I am coming to terms with sanding by hand. I don’t think I’m ready to say I enjoy it, but my tolerance is increasing.

With the exception of dirt biking, I generally don’t like activities that create dust. That places sanding, even the relatively docile practice of doing it without power equipment, solidly in the negatives column. But you have to look for the good in those things you initially loathe, so that’s what I’m doing.

Enter Sandman

I’m focusing on the smooth-as-glass surface I’m leaving behind, not on the arm muscle fatigue. I take the time to glide a finger over the wood now and then.

I’m focusing on the satisfying way I can erase scratches, caused by overzealous paint removal, just by bearing down a little and adding a couple more strokes.

Most importantly, I’m not viewing it as a race. I am taking breaks. The difference this time is that those breaks are being kept as just intermissions instead of  ”that’s enough for today” work stoppages.

Only a little more to go and then I can go get the primer. Yahoo! Oddly enough, priming bare wood is something I do enjoy. It’s like putting a warm blanket around a shivering little kid.

“There, there now, naked door-frame. Doesn’t that thin layer of white feel nice?”