Twenty years in and I just learned I was sanding wrong the whole time

An old timer at a shop in Portland watched me sand a face frame and asked why I was going against the grain between coats. He showed me how a 320 grit with the grain knocks off nibs without scratching everything up. Anybody else discover they were doing something basic wrong after way too many years?

3 comments

3 Comments

johnflores18d ago

Seventy percent of what old timers tell you is just their personal preference, not actual fact. I've seen plenty of professional cabinetmakers cross-grain sand between coats and get perfect results because they know their wood and their finish. @the_hugo I'd argue that following advice without testing it yourself is just swapping one autopilot for another.

the_hugo24d ago

Gotta love those moments where some old pro just casually drops a decade's worth of wisdom on you. It's crazy how many things we just assume we're doing right because nobody ever told us different, you know? I've noticed this same pattern in cooking, driving, even tying my shoes (turns out I was doing that wrong for 30 years). It's like we all just stumble through life running on autopilot until someone finally points out the obvious. Makes you wonder what else we're all getting backwards without even realizing it.

hollyg5924d ago

Is it bad that I used to roll my eyes when older people gave me advice? I thought they were just stuck in their ways or whatever. But then a guy at a garage told me Im driving with my hands at 10 and 2 like its 1992 and thats actually dangerous with airbags now. Changed how I drive completely and it made me realize how much of my "knowledge" is just stuff I picked up and never questioned. Makes you wonder what else Im doing totally wrong without knowing it.