Vent: My no-sand rule for painting fell apart after a side-by-side look

I always skipped sanding between coats to go faster. Seeing my lumpy doors next to a buddy's smooth ones flipped my opinion. That quick pass with sandpaper is worth it every time.

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron_cooper10d ago

Yikes, that side-by-side comparison must have been a tough pill to swallow. What was the main reason you kept skipping sanding, just to save time or was there another excuse? I always wonder if people realize how much difference that one extra step makes until they see it for themselves. Now that you've had this moment, will you sand every single time or still try to rush through sometimes? It's wild how a little patience can totally change the finished product.

charlie97710d ago

Look, sanding does help, but calling it a tough pill to swallow seems over the top. Sometimes the finish looks fine without it, especially if you're not showing it off. Saving time is a real reason, not just an excuse. Not every piece needs to be museum quality. I'll probably still rush through when the project is just for function, not looks. It's not always about patience, it's about picking your battles.

masonr489d ago

Picking your battles" is so true. I once built a quick bookshelf from some rough pine just to get stuff off the floor, didn't sand at all beyond a quick pass with some old paper. It looks kind of terrible (you can see every scratch and tool mark) but it holds books just fine in my garage. I never even stained it, just left it bare.