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Problem

What grit for cedar before staining?

Soft cedar can show sanding scratches or absorb stain unevenly when the surface is over-sanded or left rough.

wood dry sanding polishing prep scratches
Answer

For cedar before staining, use 150 then 180. Use 220 only when the surface needs a smoother final prep.

Why it happens
Cedar is soft, so coarse scratches show easily and very fine sanding can reduce stain absorption.
Recommended grit
Use 150 then 180 for most cedar stain prep. Use 220 only for very smooth finish prep.
Wet or dry
Dry.
Success check
The cedar feels smooth, has no deep scratch lines, and still accepts stain evenly.

What to do

  1. Sand with the grain using 150 grit.
  2. Move to 180 grit for final stain prep.
  3. Clean dust from the pores and surface.
  4. Test stain on a hidden area or scrap piece.
Avoid: Do not use heavy pressure on soft cedar.

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