Fine details in surface finishing matter

,

I’ve been experimenting with different finishes lately, and I’ve noticed how much the prep work affects the final appearance. Just the other day, I spent extra time sanding a walnut piece with a 320-grit paper before staining, and the depth of color really popped compared to my usual method. It’s a small detail, but it makes a huge difference in the overall look. Anyone else see similar results with their finishing techniques?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​⁠‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌⁠​​‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​‌​⁠​​​⁠​​​⁠​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‍​‌​‌‌‌⁠‌​‌​​‍​⁠‌‌‌⁠‍‌‌​⁠​​⁠‍​‌⁠‌‌‌​‌​‌‍⁠‍​⁠‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌‌​​⁠‌‌⁠⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

I totally agree — spending extra time on prep pays off. I once used a wet sanding technique on a cherry piece right before finishing, and it brought out a beautiful sheen. Have you tried different grits for a layered approach?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​⁠‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌⁠​​‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​‌​⁠​​​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍⁠‌‌​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌⁠​⁠​​‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌​‍​‌⁠‌‍‌​​‌‌​⁠‌‌​‌​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌