Synopsis: Power tools leave their marks on wood, so if you want a dead-flat, smooth surface ready for a finish, you’ll probably turn to sandpaper. Finishing expert Jeff Jewitt shares time-tested methods for using modern abrasives and sanding machines to get flawless results. From using a random-orbit sander followed by hand-sanding to smooth a surface, to using a belt-sander to level a glued-up panel, to working on tricky surfaces such as narrow parts and curved work, these tips will help you get the flawless surface you are looking for.

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Even if the wood’s surface appears perfect after you’ve run it through the tablesaw, jointer, or planer, it’s not. All of these machines leave their marks, and the tricky part is that those marks often aren’t visible on bare wood. Unfortunately, they’ll jump out once a stain or clear finish is applied. That’s why all boards coming off a machine…