Sanding with steel wool

[ear3]

My wife has asked me look into restoring an heirloom side table that has a lot of moulding and curves.  I've never tried using steel wool to sand, but figure this might be a good application for it.  I tested it out on an old cigar box and was pleased with the results, since it preserved the indented/stamped lettering on the top, which sandpaper probably would have burned through.

So my question is just about grit selection when it comes to steel wool (the grades being 2 (coarse), 1 (medium), 0(fine) and 000 (extra fine)).  Is it basically just like sandpaper, where you go from coarse to fine, not skipping grits along the way?

Any other tips for sanding with steel wool?

 

[waho6o9]

I prefer bronze wool to eliminate the possibility of making rust spots appear.

Some say if you use an oil finish then it won't rust, but if a water based finish is used then
it may have a chance to rust.

Yeah it's just like sand paper and don't skip the grits. 

 

[bertv]

There is also (at least over here in the Old World) 0000 steelwool… I use it for applying wax and extra smooth finishes.

 

[rvieceli]

Edward. You might also want to consider the 3M Scotch brite pads. They make grades that equate to 0,00,000 and 0000 steel wool but don't gave the steel problems i.e. Rust.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MIndustrial/Abrasives/Products/~/Hand-Pads?N=7581709&rt=r3#Panel

 

[ear3]

Thanks for the tips

 

[jacko9]

Ed, I would use a good finish stripper before trying to sand - might save you a lot of work.  I used to use Greens Striper but, I'm not sure that it's still available.

 

[sancho57]

Ed,
Stay away from the strippers you get at the big boxes etc. find a commercial supplier who sells the industrial stripper and gun wash.
Jeff Jewitt has a very good book and video called refinishing furniture made easy.
Comes with a video, very good.

Oh after all the stripping I to like using a fine scotch bright for final waxing.

 

[ear3]

Thanks for the book tip [member=10147]jobsworth[/member]

Ed,
Stay away from the strippers you get at the big boxes etc. find a commercial supplier who sells the industrial stripper and gun wash.
Jeff Jewitt has a very good book and video called refinishing furniture made easy.
Comes with a video, very good.

Oh after all the stripping I to like using a fine scotch bright for final waxing.

 

[waho6o9]

Thanks for the 3m link rvieceli. I purchased the Ultra Fine, Light Cleansing, and General Purpose

20 packs coz 3M products rock! Can't wait to use em.

 

[waho6o9]

The Ultra fine worked well and made the frame very smooth.

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