Originally Posted by
James Pallas
I think it’s your choice how you want to finish. I prefer a cut surface. I know that some prefer sanding. I understand the view that when staining the color seems more even. I like the definition of a cut surface. If you look at a sanded surface with a lense you can see the effect. It looks to me like frayed rope. With an ROS you can even see the twisting of the fibers. I’ve not tested it. the effect may be a lot different if hand sanding with a block in one direction. You can test this easily for yourself. Just plane some end grain oak, take a look, ROS the same piece have another look. As far as flat goes I do better with a plane. I seem to get long rolling hills with a hand held power sander. I do sometimes use a #80 scraper and take full length cuts if possible. The picture is the bottom of a box I made a few years back it’s about 1x1 1/2/ feet. Only thing I could find with some kind of light on it. It is walnut with no finish right off the plane.
Jim
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