Kitchen worktop - recommended sanding grade

[DeusXM]

I'm looking to refresh my existing kitchen oiled wood worktops.

At present, they're 'textured' i.e if you run your hand over them, you can lightly feel the woodgrain. I'd like to get them so that once they've been fully reoiled, they're smooth to the touch.

I've read conflicting advice as to the sanding grade recommended. Some sources talk about starting at 120 as the initial finish and then going up to much higher. Others say that once you go over 180, the surface becomes too fine for the oil to penetrate properly.

My plan was to sand down initially with an orbital sander at 120 and then do final tidying by hand if essential. With that in mind, can anyone help advise to what grade I should use for both the orbital and hand please?

 

[Notch7]

if they are badly scratched you might want to start at 80 grit

then go down to 120 grit, maybe 180 if you can still see orbital scratch marks

if they are "textured" id be guessing the worktops are oak -as its ring porous and quite course.

Im not sure you will get "texture" from just an orbital -you might need a wire brush or webrax disc

 

[DeusXM]

Thanks - I'm guessing then the bits I've read about using 320 grit paper are wrong then?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

It all depends on the species. With open pore timbers such as oak and ash you generally won't get much benefit by going above P120 grit as the coarseness of the timber grain cancels out the effect of the finer sanding. On smooth, closed pore timbers such as sycamore, maple, beech, mahogany, etc you will get a far better finish by working up through the grits to P240 or even P320. Of coarse (sic) for the best surface finish you should forego sanding and hand scrape with a cabinet scraper

 

[SFK]

I have done all the above (typically down to 240 grit), and then flattened it further AFTER first coat of osmo.
I let osmo dry and then lightly used 1000 wet-and-dry (with water).
Before applying second coat of osmo.
SFK

 

[DeusXM]

Thanks all.

Next possibly very stupid question. I'll be using a Bosch consumer-grade (ie green, not blue) sander. With the right adaptor, can I hook this up to a standard domestic Dyson vacuum, or would this likely destroy the vacuum?

 

[conny]

Shouldn't do the vacuum any harm and will certainly be beneficial for your lungs and anyone else in the vicinity.
Best rule of thumb is to remember, machines and fixtures can be replaced, your health can't be.

 

[rick1632]

The Dyson will be fine - just wash the filter afterwards and make sure you don't over fill the bin!

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

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