Machine sanding, question on grinding out coarser scratches

[Shawn Hatcher]

Every time one of these topics comes up I feel obliged to toss in my quote:
"Whenever you're sanding out scratches - you're not sanding scratches. You're sanding everything that's NOT a scratch".

I remember the first time I read that, Karl. It really stuck with me and I find myself using it when I get asked about hand sanding. Always appreciate your insight.

 

[coldsteelburns]

Awesome, theres a lot of great info here! :thumbup: It's goin into my favorites Karl, I heard ya say that as well as give some great philosophy about how "you're not actually removing the scratch itself, instead everything but the scratch is being removed" on a series of youtube videos I came across a while ago. (great series btw ) When you mentioned how you used to refinish grand pianos to where it had to be absolutly perfect because you were in a sense making a mirror on that huge flat suface, and how it really helped you along in hand sanding knives, I thought you gave brilliant advice.. I think you used like one sheet of 9"X11" 220 grit paper to get all surfaces of the blade clean before HT-ing and mentioned that the main problem for most people who spend "a weekend" hand sanding their blade are not spending enough time at the grinder to get a good foundation.. yea sorry for blabbin on and on, but it has really helped me out

Even though i didn't start this thread, I gotta thank everybody for the great tips, and keep them commin, I need at the grinding help I can get

-Paul
www.youtube.com/Lsubslimed