eball Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 What grit do I start with for sanding Birch ply? It's already 'smooth'-er, so wondering if I still have to start with a lower grit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suiciedchild Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 I would grab a scrap and start with 180 , see how it compares to an unsanded area then move up or down accordingly, keeping in mind ply wood is easy to sand through that top veneer. So do as little sanding as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 I'll usually hit it just enough to remove marks & scuffs with 220, then hit it with a coat of sanding sealer followed by another light 220 hand sanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 ==> grab a scrap +1. basically it depends of how rough it came off the press and how thick the outer skins are. some sheet good mfgs are are cutting cost by using really thin veneers --- sanding these is a delicate process (hence the recommendation of 180). some mfg's are still using thick veneers and you can start lower, say 120/150. If it is a thin veneer sheet, then you may have to live with any deep scratches in the face simply because if you sand them out, the glue layer will telegraph through. As an example, I just finished a 12 sheet (cherry) project. All 12 sheets were sourced from the same supplier, but two sheets were sourced a month later. The first 10 sheets, I was able to successfully go 120/150/180 and got a very nice surface for finishing. The last two sheets were much thinner and I could only risk 180. These two sheets still had some residual surface marks after finishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 ==> grab a scrap +1. +2. I have sanded through hardwood ply before. Try to take care of your plywood so that it doesn't get "bench rash" or small scratches. Usually, I use 220 (hand sand - no machines). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOneHandedHandyMan Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I would definitely recommend hand sanding. It is usually pretty smooth as is, and if you're adding finish, you can sand the finish smooth after application to get the desired look/ feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.