[Steppes] sanding question

[Mike C. Baker]

> As I begin working in my new shop (woo-hoo!) and my kids are 
> taking a test, I have time to sand down some pieces that I 
> turned on the lathe.  I can't remember, do I sand with or 
> against the grain?
>  
> Karen/Katya

"It Depends..."

Alasdair is probably more correct with his answer of "with the grain"
for final finishing, BUT there are times when sanding cross-grain is
actually advisable:  rapid removal of extra-rough starting surface being
the most common, or the desire to deliberately leave a rougher surface
for some reason**.  (From experience, both hand- and power- sanding and
across a wide variety of woods, I'd say cross-grain on the flat has been
useful to me about 1% of the time.)

Then there is the pesky matter of end-grain smoothing and woods like
"rock" pine...

At least as important as with-/against-/cross-grain is the selection of
the proper grit for the task, and the proper pre-sanding prep work. A
well-shaved / -planed / -lathed / -carved surface will USUALLY need far
less final polish than the kerfed surface left by even the
finest-toothed saw blade.

** common reasons for using / creating rougher surfaces in wood:
improved friction / traction surface, better adherence of thick (usually
opaque/ non-transparent) coatings, gluing points, faking a "distressed"
surface, etc.

*** CAVEAT:  my experience is primarily with "modern" equipment and
methods.  I am interested in pinning down some answers on pre-1600ce
alternatives to modern sandpaper.  Holystone for ship's decks I know
about, and other solids (rasps, files, sand- or other stone), plus loose
grits - I'm working on tracing the ancestors of emery cloth, and vaguely
remember seeing something about tacky-surfaced blocks dipped into
prepared grit...  But, then, I'm Amra and I'm a Bard -- I'm interested
in just about EVERYthing, if not for immediate consumption then against
possible future need.

Adieu, Amra / ttfn - Mike / Pax ... Kihe

Mike C. Baker
SCA: al-Sayyid Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri al-Amra, F.O.B, OSCA
"Other": Reverend Kihe Blackeagle PULC (the DreamSinger Bard)
Opinions? I'm FULL of 'em
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