Sanding *before* finishing?

[Bob Hoover Ross]

Planning on doing a clear satin wipe-on poly finish (Minwax) on my alder & quilted maple body. I think I have a handle on how many coats of poly, and sanding between coats, and what grit to use for those between-coat sandings

...but I'm wondering about before I even start with that first application of poly: Do I need to (or is there a benefit to) fine sanding the body before I start the finishing? My understanding is that the bodies come sanded to 220 grit from Warmoth. Any advantage to going to 400, or 600, or 800 etc. before I put on the first coat of finish? Or is that just making unnecessary work for myself?

Thanks.

 

[Cagey]

I like to use 320, but anything past that and you risk the finish not sticking as well as it could. Particularly on Maple. Too smooth. Nothing to grab onto. Your finish is going to need more levelling than the wood once you get started. There again, I use 320 between coats. It's not until you're done with the clear coats that you start into the final finish sanding where you climb up the grades to 1500 or so.

 

[Bob Hoover Ross]

I like to use 320, but anything past that and you risk the finish not sticking as well as it could. Particularly on Maple. Too smooth. Nothing to grab onto. Your finish is going to need more levelling than the wood once you get started. There again, I use 320 between coats. It's not until you're done with the clear coats that you start into the final finish sanding where you climb up the grades to 1500 or so.

Beauty, thanks.

 

[line6man]

Yeah, you need a fairly coarse surface for the finish to adhere to. Don't go crazy with sanding.