Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sanding is one of those jobs every woodturner has to do, but most of us spend far longer at it than we need to. In this film I show the small changes to tool presentation and grit choice that cut that time right down, and I walk through sanding both the outside and the inside of a bowl with an inertia sander.
Why do I spend so long sanding my bowls?
Usually it's because the surface coming off the tool isn't as clean as it could be. If your tool presentation is right and your bowl gouge is properly sharp, the cut is clean and there's far less for the abrasives to remove in the first place.
What abrasives should I use?
I use two-inch Indasa Red Line discs on a small inertia sander. They last well and leave a good surface, but the bigger point is that any quality abrasive is worth the extra money over cheap discs.
How do I tell tool marks from tear-out and sanding marks?
Tool marks run in straight lines all the way round the piece. Tear-out shows as dots, only on the end grain. Sanding marks from a rotary sander are arcs, which a cutting tool can't make.
What grit should I start with?
The coarsest grit's only job is to remove the tool marks and tear-out. As soon as they're gone, move down a grit. A good surface off the tool might let you start at 180 or even 240; a rough one might need 80.
How fast should the lathe run when sanding?
I sand at the same speed I cut at, around 1100 rpm.
How do I sand the inside of a bowl?
Present the sander on the opposite side of the lathe, around the 4 o'clock position, and roll the tool out toward the rim. Take care not to slip over and round off the edge.
How do I avoid burning the wood?
Don't over-sand, especially with exotic woods. Too much heat on the end grain can cause checking or cracking.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:13 A better cut means less sanding
0:37 Choosing your abrasives
1:04 The inertia sander
1:42 Reading the marks
2:42 Grit progression
3:14 Sanding the outside
6:38 Using a power drill
7:38 Sanding the inside and rim
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith
Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool
Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith
Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
Sanding is one of those jobs every woodturner has to do, but most of us spend far longer at it than we need to. In this film I show the small changes to tool presentation and grit choice that cut that time right down, and I walk through sanding both the outside and the inside of a bowl with an inertia sander.
Why do I spend so long sanding my bowls?
Usually it's because the surface coming off the tool isn't as clean as it could be. If your tool presentation is right and your bowl gouge is properly sharp, the cut is clean and there's far less for the abrasives to remove in the first place.
What abrasives should I use?
I use two-inch Indasa Red Line discs on a small inertia sander. They last well and leave a good surface, but the bigger point is that any quality abrasive is worth the extra money over cheap discs.
How do I tell tool marks from tear-out and sanding marks?
Tool marks run in straight lines all the way round the piece. Tear-out shows as dots, only on the end grain. Sanding marks from a rotary sander are arcs, which a cutting tool can't make.
What grit should I start with?
The coarsest grit's only job is to remove the tool marks and tear-out. As soon as they're gone, move down a grit. A good surface off the tool might let you start at 180 or even 240; a rough one might need 80.
How fast should the lathe run when sanding?
I sand at the same speed I cut at, around 1100 rpm.
How do I sand the inside of a bowl?
Present the sander on the opposite side of the lathe, around the 4 o'clock position, and roll the tool out toward the rim. Take care not to slip over and round off the edge.
How do I avoid burning the wood?
Don't over-sand, especially with exotic woods. Too much heat on the end grain can cause checking or cracking.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:13 A better cut means less sanding
0:37 Choosing your abrasives
1:04 The inertia sander
1:42 Reading the marks
2:42 Grit progression
3:14 Sanding the outside
6:38 Using a power drill
7:38 Sanding the inside and rim
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith
Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool
Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith
Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
