Stearated sandpaper

[Ben West]

Several resources I've read lately have had me thinking about the pros and cons of using stearated sandpaper. 

A couple of weeks ago, I finally found time to take a look at Jerry Work's manual on Festool sanders.  That very afternoon, I recieved a Klingspor's catalog and, while flipping through it, noticed they sell stearated sandpaper with the Festool 9-hole pattern.  Jerry had mentioned in his manual that one should never use stearated sandpaper on pieces destined for finishing with a water based finish because it will cause fish eyes.  OK, no stearated sandpaper for me since I've begun experimenting with water based finishes.  Just a couple of days ago, I was reading my way through Box Flexner's book "Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish."  Bob states unequivocally in the book that stearated sandpaper does NOT cause fish eyes in water based finishes; fish eyes are only caused by silicon contamination, he claims.

What's your experience?  I'd like to experiment with stearated sandpaper, but not at the risk of ruining a finish.

 

 

[bassman00]

What's your experience?  I'd like to experiment with stearated sandpaper, but not at the risk of ruining a finish.
 

Why don't you buy some of that stearated paper and experiment on some scraps?  Seems two heavyweights have weighed in on opposite sides of the "debate" so maybe it's more finish dependent?  I've read Bob's book and he takes the scientific side of things and dispels a lot of misinformation and rumors.  Jerry's manuals take the "been there, done that" approach and if he says it does, he must've experienced it.  Only way to find out for sure is to experiment with your paper and your finish and please let us know the results if you do.  I'd give it a shot but I don't believe I have any stearated paper and just yesterday bought my first pint of water based finish.  I've always stuck with wipe on oil/varnish/polys for my projects.

PaulD

 

[Michael Kellough]

Use Target's water based shellac as a sealer and you won't have to worry about residual stearate. Don't ask me how they do it but it really is shellac in a non-alcohol sprayable form.

 

[Abrasive Dan]

Ben, my name is Dan and I work for a company called Webb Abrasives. I basically spend all day thinking about sandpaper; I’ve become an expert in the field of abrasives – it’s my job to be an expert – and I read your blog entry today and had to share some input.
Anyway, in response to you, Ben, there is stearated paper, and then there is stearated paper. Common myth is that all sandpaper is pretty much the same. This is definitely not the case. Depending upon the brand you’re using, you’ll see some stearated paper that has a white hue to it, and you can really see the stearate.  Other paper (like ours) has a clear, invisible stearate that you can’t see. If youre using a low-quality paper, you’re probably going to get a low-quality result, and vice versa.
The fish eye effect that you mentioned has to do with the coating, not the sandpaper. Your problem is contamination as you are sanding a partially-cured lacquer. Please make sure that the lacquer is completely cured before scuffing. If you sand before the lacquer is cured, you will get contamination, because the very thin “layer of lacquer” underneath the surface is still in a partially uncured state.
I suspect that you are applying the lacquer at a temperature that is too low. Read the can. Most water-based lacquers will tell you to apply at a lacquer temperature of 70 degrees F. If you are applying your finish at the wrong temperature and you do not wait long enough before sanding, you will get fish eyes. My advice, buy a thermometer and take the temperature of the lacquer prior to application, applying the finish as per the instructions on the can. Try storing your finishes on a table (not on the floor) where the ambient room temperature is higher.
In an effort to help settle this debate, I’d like to send you some free samples of our stearated and non-stearated sandpaper for your experiments – please get in touch with me and I’ll get them right out. I’m not trying to sell you anything, as much as I’m simply doing my best to participate in this discussion and help folks like you out. The only catch is that you have to promise to get back to us with your input.
Contact me – dan@webbmfg.com with your address and I’ll send free sample sandpaper your way to test!