Guide
Skipped grits are invisible until the finish goes on, and then permanent
Each grit removes the scratches of the previous one. Jumping two grades leaves scratches too deep for the finer paper to reach, and the oil reveals every one.
The sequence
Never skip more than one grade. Eighty, one twenty, one eighty, two forty. Each stage removes the last stage's marks, not the wood.
How to check
Wipe with white spirit between grits. It temporarily shows what the finish will show, and remaining scratches become obvious.
When to stop
Two forty is enough for oil. Going finer closes the grain and the oil sits on the surface instead of soaking in.
Read the full guideSee the spirit test
