Do I Need to Sand the Stain Before Applying Varnish?

Sanding Steps

• Sand bare wood before staining to smooth it out and remove any defects. Sand again after applying the first coat of sealant to the bare wood. Sealant will prevent the wood from soaking up stain differently in different areas of the surface. Sanding this layer of sealant removes any brush strokes that might exist. Don't sand right after staining the wood, as this will only remove the stain. Instead, apply a sanding sealer right after the stain dries and sand that sealer to smooth out the wood and remove any brush or rag marks.

How to Sand

• Sanding is one of the most important steps when staining and refinishing furniture. Sand flat area of the wood floor or piece of furniture with sanding blocks to achieve a flat and even look. Sand curved or detailed areas with a piece of sandpaper in your palm or between your fingers, and be careful not to blur detailing on furniture or paneling. Always sand with the grain of the wood. If you sand against it you will scratch the wood. Use even pressure and work until the wood feels smooth and soft.

Cleaning Sawdust

• Any residue that gets in the stain has the potential to ruin the final result. This means you'll need to clean the wood and room completely after sanding at each step. If you brush stain over a sawdust-covered piece of wood, it will look cloudy and unprofessional. If the room is covered in sawdust, the debris will inevitably get into the layer of stain. Use a shop vacuum to clean the room completely. This is most important in the first sanding step, which creates the most sawdust.

Avoiding Damage

• If you sand the sanding sealer too vigorously, you can sand right through it to the layer of stain. If you continue to sand, you will remove the stain and will have to re-stain that area. It takes experience to re-stain patches and make them blend completely with the rest of the wood. Avoid having to do this by using fine-grit sandpaper when sanding over any sealer on the wood.