Wet Sanding Issue

Sanding, rusticating, sandblasting, buffing, etc. All here.
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DocAitch
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Wet Sanding Issue

Post by DocAitch »

I have been using my 320 and 400 grits wet, because I really appreciate the increased rate of material removal, especially when defining my understain.
Unfortunately, I am seeing that the stem stands "proud" of the shank by a small amount when I move on (enough to see and feel). I have had to back track with files and dry paper to correct this.
I am assuming that the briar swells when wet then shrinks as it drys, the only alternate explanation that I can hypothesize is that I have sloppy mortise/tenon fit and that the mechanical pressure pushes the stem as I sand, then the stem rebounds. I don't think this is the mechanism because my tenon fitting is not that bad and the same phenomenon does not occur when I sand dry.
Any thought from the experienced guys?
DocAitch
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baweaverpipes
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by baweaverpipes »

Yep! Briar swells with moisture.
caskwith
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by caskwith »

As Bruce says, the briar swells you sand it flush, then it shrinks back when dry. I only wet sand stems.
Charl
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by Charl »

Ditto to the above. Easy to solve though! :wink:
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Sasquatch
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by Sasquatch »

A man goes to the doctor, he says "Doc, it hurts when I do this..."
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Joe Hinkle Pipes
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by Joe Hinkle Pipes »

i did this for quite a while before i learned that the time saved wet sanding the junction is lost when you have to resand the junction. now i generally wet sand the stem, wet sand the bowl(if necessary) but not the shank or junction. Wet sanding with alcohol will make less impact, but you will still get some amount of swelling.
DocAitch
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by DocAitch »

You are right, Sasquatch. I knew the answer as I wrote the post, but I was hoping for a hint on how to keep my wet sanding and avoid the problem.
Yes, when it hurts, I generally stop doing it, (after hurting myself 20-30x).
Thank you other gentlemen for your replies, I think that I will follow Mr Hickle's approach. I may have to tape the junction because I do slop water all over the place.
DocAitch
"Hettinger, if you stamp 'hand made' on a dog turd, some one will buy it."
-Charles Hollyday, pipe maker, reluctant mentor, and curmudgeon
" Never show an idiot an unfinished pipe!"- same guy
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Sasquatch
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by Sasquatch »

The idea of wet-sanding wood is totally antithetical to me.

Sand as you please, but wood doesn't generate a slick swarf the way many materials (metals, ebonite) do. All it does is get gummy and change dimensions.

I think you'd see way better results from sanding dry through to about 400, then doing a "sanding sealer" coat, which is essentially alcohol with a tiny bit of shellac in it, really super thin. This will raise the grain on any damaged wood, it will evaporate (you aren't ever SOAKING the wood here). Then you re-sand this as you please, maybe at 500 or whatever, and the thing is ready for stain. Or shellac, or whatever the hell you want to do to it.

Buy good sandpaper, throw it out when it's dull.
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PremalChheda
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Re: Wet Sanding Issue

Post by PremalChheda »

Sasquatch wrote:The idea of wet-sanding wood is totally antithetical to me.

Sand as you please, but wood doesn't generate a slick swarf the way many materials (metals, ebonite) do. All it does is get gummy and change dimensions.

I think you'd see way better results from sanding dry through to about 400, then doing a "sanding sealer" coat, which is essentially alcohol with a tiny bit of shellac in it, really super thin. This will raise the grain on any damaged wood, it will evaporate (you aren't ever SOAKING the wood here). Then you re-sand this as you please, maybe at 500 or whatever, and the thing is ready for stain. Or shellac, or whatever the hell you want to do to it.

Buy good sandpaper, throw it out when it's dull.
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