Sand Between Finish Coats

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When you sand between finish coats always use a very fine sandpaper (400 or 600 grit). If the sandpaper clogs or the surface looks scratched, use wet/dry sandpaper and a generous amount of water. Wipe the water up frequently to see how your sanding is doing

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Craftsman
Furniture Polish

Antiquax Original
Wax Polish

Liberon
Ring Remover

Prelude
Furniture Cleaner

Sand with the grain

Be sure to always sand with the grain. Sand small areas at a time, then when the surface is completely sanded, sand a final time with full wide sweeps keeping the area wet to join the small areas into one large area with no evidence of overlapping sanding.

A sanding block works best

It's best to use a sanding block, either a commercial sanding block or a piece of wood just the right size to fit comfortably in your hand. A thin piece of foam around a quarter of an inch thick or a few folds of paper towel between the sandpaper and the sanding block will help get a smooth finish on a slightly uneven surface without sanding the finish too thin on the high spots.

Clean with a damp cloth

If you're wet sanding clean the surface well with a damp cloth. Fold the cloth several times so you can keep refolding to expose a new surface so you can be sure to get all the sanding residue cleaned off before you apply another coat of finish.

Clean with a tack cloth

If you're dry sanding clean the residue with a tack cloth. Even a minute speck of sanding dust left behind will show up like Mt. Rainier in the final finish.