Synopsis: Today’s abrasives are so numerous and versatile that there is really no excuse for not sanding between coats of finish, especially since this technique is the key to a truly great finish. But before you begin, you need advice from an expert to determine which of the many consumer-oriented and industrial abrasives to use, and when. Jeff Jewitt unlocks the door for you, narrowing down what to use for film-forming finishes like lacquer, varnish, and shellac; describing new products to use for dry-sanding between coats; and covering the better use of wet-or-dry paper for sanding the finish coat in preparation for the rubbing-out process.

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Whether you spray, brush, or wipe, one of the keys to a great finish is learning to sand between coats. when I began finishing in the 1970s, there weren’t many choices when it came to sanding a finish: Steel wool shed tiny hairs that…