Getting rid of grooves before a final coat......

After several layers of quick fair and primer, I have noticed some scratches/grooves in the sides. I think it is from applying quickfair with a putty knife. You know the putty knife leaves an edge and I thought I had them all sanded out. However, once I applied the primer I saw the grooves. Maybe a long block of plywood would make a better sander? Should I go back to an 80 grit to 'knock down' the high spots and return with some 150 grit to finish for primer?? This is deflating since I thought I was close to being done. Im a bit frustrated! Any ideas???

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I have been reading the Tauton Press book on sanding wood. I have learned many things about finishing wood, for example they suggest not skipping sizes of sandpaper by more than one size because the next smallest grade is designed to remove scratches left by the previous grade. They would also suggest that you would go back and remove the scratches with an 80 grit the move to 100, 150 etc. Another suggestion they had was to take a very high powered light like a halogen and place it at an angle to illuminate the surface. I have done the same thing with sheetrock and metal to show defects and it worked very well.

Before I read the book I thought that there wasn't much difference in sandpaper, boy was I wrong. Another case of getting what you pay for. Depending on the mineral or synthetic product placed on the many different types of backings with several different types of "makes" and "sizes", what we would call glue there can be vastly different results and the life of the sandpaper. Some sandpaper just loses the abrasive while on others the abrasive is designed to break a small part off revealing an entirely new sharp edge.

A long piece of backing for your sandpaper is similar to using a long plane to bridge valleys and remove only the high spots. So the length of the sanding surface wouldn't help get down to the grooves, but it would help to level the surface above the grooves equally until you remove the grooves. Just removing the grooves with taking the rest of the wood to the same plane could possibly result in unsightly divots.

Good luck with the project. It is hard to take time to go back and do something again you thought was done properly. I hope that I can live long enough to actually tackle a project without having to do that. So far I have had many do overs and figure I will have many more to come.


Rick Newman
Rick,
Seriously, thanks for the advice. I have been a little troubled today wondering how I would fix the grooves. Honestly, your advice is sound. I am letting the paint cure for another day/night before I attack it again. I got home from work and it is still a little 'tacky'. Probably due to the temperatures.
I plan on starting with 60 or 80 grit to knock everything down and slowly incrementing my way back through 220 grit. Its amazing how the sides can 'feel' smooth but the paint seems to expose everything. Im OK with that. I didn't come this far to be dissatisfied with the final product. Other than that I have applied an intense amount of epoxy and the boat feels incredibly stronger than it was. It certainly wont leak for a very LONG time.
Again, thanks for the advice. It makes perfect sense.
By the way, did you get a Tatman kit on Craigslist? I think I saw that listing last week. Keep me posted if you did buy that kit and how it turns out.
I was born in Spokane and my father lives up there. Great town!
-Tight LInes

Crai
Yes, I bought that Tatman kit. First I need to repair the older boat so it is floatable and saleable. Then I can afford to buy epoxy and varnish. I also have the UHMW kit that came with the boat that I don't plan to use, so it is for sale. I really hope to get down to the Wooden Boat event so I could drag it down there if you know someone who wants it. I hope that you get the your grooves out, didn't that used to be get your groove on? I know that many people want to see what how things are going for you so keep us informed.

I grew up in Ellensburg, but have spent 30+ years here and reside in the Spokane Valley.

Rick Newman
Rick,
First of all, these grooves are not the ones to get anybody's groove back:) I got home tonight and realized the paint wasn't ready for me to sand. That's fine. Maybe I need an extra night to plan instead of doing my usual thing and attacking without a game plan. It's the excitement you know? Your plan is the best bit of knowledge I think I have recieved. Thanks!
Ill ask my friends if they may be interested in your vessel. I already have a couple of buddies looking at buying mine. See, I am looking at building a 17' Inline from Tatman either this spring/summer or next fall. I got the bug and I can use the funds to buy the kit! However, the interior of my 16' won't be complete and will look weathered on the inside and new on the outside. That may be difficult for me to let go without being complete. I guess I can get over it:) My friends don't seem to mind. Anyway, it wont leak and should be a great boat for many years.
I am very interested in how your project goes and when you start it! Keep me posted!
Once again, thanks for the advice and I will keep you posted on the outcome of mine.
-Craig

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