For irregular surfaces, appropriate sanding blocks must be employed, such dowels, sponge rubber cakes, portions of solid rubber balls, or strips of the abras itself, pulled like a shoeshine rag around the part to be sanded. The finer abrasi used after the preliminary heavy sanding require a proportionally softer bio blackboard erasers, slabs of cork, or blocks to which several layers of old in tube have been cemented are excellent for the purpose. These softer types of blc ing are especially necessary because the finer grits are imbedded in a more flexi softer type of backing. Another abrasive medium available, which is especially useful on irregi surfaces, is steel wool. Its cutting powers are comparable to grits of 000, 0,1,; 2 The 000 steel wool gives a sheen to hardwood surfaces unequaled bv the fir grit papers. Before finishing, some mechanics pass a magnet over the abrai (tanface to pick up all particles of the metallic wool, p. xjuc Сдошсаш ait 01 sanaing uetwcen vannsn coats can oe succosiuny accc 16 . plished by the amateur through the use of wet sanding papers. These finegrit abrasives are extremely tough and impervious to the water in which they must be soaked before application. Prior to the use of these abrasives, the varnished surface is sprinkled with a fine spray of water from any available laundry sprinkler. After the surface is sanded, it must be carefully sponged off, then wiped dry with a chamois or lintfree cloth. Although these wetsanding papers may be used in place of the pumice or rottenstone customarily applied with a felt pad for this type of finish coat, it must be appreciated that they exert a much faster cutting action, therefore extreme vigilance must be exercised to prevent cutting through the varnish, instead of merely refining its surface. Whenever possible, sanding should be done prior to final assembly, for after assembly the corners of rails, panels, and joints are difficult to reach. When water stain is to be used later, it is good practice to raise the grain of the wood by sponging it with warm water, allowing it to dry thoroughly before commencing the sanding operations. The following table is a suggested guide for selecting the grit size of the coated abrasive: Material Abrasive Rough Finish Fine Hardwood.............Garnet 21 1210 2040 Aluminum oxide Softwood..............Garnet 1% 10 20 Table of Comparative Grain Size No. Garnet Flint Emery No. Garnet Flint Emery 400 100 _ - 80 10 1 2 320 90 - FF 80 12 12 22 280 80 - F 50 1 2 3 240 70 - Зо 40 12 22 - 220 60 40 20 36 2 3 - 180 S 3 i 30 - - ISO 40 20 12 24 3 - - 120 Зо i 1 20 З2 - - 100 20 12 12 16 4 - Chiseling. From his grandstand seat in "Mindy's" restaurant, Damon Runyon, of delightful memory, would have discoursed at some length upon this important subject of chiseling, albeit from a different angle. Among elder cabinetmakers the art of chiseling, or paring with edged tools, was (and still is) held in high repuie.