I would think by "higher grit" Andrew is suggesting grits above 400, such as

I usually sand to 600 or so before buffing, even with the tripoli wheel. 400 if I'm feeling lazy ;-) Exception: I stop at 400 on light woods because my finer papers are silicon carbide, which sometimes leaves black specs in the wood (even after blowing it off with an air compressor).

At some grit, though, sanding raw wood becomes pointless as the grit is finer than the structure of the wood. To get a smoother surface, you have to apply a film finish and sand that instead.

BINGO!

Personally, I don't think the appearance of the piece is improved by stuffing sanding residue into the pores, either. Polish the finish, not the wood. You lose chatoyance by doing else.

In my experience domestics reach their end point ~320/400. Anything finer is for leveling the finish at my house.

I keep on learning. I was stopping at 240 because that is the finest grit I could find for my sanding disk pads.

OK, I'm puzzled. Why then do places like woodcraft or rocklers carry nothing above 240 in hook loop sanding disks or paper?

I found some 400 online. For the 'New Wave Disks' the kits only go up to 320 but some 400 and higher is shown. None of these finer grits are available at the Denver Store. Most hardware stores like Home Depot carry only up to about 240 grit sandpaper.

Do you guys buy these sand>I would think by "higher grit" Andrew is suggesting grits above 400, such as >600-1000.

... what James and DJ said....

- Andrew

For grits up to 2000, check out auto supply stores.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Skip the Tripoli. Sand to a higher grit and then go to the white diamond and then wax.

-- Steve Worcester

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Actually, wave backup pads are also offered.

Derek