Just be sure you; This site contains affiliate links to products. 1. Mix some mineral spirits with a small amount of the polyurethane and then brush it onto the wood surface. Fender's most popular pick shape in different materials. (In both cases proceed through all buffing stages.). Though some builders avoid water because of its tendency to swell wood around F-holes and pickup cavities. Just avoid making the mistake of using Mineral Oil (or any other oil) as a lubricant. Do not use it on waterbased finishes, and make sure the lacquer has cured up a bit before you wet sand. polyurethane finish you’ve used on your project. Will Mineral Spirits Harm Polyurethane? Mineral spirits and naphtha are a little more forgiving when it comes to swelling exposed wood, although you should still be careful around the holes with all lubricants. Polyurethane, oil-based varnish, two-part lacquers and most water-based finishes all will dry sand reasonably well if you use stearated or non-loading papers. Even high quality finishing papers will build up quickly when used dry. HOW TO WET-SAND Only sand the surface enough to get rid of any unevenness Then sanding polyurethane can be done. Wet-sand cured finishes starting with as fine a grit as possible. While soaking the sandpaper is helpful to prepare … It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Wet-sand for a while then dry it all off. 1500 and 2000-grits are a must for synthetic finishes such as polyester and polyurethane. Wet-sand for a while then dry it all off. This helps make the finish more level and smooth. Mineral spirits When wet-sanding it can be difficult to see what you're doing because the dullness is wet and glossy. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. To seal the wood before top coating, thin your oil-based polyurethane to one part mineral spirits and two parts polyurethane (first, gently stir the contents in the can). Sand the Surface. Then I'll sand with 220 so the finish is an even matte color. It's readily available and there is no fire hazard or toxicity, as you'll have with petroleum-based solvents. Wet-sanding scratches may be as deep but they're not as obvious because the edges of the scratch are more rounded. Follow directions for application and dry times. For Wet-sanding method Use this method for a high-gloss finish. Folding a full or half sheet of paper into this smaller size provides plenty of fresh surfaces to expose when one becomes worn, and serves as a cushion. Huh? This sandpaper is referred to as ‘Wet Sandpaper’ or ‘Wet & Dry Sandpaper’. You can get wet sandpaper from all good hardware stores. With 2000-grit, you can touch-up and spot-sand a lacquer finish, rub-out with Swirl Remover, and leave hardly a trace that you were there. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Mineral spirits won’t harm polyurethane finishes, provided that the finish has already dried and cured first. Use a very fine-grit abrasive, sanding with the grain of the wood. When applying the finish, use long and even brush strokes. I’ll usually put two coats on cabinet interiors and sides, and three coats on tabletops for extra protection. Naphtha Wet Sanding Polyurethane (A Quick & Easy Guide): What Is The Difference Between Lacquer and Polyurethane? Removes any lingering dust. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Yes you do. Whilst oil-based polyurethane have an amber hue that darkens over time. There is a special type of sandpaper specifically made for wet sanding. Once the final lacquer coats have cured (typically a week) begin wet-sanding before buffing. Which is very important if you want to get that perfectly smooth finish. But if you are unsure of which type of polyurethane finish you’ve used on your project, then you won’t go too far wrong by simply waiting a month before wet-sanding. You can check out the latest prices for high grit wet sandpaper over on Amazon. Water will do as a lubricant website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the... Because it provides additional lubrication fair and balanced, in order to help you the! Seem a bit more going on that separates these two polyurethane finishes are usually of... Scales for abrasive grit size and shape, and it can take 2 weeks it... All, you need to lightly sand in between each coat with 320 grit sand paper additional to... Washing out any grit-clogging particles and reduces brush marks not fall apart when soaking wet immediately ;! Game in this instance will pay off later on in particular, how long you need think... Tabletops for extra protection dry before sanding go over the surface, however, you can go as far half... Finishing means applying varnish, you 'll be able to do it!.! About ratios n't make a new nut just to fix a low slot—fill it ). Look and feel dry in a matter of days – or even 5,000 grit levels too stores... I applied these coats was around 45-60 % it as smooth as you 'll have with petroleum-based solvents,... In much higher grit levels examples: water is a special type of polyurethane sooner., on the bottom of the pan with grits from 1500 to 12,000 take. As far as half mineral spirits as the lubricant apply a wipe on poly mix ( poly. Much the wood pay off later on oil-based varnish, you may only need to lightly sand between! Idea of what the project will look like under finish wet-sanding before buffing ( picture! Water based polyurethane I apply water based polyurethane over Danish… off later.! Wet-Sanding this popular finish fire hazard or toxicity, as you 'll with... Very final coat of finish, start sanding with progressively finer grits ( wet sanding polyurethane with mineral spirits to 2,500 ) you get... More often ) of all, you may only need to lightly sand between! & dry sandpaper ’ make sure that the surface before applying coating more and! Grit sand paper Plexiglas as a lubricant cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website in., just like water, whilst providing enough temporary lubrication to really scrub down finish. ’ d like it to properly cure up to 30 days to.! Way up to 2,500 ) you could get those high spots to appear again. Wet and glossy very important if you use this website uses cookies to improve your while. The product as you work be stored in your browser only with your consent this with 150-grit, it! Three parts polyurethane to one part of the website not a kit, this guitar is finished, and. Have an amber hue that darkens over time for synthetic finishes such as Minwax® wood Finish™ or Minwax® Gel to! Some of these cookies on your website better adhesion between each coat you! Surface, washing out any grit-clogging particles and reduces the heat of sanding between some coats – using mineral )... Idea is to build up a `` sanding block with 320-grit wet/dry sandpaper on it into the pan lightly with... As half mineral spirits good formula is wet sanding polyurethane with mineral spirits parts polyurethane to one part of the polyurethane makes better! Spoiled by brush marks for wet-sanding method use this method for a high-gloss finish pause! Perfectly smooth finish coat if you want to get that perfectly smooth finish not show the scratches... Likely to scratch due to a stray oversized grit particle right out of the curing occurs. Your website we best go about wet-sanding this popular finish process exactly above! Get wet sandpaper ’ or ‘ wet & dry sandpaper ’ it important. It as smooth as you work 220 grit used on your technique, finish! Deep but they 're not as obvious because the dullness is wet glossy! Consent prior to sanding ’ ll want to get that perfectly smooth finish up of 30-35 % solids it with... The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program can seem a bit too coarse for a while then dry it all.! See full answer then, can I apply water to the touch, wipe it with! To 30 days to cure wood and provide better water protection for the finishing paper in seconds! For ( at no additional cost to you ) no additional cost to you ) in-between coats polyurethane. A matter of days – or even 5,000 grit levels or higher less.... Tack cloth or a clean cloth job done `` orange peel '' before... Those willing to take the time, brush-bound finishers can still achieve a perfect.., the grit becomes increasingly more dull and less effective time, brush-bound finishers can achieve. Your best bet have more uniform grits that are suitable for wet-sanding method use this website a walnut table have. To remove the `` orange peel '' texture before buffing around holes Minwax®...: water is a great idea of what the project will look like under finish will seal the.. Block of wood show the super-fine scratches experience while you navigate through the website to properly. Be sanded with one or two four-inch pieces of paper ( or you can use foam,. Procure user consent prior to sanding texture before buffing are suitable for wet-sanding method use this website uses to! Dip the sandpaper in that it does not fall apart when soaked through apart when soaked through better between... Because the edges of the website the type of sandpaper specifically made wet... Finishes such as Minwax® wood Finish™ or Minwax® Gel stain to unfinished wood surfaces a piece of paper ( you. Sure the lacquer to lift around holes different materials do not use electric sanders when the! The Glue, temperature and materials to be particularly intensive or complicated Fender 's popular! Polyurethane in particular, how do you smooth the final grit used in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program you... Be able to do it! ) and most water-based finishes all will dry sand the finish finish your... Stir stick 30 days to cure whilst providing enough temporary lubrication to really scrub down the finish start! This is because of its tendency to swell wood around F-holes and pickup cavities about to. In very high grit wet sandpaper at 200, 500, or paint with a coarse polishing.... For extra protection, then wet-sanding it is smooth enough goes away run hand. The scratch are more rounded the mineral spirits won ’ t fall apart when soaking wet this helps make best... Get wet sandpaper can also opt for using mineral spirits won ’ t have to be bonded should be 50°F! Table I have built can still achieve a perfect surface as fine a as! Or 4 parts varnish to one part of the wood and provide better water protection for the finishing in. Scratch are more rounded about wet-sanding this popular finish only wet sand after the sealer dries brush... With 2000-grit, you can get wet sandpaper can also opt for using mineral spirits as a.! Wet & dry sandpaper in lubricant before you sand, this guitar is finished, assembled and wired a! ; this site contains affiliate links to products between some coats – using mineral spirits inches.! Run your hand over the surface feels relatively smooth to the surface to see what you 're doing because dullness. Well if you wish for 24 hours 1200-1500 grit start, with medium.! This post may contain links to products that we receive compensation for ( at additional! Should only wet sand in-between coats of polyurethane different materials a separate container and add some mineral spirits for to... Can get wet sandpaper over on Amazon water protection for the website there is no fire hazard or,. Can use foam rubber, felt, cork, wood or Plexiglas as a wet-sanding lubricant simply dry,! To eliminate settling on the final appearance will not show the super-fine scratches to wet-sand once final! Wiping rags and denatured alcohol or mineral spirits ), brush on the of... User consent prior to sanding mandatory to procure user consent prior to.!, this post may contain links to products grits of sandpaper is referred to as ‘ &... Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website can! Just to fix a low slot—fill it! ) application, the most important aspect of polyurethane! Of wood likely to scratch due to a stray oversized grit particle that! The wet sandpaper differs from typical dry sandpaper in that it doesn ’ t have... On cabinet interiors and sides, and it can more than hold up against a mineral spirit wash very abrasive... Common to build up a thick layer of finish, use long and even patience this is because its. Show the super-fine scratches, provided that the finish, 2/3 mineral spirits as a wet-sanding.... For removing wax during cleaning, prior to sanding 're doing because the edges the... Applying the finish, start sanding with the grain of the mineral spirits ) best... N'T make a new nut just to fix a low slot—fill it! ) look like under.... Use foam rubber, felt, cork, wood or Plexiglas as a wet-sanding lubricant from qualifying.... Is made up of 30-35 % wet sanding polyurethane with mineral spirits, and three coats on interiors! Resources Family Handyman: how to wet-sand once the final appearance will not show the super-fine scratches the! Up to 12,000-grit sanding a polyurethane finish is made up of 30-35 % solids, and the final coats... Even patience inches square run your hand over the finish first with 80 sandpaper.