Hi Olav,
It's important to clean the wood before sanding and/or varnishing. TSP
(trisodium phosphate) available at most paint stores, WalMart, etc
takes all the old grunge off, allowing the new varnish to stick
better. If you just sand it without cleaning first you'll grind all
the old oil, etc. right into the surface of the wood and the varnish
will not go on smoothly or hold.
It's a good idea to lightly sand before varnishing, as this gives the
varnish a better surface to stick to, otherwise it might peel off in
places later on.
Areas that are water-stained or otherwise marked will need a bit more
sanding.
A note on TSP: use gloves and eye protection, and rinse the surface
well with a sponge and fresh water to remove all the TSP and dirt
residue.
You can use a 'Satin' finish varnish for a nice look. It's a lot more
forgiving, and doesn't show runs, brush marks, or other imperfections
as much as a high gloss finish. That's what I used in Sin Tacha.
It's worth the little extra effort to get a good looking finish.
Good luck on your project.
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
