Sand Much of the beauty of the finished wood will depend upon sanding. The finish you choose will not cover up scratches and dents. In fact, the finish magnifies blemishes of any kind. The correct grade of abrasive must be selected for best results. Then continue with successively finer abrasives.
Garnet paper is better for all-round household use.
It is reddish in color and costs a little more than flint, but it is harder and sharper, so lasts longer. Smooth the surface by sanding with the grain of the wood when the wood is dry. Cover adjoining cross grain sections of the wood before sanding. When sanding flat surfaces, it is convenient to wrap the sandpaper around a small block of wood or a blackboard eraser in order to ensure even pressure. For grooves and crevices, fold squares of sandpaper in quarters.