Abrasives

by Teri Masaschi

Learn how today’s sandpaper is made, and why different types of abrasives work best on different surfaces. Then take a tour of a sandpaper factory. We may never ...

by Fine Woodworking editors

Online resources for wood, glues, sandpaper, finishes, and more

by Ari Tuckman

Ever consider that you may be sanding too much? Ari Tuckman has. Like many woodworkers, he dislikes sanding. So he set out to do a semi-scientific study to find ...

by Ari Tuckman

Few woodworkers enjoy the noise and dust of power sanding, but most recognize it as an easy way to get boards uniformly smooth. Others swear by the card scraper, ...

by Brent Beach

How did Brent Beach transform sharpening from a dreaded chore into an easy routine? He switched to high-quality sandpaper as the sharpening medium, along with an ...

by Scott Gibson

The subject of sandpaper grows more complicated each year, as manufacturers offer more and more types of abrasives, backings, and adhesives in a wider variety of ...

by Mark Schofield

The world of sandpaper grits is undergoing a quiet revolution, and the grits you've always relied on for each stage of woodworking may no longer be the most appropriate, ...

by David Sorg

Proper sanding is a crucial part of woodworking, whether the goal is to remove marks left by the planer and jointer, eliminate tiny imperfections after handplaning, ...

by Teri Masaschi

Still using the same finishing product you started with 15 years ago? You may be missing a product that can save time and effort and give a better result. Professional ...

by William Duckworth

If you haven't had sharpening success or want to explore a new method, try honing your blade on granite with a water and silicon-carbide slurry. The method is economical ...

by Jeff Jewitt

Jeff Jewitt, a furniture finisher and restorer, does detective work to determine whether steel wool or abrasive pads products work best for the various steps of ...

by Strother Purdy

As Strother Purdy of Fine Woodworking learned, you can’t go right buying cheap sandpaper, but it’s still easy to go wrong with the best sandpaper that’s available. ...

by Gary Straub

No matter how much time and care go into the making of a piece, its overall beauty is partly determined by how well it has been sanded. No finish can cover up a ...