Finish & polish
Sanding between polyurethane coats
A light scuff. Nothing more.
Each coat of poly needs the previous one scuffed for adhesion. The goal isn't to remove material — it's to break the gloss enough that the next coat bonds.
The climb
The exact sequence, in order.
- 1 320
Knock down dust nibs and break the gloss
Sanding sponge or hand block. Almost no pressure — let the abrasive do the work.
Reach for
3M Angled Sanding Sponges (6-pack) — Wet or Dry
Watch out for
The things that quietly ruin the job.
- · Don't go heavy. Sanding through a coat means starting over.
- · Tack cloth between every sand-and-coat cycle. Dust under poly is permanent.
- · Wait the full recoat window. Sanding wet poly tears it.
Questions people ask
The practical part.
320 or 400 between coats?
Either works. 400 is gentler and slower; 320 is the better choice for heavy build coats. Stay above 220.
Do I sand the final coat?
Only if you're going for a satin or matte look with rubbing compound after. Otherwise leave it.
Keep going
Adjacent jobs.
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