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Wet or dry sanding ?

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BrianH:
Micheal
Your description doesn't quite chime with my experience. I wonder if you are following Mr O'D and dipping into a dish/container of oil and then splashing it everywhere?
 I cover the lathe bed before using a small cheapy paint brush (permanently sealed through the lid of a suitable sealable container of danish) to lightly coat the timber with the lathe stopped and repeating until saturation point is achieved. With lathe at walking pace I then sand, leave for 15mins or so before wiping off the excess oil. Repeat with finer grade if required. Once used in this fashion the abrasive will appear clogged with dried oil but my results suggest this is softened by the new oil in subsequent uses. Time consuming it certainly is but the silky feel to the finished project makes it worthwhile IMHO.
I should also mention that there is a trap awaiting the unwary in attaching more importance to the appearance of the sanding process than the results on the finished piece....... I wonder how I am so aware of that trap??????     
All the best
Brian

The Bowler Hatted Turner:
The other thing you might consider is sanding with paste wax. Dip a flexible abrasive into the wax and "sand it in". This is an old method, favoured by Americans but just as effective this side of the pond too.Same principles apply.

BrianH:
I had a long discussion on this very point with a well known 'Name' some years ago, while preparing an article for publication. Needless to say we both agreed and disagreed in equal measure and no definitive conclusion was ever reached. If he recognises himself lets leave him to 'out' himself and perhaps let us know what he is using now!!!!!

I agree that sanding with either lubricant is equally effective (and better than dry sanding!)but suggest that using paste wax means you are initially sealing the timber with a softer material (by comparison with oil which hardens into a coating which begins below the surface of the wood), which is more liable to damage and likely to have a shorter acceptable lifespan. Also starting with wax restricts your later choices as cured oil can remain a stand-alone satin finish or have a shinier wax finish added if/when required.
Both materials will, of course, need maintenance throughout the life of the piece but I suggest paste wax will need that TLC sooner and more often than the oil.

All the best everybody
Brian

Dancie:
Many thanks to all that replied - stay safe

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