Use fine glasspaper to roughen painted
wood before applying new enamel or
varnish. Sand between coats, too.
To sand chair rungs and table legs, cut
a strip of glass paper and apply masking
tape to the back as reinforcement. Then
pull the paper back and forth around the
rung, as if you were shining shoes.
For carvings and turnings, fold the
sandpaper and fit the folded edge into
the curve so that the grit smooths both
faces at the same time. Use fine steel
wool (No. 000) to get all the way into
deep crevices.
When you sand, wear rubber gloves or
rubber thimbles - the kind designed for
office use-to protect your skin and keep
oily fingerprints off the wood.
To clean off very fine dust from a
smoothed surface, buy a tack (or tacky
rag) from your local decorating shop.
This is a special resin-impregnated
duster which will pick up the fine dust
without leaving the wood surface sticky
to the touch. It will also ensure that
painted surfaces do not appear gritty
when new paint is applied.
