How to keep a spruce top clean while sanding

[Avi Ziv]

I just closed the body of the mandolin I'm building. It has walnut back and sides and spruce top. Sanding the walnut creates a real mess of dark dust and it's getting all over the very light colored top. This mandolin will be finished with no stains or dyes - all natural - and so I'm looking for ways to keep the top from getting "contaminated" by the dark sanding dust. The binding is not on yet but it will be curly maple so that's another light/dark interface that I will need to worry about. Are there any good tips for that sort of thing?

Thanks!

[Marty Jacobson]

I think the best solution is to use a 1lb cut of shellac to seal the top before you cut the binding channels. Once you've routed the channels, seal them again. Maple doesn't have big pores, and shouldn't be a big problem for you in terms of bleed-over from walnut. I never have had a problem with walnut sides and curly maple binding. A tack cloth or blowing the dust off the surfaces with an air compressor set to 80+ PSI should take care of any dust.

[sunburst]

In such situations, I usually sand the dark wood completely and seal it, then sand the spruce after cleaning up the dust from sanding the dark wood.

[Tavy]

In such situations, I usually sand the dark wood completely and seal it, then sand the spruce after cleaning up the dust from sanding the dark wood.

+1. Leave the top rough as old boots until you're ready to sand it out and seal it.

[pfox14]

Can't you just blow it off with compressed air?

[Avi Ziv]

Can't you just blow it off with compressed air?

Maybe a good idea but I have no compressed air in my workshop. I may end up doing it in stages and sealing as suggested above

Thanks,

[sunburst]

I forget that I use compressed air so much until I end up working where there is no compressed air. It is a frustrating situation, for me, to work with no compressed air to control dust, but a vacuum cleaner of some sort (shop vac) can help a lot, and in some ways is better because it confines the dust rather than spreading it all over the shop.

[Steve Sorensen]

Also, never mix sandpaper or pads from dark wood to light wood.

Steve

[Perry Babasin]

The compressed gas in cans works pretty well and is readily available. I prefer a compressor but the cans work in a pinch.

[pfox14]

You can pick up a small air compressor for cheap $$ these days. Good investment for any woodworking shop.

[mtucker]

i wouldn't know what to do without compressed air … it's in my garage and onboard in the truck ..