Keeping sanding dust to minimum

xyz123

Hi, I am probably asking very silly question but please bear with me.

I have some woodwork that needs painting. These were painted gloss and now going yellow. I am planning to use water based satinwood like johnsons aqua. I need to sand the surface to remove sheen and provide key for new paint.

I have a 3 month old in house and want to keep dust to minimum. So will or course avoid him being near these areas but I guess fine sand can travel a bit...

Any suggestions? I have a mouse sander and sanding block. Probably mouse sander will result in lot of flying dust but not sure as I haven't sanded woodwork before.

Many thanks for your help. J

googler

Powered sander will send dust everywhere. Hand-held less so.

Years back, I decided to keep an old cylinder vacuum cleaner for the garage and messy jobs, it's referred to as "The Grot Cleaner". When hand-sanding, I sand with my right hand, and hold the hose of the vacuum in left, following closely the sanding block. It gets most of it, but there's always some overflow. Whether or not you do this with the regular household vacuum or not ....

I've used a mouse sander with the vacuum attached to the extractor port on the sander, and that's quite effective, but still doesn't catch it all.

Can you arrange for the infant to be taken on a day or half-day trip while you do the sanding and clean-up?

Also - beware older paintwork, which may contain lead. Sanding that is an absolute no-no without significantly greater dust management.

neilmcl

Does your sander come with an extraction attachment that you can hook it up to a vacuum cleaner?

Ganga

do it outside in the garden and wear a mask yourself.

keith969

Use wet&dry paper. Have a tub of water, let the paper soak for a minute or two then sand, when clogged dip it in the tub to clear. Eliminates dust and perfectly safe. Then just clean with a damp cloth and allow to dry before painting.

Of course with some materials (MDF comes to mind) water is a no no but ordinary wood is fine.

Jackmydad

Sanders make dust pretty well whatever you do.
Remember that ordinary vacuum cleaners will send any fine dust out through the filter and into the atmosphere.
Unless it's a special one for hazardous dust, "Class M" I think. Expensive!

Wet sand as already said if possible.

bris

Your not sanding the wood, you are keying the existing paint.


Use an 80 grit paper and give it a quick once over, there will be practically no dust as you don't want to go into the wood.


All you want to do is dull the paint to give the new paint something to hold on to, don't over think it or over do it.

xyz123

Thank you for all replies. I will try 80 Grit sand paper. Thanks for wet and dry paper. Never used that before but looks like it should do the job.

Dean000000

you omly need to give it a light rub - not sand it off...


don't use a tool -literally rub it as if you were cleaning it with a cloth...

PhilE

Take precautions for lead based paint, 3M do a testing kit on Amazon.

If you do have lead paint take the relevant precautions, gov.uk have some advice.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-on-lead-paint-in-older-homes

I'll be trying wet sanding with interior woodwork, so no dust created. You just need a light key, no need to sand it. One light stroke on the gloss, two max.

Get a HEPA vacuum if you are concerned with fine dust or lead.