Nachsanden

Nachsanden, from the German term meaning "re-sanding," refers to sanding a surface again after an initial sanding pass. It is a common step in woodworking, furniture finishing, cabinetry, and automotive refinishing that aims to remove remaining scratches, flatten the surface, and improve adhesion for subsequent coats. The procedure is typically performed after the first sanding and any preparation steps such as filling or staining and before the final coats.

Techniques and tools involve using a progression of abrasives, starting with a mid-range grit (for wood, roughly 120–180) and moving to finer grits (around 220–320) to achieve a smooth finish. Wet sanding can help reduce dust and clogging, while dry sanding requires effective dust extraction. A sanding block or a random-orbit sander helps maintain an even surface and prevent gouges. For open-grain woods, light passes and possible grain filling between steps may be necessary. Keep the surface slightly damp for wet sanding to reduce heat buildup, and remove dust between steps.

Considerations include the risk of over-sanding, which can thin veneers or alter joints, and the need for compatibility with the chosen finish. Proper technique minimizes cross-grain scratches and heat buildup that could affect coatings. Safety and working conditions matter: use adequate ventilation and a dust mask or respirator. In practice, nachsanden is one of several surface-preparation steps and is generally described in English-language contexts as re-sanding or final smoothing prior to finishing. See also sanding and surface finishing.