Sanding

By Hand

You will need medium- and fine-grade sandpaper, a cork sanding block, some clean cloth and white spirit, and a portable workbench.

1. To sand cut ends, cut a strip of medium-grade sandpaper and wrap it round your sanding block. Keep the block flat on the wood in order to avoid rounding off the corners. Change to fine sandpaper and repeat to finish the job. You can also use fine sandpaper and the sanding block to give planed surfaces a final smoothing.
2. When you have finished sanding, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust. Wipe the sanded surface with a pad of clean cloth moistened with a little white spirit to remove all the sanding dust.

Using a Power Sander

You will need a power sander with a supply of sanding discs, a clean cloth and white spirit, and a workbench.

1. Keep the soleplate flat as you sand cut ends.
2. When smoothing planed surfaces, move the sander along the wood in the direction of the grain.