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TVE
Furniture and
Cabinet Making
Quarter 2 – Module 2:
Surface for Final Coating:
Preparing Surface for Finishing
(Weeks 3 & 4)
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master
how to Prepare Surface for Finishing. The scope of this module permits it to be used
in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students.

This module will help you learn skills related to Furniture and Cabinet Making. You
will have first-hand experience in educational activities leading you to become a
successful learner!

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the different preparation of surfaces for finishing;
2. explain the different preparation of surfaces for finishing; and
3. apply the underlying principles in the preparation of surfaces for finishing.

What I Know

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: ______________________________________________ Gr. & Sec: __________________
Gr. Level & Subject (Specialization): _________________ Module No.:________________
Name of Activity: What I Know Date :______________________

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. It is used either hand or power sanding.

A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
2. What is the right or proper sanding application?
A. across the grain C. along the grain
B. across and along the grain D. circular the grain
3. What is the other term of abrasive?
A. bond paper C. finishing paper
B. cloth back D. sandpaper
4. To ensure and keep the surface flat during the sanding process, use ______.
A. circular block C. manual sanding
B. counter block D. sanding block
5. What is the advisable grit size in sanding the mahogany wood?
A. 120, 150 & 180 C. 120, 180 & 220
B. 120, 150 & 220 D. 150, 180 & 220
6. What is the advisable grit size in sanding the oak wood?
A. 120, 150 & 180 C. 120, 180 & 220
B. 120, 150 & 220 D. 150, 180 & 220

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 7. What is the abrasive of choice for very fine sanding in the field of
woodworking?
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
8. The key to a successful finishing job is called ______.
A. defective surface C. preparation of the surface
B. dusty surface D. scratches on the surface
9. It is a very hard and durable abrasive grain good for sanding metals and
hardwood.
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
10. It is used primarily for hand sanding.
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper

What’s In

This module will help you gain more knowledge and skills that you need in addition
to the previous topics. It includes instructions and procedures on how to perform the
different learning outcomes. The unit competency contains the knowledge, skills, and
attitudes required in Preparing Surface for Finishing for Furniture and Cabinet
Making NC II. You are required to go through a series of learning activities in order
to complete the desired learning outcomes.

What’s New

Do these materials, tools, and equipment look familiar to you? Get to know these
materials, tools, and equipment so you may learn to use them in the next activity.

Selecting the Right Sandpaper Grit and Type for Woodworking Projects
Get to know how different grit types and grades impact the sanding process so that
you always choose the right supplies for the project at hand.

istockphoto.com

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If you have ever worked with wood, you’re likely familiar with instructions to sand all
edges after cutting before applying a finish, between coats of paint, and so on. Seeing
sandpaper on a tools and materials list may seem easy enough to check off—until
you hit the hardware store and face stacks of sheets and booklets, each distinctly
identified with a different set of numbers, or sandpaper grits. Which did this project
call for again?

Different sandpaper grits perform very different jobs and selecting the right grit can
be confusing when you are starting. Warm-up with these basic recommendations
and rules of thumb. This guide will run you through:

1. Selecting the right size of sandpaper grit,

2. Choosing the appropriate coarseness for the project,
3. Considering the best type of grit to choose, and
4. Finding the right tool for the easiest effort.

After you have a few completed projects under your belt, you will be an old pro at
picking just the right sandpaper.

SANDING PREPARATION

We cannot stress enough that you must have a strong base of proper sanding to
achieve the perfect finish!! See our sanding tutorial below if you want more details.
All surfaces should be clean and free from all dirt and oils. Prep sanding is done with
progressively finer grits. Do NOT start sanding with very fine sandpaper on
unfinished wood. Prepare the surface by using medium paper first, and then proceed
to finer grades. On most raw woods, start sanding in the direction of the grain using
a #120-150 grit paper before staining and work up to #220 grit paper.

Softwoods such as pine and alder: start with #120 and finish with no finer than #220
(for water-based stains) and 180 grit for oil-based stains.

Hardwoods such as maple and oak: start with #120 and finish-sand no finer than
#180 (for water-based stains) and #150 grit for oil-based stains.

Do not over-sand or you may seal the wood so much that it will not take a finish.
End-grains (areas where the wood has been cut against the grain), such as the front
side of a table, tend to soak up more stain than other surfaces. Give end-grain areas
additional sanding to control the absorption of stain.

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Make fast work of prep sanding! Shown here is an orbital power sander with a dust
bag used to prep the wood surface and buff out between topcoats. Just use the
correct grade of sandpaper when buffing out between topcoats or milk paints. We
often prefer to hand sand the final topcoats. Do not use an orbital sander when
distress sanding flat painted surfaces for an antiqued look. The orbital sander will
dig in as you apply pressure to get through the paint, leaving round areas of wear
that will not look natural. Natural distressing runs with the grain of the wood. This
photo shows one coat of topcoat being buffed out over Lamp Back Paint.

A sanded surface is nothing more than progressively finer and more numerous
scratches. Therefore, skipping a grit leaves deep valleys that successive grits are
hard-pressed to remove.

A general rule for the use of sandpaper is as follows - the finer the sandpaper used,
the lighter the stain color will be. Conversely, the coarser the sandpaper used, the
darker the stain color will be. Remember that a coarser sanding job will look less
refined than the smoother surface that comes from progressing through increasingly
finer grits of sandpaper. Final sanding will bring the surface to the desired
smoothness. Sanding must be thorough, even, and with the grain of the wood. If
these criteria are met, no further sanding will be necessary. Since there are so many
grades of sandpaper available, some knowledge of what the various designations
mean, and a little practice are useful in order to take advantage of this important
tool. This chart is based on our experience and is intended as a guideline only.

The number of identification or grit number on the back of sandpaper sheets

indicates the smallest opening through which the abrasive particles will pass. For
sandpaper marked 220 the abrasive particles will pass through a screen with 220
openings per linear inch.

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The designation "Open Coat" indicates a particle distribution to prevent the paper
from clogging. The adhesive used on wet or dry sandpaper is resistant to water, oils,
and paint thinner.
• The adhesive used on standard sandpaper is water sensitive.
• Cabinet-grade sandpaper is backed with heavy paper.
• The finishing grade is backed with more pliable paper.

The types of abrasives commonly used for furniture finishing are garnet, aluminum
oxide, and silicon carbide. In general, red garnet paper is used primarily for hand
sanding. Grey to white aluminum oxide is used for either hand or power sanding;
black silicon carbide is the abrasive of choice for very fine sanding in the
woodworking field.

MATERIAL FIRST SANDING 2ND SANDING FINAL SANDING

Oak 120 150 180

Birch 120 150 180

Maple 120 120 180

Mahogany 150 180 220

Walnut 150 180 220

Fir 120 150 180

Pine 120 150 180

Cherry 120 150 220

White Ash 120 150 180

Coarse sandpapers below 100 grit, are rarely used for fine furniture finishing. They
may, on occasion, be useful for distressing the surface, rounding harsh corners, or
breaking down extremely rough areas. The grades of sandpaper used most for
furniture finishing fall in the fine and very fine categories - that is from 120 grit
through 220 grit; with 320, 400, and 600 grit used for special purposes. For "hard
to stain" woods, finish sanding with 120 grit will usually accommodate the problem.
For finish sanding on most furniture hardwoods (e.g., cherry and mahogany) use 180
grit or 220 grit. The use of grits up to 600 is certainly allowed but is not standard
practice. Usually, you will have to make a concession either to surface smoothness
or to color acceptance. Factory sanded furniture still requires finish sanding. Do the
initial sanding with medium-fine paper and finish with one or more of the finer
grades. Be sure you sand the whole surface with the same grit paper. If you miss a
spot, the stain will be darker in the rougher areas.

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 What is It

WOOD SURFACE PREPARATION

The key to a successful finishing job is the preparation of the surface. The wood
surface must be smooth and clean; since any scratches will be more noticeable after
the finish is applied than they are in the bare wood. Never use sandpaper on an
antique. The surface preparation procedure you follow depends on the
characteristics of the wood piece and the stripping (if any) procedure you followed.
Sanding the majority of the surface preparation should be performed with steel wool.
There will be cases, however, when it will be necessary to use sandpaper. If you are
working with new wood which has never been finished, it is necessary to sand the
wood to get a smooth, even surface. Sanding will also be necessary if the grain of the
wood has been raised during stripping. If you must use sandpaper, read this section
carefully. Sandpaper is defined by the type of abrasive used and also the size (or grit)
of the abrasive particles.

The major types of abrasives include:

1. Aluminum Oxide - very hard and durable abrasive grains good for sanding
metals and hardwoods.
2. Garnet - abrasive grains have very sharp edges, but they are not as tough as
aluminum oxide grains. Good for all woodworking operations.
3. Flint - least expensive sandpaper. Flint has sharp edges but dulls fast because
of low toughness and durability. Good for woodworking operations.
4. Emery - hard but dull particles that cut slowly resulting in a polishing action.

Generally, not recommended for use on wood but can be used for final smoothing
operation. The USA system for identifying abrasive grain sizes (grit) ranges from 12
(coarsest) to 600 (finest). In woodworking, grades from 120 to 400 are commonly
used. Choose the proper grit size for the task. Sandpaper coarser than 120 is not
recommended for wood; it will make deep scratches. For the preparation of wood
surfaces for finishing, open coat sandpapers are recommended. These have open
spaces on the sanding surface (abrasive grains cover 50-70% of the paper.) Hand
sanding is recommended; do not use power sanders of the circular or orbital type
because they create small scratches across the grain. (Power sanding is
recommended, however for removing the Educational programs of the Kentucky
Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex,
religion, disability, or national origin. 2 finish on hardwood floors and may be
desirable to speed up the wood preparation steps on other wood items. If you need
to use a power sander, use one that will sand only in the grain direction. However,
be careful, a power sander will remove a lot of wood in a short time.)

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For a successful sanding operation, follow these basic steps:
1. Always use a backing block for hand sanding - wrap your sandpaper around a
flat block of wood or similar material.
2. Using moderate pressure, sand only in the direction of the grain.
3. Change the sandpaper often. If the abrasive becomes clogged, it will not
function properly and may scratch the wood. Surface Preparation for Various
Wood Conditions.

If the stripping process is done carefully with the proper chemicals, very little surface
preparation will be necessary.

1. If the wood surface feels smooth after stripping and has no scratches, rub the
surface briskly with grade 0 steel wool until it feels uniformly smooth. Then
repeat the process using grade 00 steel wool.

2. If the wood surface feels smooth but has noticeable scratches, you need to
decide. Any effort to remove these scratches will alter the "patina" of the wood.
a. If the scratches are small and shallow, try removing them by carefully (with
light pressure) sanding the surface with very or extra-fine sandpaper (grit
size of 180 to 240). Use a sanding block to ensure you keep the surface
flat.
b. If the scratches are relatively deep, you must decide if you would rather
preserve the naturally aged look of the wood surface and consider them
character marks or remove them. If you decide you must remove them,
proceed as follows:

1) Carefully sand the entire surface of the piece with an abrasive paper of
grit size 120 until the scratch has been eliminated.
2) Sand next with grit size 160.
3) Sand next with grit size 200.
4) Sand next with grit size 240.
5) Final smoothing with steel wool grade 00.

3. If the wood surface has very deep scratches or gouges, you may want to fill
them with synthetic wood putty or filling compound. Use one that matches
the color of the stain you 3 will be using (if any) as most fillers will not pick
up stain. However, remember you will never get it to look like the original
wood.

4. If the wood surface is in good condition but feels slightly rough, it will be
necessary to sand the surface lightly with an abrasive paper of grit size 240.
Follow this with a hand rubbing of grade 00 steel wool.

5. If the wood surface of an old (but not very valuable) piece is in very poor
condition (rough, badly scratched, gouged, etc.), or if you are working with
new wood (such as a piece of unfinished furniture), it will be necessary to do
rather an extensive sanding. Start with a grit size of 120 followed by 160, 200,

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 and 240. Then perform the final smoothing with grad 00 steel wool. After the
wood surface has been prepared to your satisfaction, carefully brush the
surface with a stiff bristle or fiber brush to remove all traces of sanding residue
and steel filings. This is especially important for oak as chemicals in oak will
react with metal filings causing a stain on the wood. Follow this by wiping the
surface with a rag dampened with denatured alcohol. You now are ready to
begin the finishing process.

What’s More

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _____________________________________________ Gr. & Sec: __________________
Gr. Level & Subject (Specialization): _________________ Module No.: ________________
Name of Activity: What’s More Date: ______________________

Instructions: Provide the grit size of sandpaper used from the 1st, 2nd, and final
sanding process.

MATERIAL FIRST SANDING 2ND SANDING FINAL SANDING

1. Birch

2. Cherry

3. Fir

4. Mahogany

5. Maple

6. Oak

7. Pine

8. Walnut

9. White Ash

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 What I Have Learned

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: ______________________________________________ Gr. & Sec:__________________
Gr. Level & Subject(Specialization):_________________ Module No.:________________
Name of Activity: What I Have Learned Date :______________________

Instructions. Identify the materials used in sanding preparations from the given
statement.

__________1. To smooth and feather previously painted surfaces, or to roughen glossy

surfaces so the paint will adhere better.
__________2. To hold the sandpaper and help you sand surfaces to an even finish
__________3. Very hard and durable abrasive grains are good for sanding metals and
hardwoods.
__________4. Abrasive grains have very sharp edges, but they are not as tough as
aluminum oxide grains. Good for all woodworking operations.
__________5. Least expensive sandpaper and has sharp edges but dulls fast because
of low toughness and durability. Good for woodworking operations.
__________6. Hard but dull particles that cut slowly result in a polishing action.
__________7. It is used primarily for hand sanding.
__________8. It is used for either hand or power sanding.
__________9. It is the abrasive of choice for very fine sanding in the woodworking field.
_________10. It is the right application during the sanding process.

What I Can Do

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: _____________________________________________ Gr. & Sec:__________________
Gr. Level & Subject(Specialization):_________________ Module No.:________________
Name of Activity: What I Can Do Date :______________________

Test I. Instructions: Identify at least 5 abrasive materials and their uses.

Abrasive Materials Uses

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Test II. Instructions: You are assigned by your teacher to prepare the wood surface
for finishing. For a successful sanding operation, enumerate the three basic
steps.

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 Assessment

Please do not forget to write the following on your answer sheet:

Name: ______________________________________________ Gr. & Sec:__________________
Gr. Level & Subject(Specialization):_________________ Module No.:________________
Name of Activity: Assessment Date :______________________

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. What is the advisable grit size in sanding the oak wood?

A. 120, 150 & 180 C. 120, 180 & 220
B. 120, 150 & 220 D. 150, 180 & 220
2. What is the abrasive of choice for very fine sanding in the field of
woodworking?
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
3. The key to a successful finishing job is called ______.
A. defective surface C. preparation of the surface
B. dusty surface D. scratches on the surface
4. It is a very hard and durable abrasive grain good for sanding metals and
hardwood.
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
5. It is used primarily for hand sanding.
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
6. It is used either hand or power sanding.
A. aluminum oxide C. grey to white aluminum oxide
B. black silicon carbide D. red garnet paper
7. What is the right or proper sanding application?
A. across the grain C. along the grain
B. across and along the grain D. circular the grain
8. What is the other term of abrasive?
A. bond paper C. finishing paper
B. cloth back D. sandpaper
9. To ensure and keep the surface flat during the sanding process, use ______.
A. circular block C. manual sanding
B. counter block D. sanding block
10. What is the advisable grit size in sanding the mahogany wood?
A. 120, 150 & 180 C. 120, 180 & 220
B. 120, 150 & 220 D. 150, 180 & 220

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 Answer Key

What's More
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References
Online Sources:
https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/tipstechniques/surface-preparation-0, retrieved on January
18, 2021.
https://generalfinishes.com/instructions/preparation-sanding, retrieved on January 18, 2021.
https://generalfinishes.com/instructions/preparation-sanding#, retrieved on January 18, 2021.
http://howto.yellow.co.nz/hobbies-games-toys/how-to-prepare-wood-surfaces-for-finishing/,
retrieved on January 18, 2021.
https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.054.pdf, retrieved on January 18,
2021.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2145-quick-tip-choosing-sandpaper/, retrieved on January 18,
2021.
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/sanding-and-preparing-wood-
before-staining, retrieved on January 18, 2021.