How To Prep Wood For Paint After Sanding

Allow the dampened wood to dry 30 minutes before the final sanding.

How to prep wood for paint after sanding. Using 150-180 sandpaper give the piece a light sanding. After stripping paint to properly clean the wooden surface use mineral spirits and fine steel wool. Timing is critical when using a paint stripper.

A putty knife to scrape peeling paint and apply fillers a paint scraper for rough oil-based paint sandpaper or a sanding sponge to smooth out rough spots and dry spackling paste. There are only a few items required to prep wood trim for painting. Generally paint doesnt adhere to the slippery surface of varnished wood thats why sanding is required.

Apply oil-based paint primer. It is good to use a shop vac to clean the surface between sanding grits removing the larger grit particles from the wood before sanding with the next higher grit. On certain woods such as oak and ash pre-wet the wood with a damp cloth to raise the grain before final sanding.

The mineral spirits will clean any grime or grease off of your surface making it ready for painting or staining. The most effective way to clean wood after sanding is to brush all the dust off the wooden surface using a painters dust brush and then wipe the surface with a lint-free rag and mineral spirits. Sand down the edges of bare spots.

You will need a hand brush to clean the dust. After this second sanding the wood is ready for a stain or clear protective finish to be applied. While blowing the dust off with compressed air removes the dust it also mixes it into the air so some of it can settle back onto the surface and so you can breath it.

Blowing sanding dust off your wood project with an air compressor or brushing it. Popping the Grain The technique of wetting the wood down before staining is called popping the grain. This will provide a smoother final finish.