A Few Tips on Finish Sanding

Finish Sanding a Solid Wood Coffee Table: Step-by-Step

As this coffee table nears completion, it’s the perfect time to walk through how I approach finishing sanding a solid wood furniture piece. This stage is about much more than smoothing surfaces; it’s about preserving clean lines, honoring the grain, and preparing every detail for a professional finish.

Before sanding, I like to point out a few construction details that make a difference in the final look.

 

Thoughtful Details in the Build

The cabinet back is made from a single board cut in half, so the grain flows continuously across the back. It’s a small detail, but it gives the piece a more refined, intentional look.

For the drawer stops, I glued in small cherry blocks. To set the depth accurately, I used an offcut from the same material, lined it up inside the cabinet, marked my depth line, and clamped the stop in place.

The design of this coffee table is based on a writing desk I built years ago. That original desk was built with dovetail joinery, but due to time and budget constraints on this piece, I used screws and later plugged the holes. The strength still comes from proper construction and wood movement, solid wood furniture needs consistent grain direction so the parts expand and contract together.

I also repaired a crack in the tabletop using Dutchman joints, which not only strengthens the top but adds a subtle design element.

Disassembling Before Sanding

To make sanding easier, I fully disassemble the piece:

  • Legs removed

  • Cabinet backs removed

  • Drawers removed

I mark everything before removing it so reassembly is foolproof. Those pencil marks get sanded away during the final passes.

Once everything is broken down, I work one section at a time and fully complete each part before moving to the next.

Sanding the Legs

Before sanding, I routed a small roundover on the bottoms of each leg.

Since the legs were already planed flat, I started with 120-grit silicone carbide paper using an orbital sander. I use C-weight paper because it holds up better under orbital sanding.

Important rule here:
✅ Keep the sander flat
❌ Don’t roll over edges

I sanded only three faces of each leg:

  • Front

  • Side

  • Inside face

The plugged side gets sanded later, once attached.

Sanding the Cabinet Backs

The backs were sanded the same way as the legs:

  • 120-grit silicone carbide

  • Orbital sander

  • Flat pressure only

I also prefer wearing a respirator over disposable dust masks simply because it’s more comfortable for long sessions.

Sanding the Drawers

The drawers were sanded to completion before reassembly:

  1. 120-grit with an orbital sander

  2. Hand sanding with 220-grit A-weight paper

This isn’t about rounding corners—only easing the sharpness of the edges.

Sanding the Main Cabinet

Now comes the body of the table:

  • Started with 80 grit on a disc orbital sander for the bottom and sides

  • Switched to 120-grit silicone carbide on an orbital sander

After that, the legs were reattached.

The top gets sanded last, once everything is assembled.

Attaching the Legs

During leg assembly:

  • I applied a generous amount of glue at the joint

  • Screws are used mainly as clamps, not for structural strength

  • A manual screwdriver is used so I can feel the tension

Seeing glue squeeze-out is a good sign of a strong joint.

To clean wet glue:

  • Flat surfaces → rag

  • Inside corners → wet paintbrush

Plugging Screw Holes

Once the legs dried:

  • I installed walnut plugs using 5-minute epoxy

  • While the epoxy was curing, I started sanding the top

The slight height difference between the legs and the cabinet is leveled with:

  • 80 grit on a disc sander (to cut everything flush)

Afterward:

  • Flip the piece over

  • Trim plugs with a pull saw

  • Finish sanding the legs

  • Flip it back upright and sand the top again with 120-grit

  • Final hand sanding with 220 grit

When cutting plugs flush, I cut halfway from one side, then flip the saw and finish from the other to avoid tear-out.

Final Thoughts

The last step is careful hand sanding of every edge, not to round them over, but to slightly soften them so the piece feels good to the touch.

If you’d like to see how this coffee table gets finished, that will be covered next.

Thanks for following along.

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