I can't tell you how your calm voice and expert instruction has completely changed then way I work. The main takeaway I get from your videos is to slow down and pay attention to what I am doing with these potentially dangerous tools, and you accomplish this without crazy background music and distracting graphics. Thank You!

I have to tell you this. I have been selling sandpaper in many forms forms for 22 years. This video you made just blew my mind. It’s not necessarily the knowledge you implied it’s how you implied it. So straight forward and so understandable to non woodworkers. Unreal job, I am stealing some of your words to help my business. Huge new fan. You are awesome!

I feel like I’m in a graduate level university course when I watch James Hamilton. He dives deeply, but explains the dive so clearly that even a neophyte like me can learn via his friendly and personal approach to Internet learning.

This guy is an excellent instructor. KZfaq needs to provide an award for teaching exemplars.

I like to sand. I like the way it makes your hand numb and I like watching the wood slowly get removed. I really find it to be meditative. Sanding is one of my favorite woodworking tasks. I’m not kidding. Getting a rough piece of wood to a smooth sanded texture is one of my favorite things.

Maybe I'm odd - I enjoy sanding. Feeling each layer become more even and smooth is a semi-Zen experience for me, and I'm really proud once I've created a very smooth surface.

When I watch these videos I realize that I know nothing. Thanks for doing these. They really help us beginners who don't have a master to teach us.

I'm a technical instructor by profession, but I'm nowhere as effective as you are at explaining something in a calm, friendly, logical, and easy-to-follow way as you. I thought I was going to learn a few "golden nuggets" of unknown information, but you opened my eyes up to so many considerations! I totally enjoy your videos and I immediately subscribed. Kudos to you for sharing your knowledge and experience.👏👏👏

One thing I’ve found that also helps is ensuring you have good lighting. Ideally low angle/raking light either from windows or from an LED light. Imperfections show up while you can still do something about them.

I've been wood working for fifty years and your videos are excellent and so informative. Keep up the great work and thank you! ( You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. )

I now know 300% more about sanding than I did at first. The cool thing is I do happen to have a sanding project coming up so this was timely information, thank you!

As a complete novice, this was incredibly helpful and informative. Love the pencil idea - definitely trying this! Thanks so much 😊

Southerners must be better woodworkers as they never skip their grits.

I’ve been working with wood a long time. I feel I know more than my friends and family. BUT I do know 1/2 as much as you. Thanks for another video that took me to school. Lol

The most sanding I've done on a project was in high school. I was in an engineering technologies class and the one project was to make a CO2 powered model drag car. We were given 4 weeks to build it and I finished the design and shaping after only the 3rd day. We weren't allowed to do anything else during class so I sanded that car up to 4000 grit. It was as smooth a glass when I was done. It also broke the schools record for fastest time down the track

Project Farm recently did a great head to head comparison of quite a few sandpaper brands. It's worth the time to watch!

Stumpy, I have to say that you are my "go to" source on woodworking. I really appreciate all that you do help us less experienced guys that who are just getting into woodworking. Thank you very, very much.

I never knew that tip for end grain! Thank you :- ) for making this vid !

I am new to the sanding world but in three months I have fallen madly in love! I am a female in a very male-dominated warehouse and I have picked up skill fast but know I can be much better. I have absolutely made it my mission to be a sanding Superstar basically 😂 I think it is fascinating and a bit of magic and love the fact that each piece has different challenges and I see upwards of 100 pieces daily, EASY. I would enjoy to see some videos for an industrial setting that could include large pieces, both solid and veneer and moulding tips and tricks too! We make various pieces from raw wood examples include; refrigerator end panels, cabinets of all shapes and sizes, moulding, etc. we work with a lot of solid wood but some is just the veneer overlay that you showed in this video. We are sanding 60 hrs+ per week and at that rate I am worried about maintaining a good quality while also managing time to keep the production up to par. I'm a perfectionist with pride lol so I'm worried about what quality my team and I are sending to the next department for paint and stain. Thank you for the video I am so glad I found it and look forward to more!

We can talk all day about sanding techniques.....sure WE can.... Don't get my wrong I would listen.....but not talk.... GREAT channel. Will watch everything you post!

Ive been a carpenter for over 40 years and a trim and finish carpenter for over 20. The one thingI like about it is there's always something to learn and projects to challenge ones self. I appreciate the sharing of your knowledge.

Wow! The amount of sanding knowledge packed into this video is incredible. Thank you for making this!

Thank you James, much appreciated.

You've just given new meaning to the phrase "Hand Finished". Love the bit about not pressing too hard. I'll stop doing that. Great tutorial.

Wow. Now THAT was a comprehensive lesson. Going to require it for my wood shop class! Thanks!

Bought a Harvey ambassador and expanded my skill base after discovering your channel; thank you from Houston

Knowledgeable and well-presented, as always, James. Thank you!

I love sanding. I love the meditative quality of it. I love the the experience of slowly seeing that wood take on that smooth luster and “mature” before my eyes into a finished product.

I love sanding. It's my way to destress. I enjoy the small and fine details

You are hitting it out of the park with your content lately!

You and Steve Ramsey are the two best instructors of the woodworking craft on KZfaq IMO. This is an excellent video, thanks very much!

Such a calm, articulate teaching style - just love it. Thanks so much

I love my 80 grit Duragrit block, it’s a great investment.

This is perhaps the most well done and comprehensive video I've ever seen on any topic. You are a gifted teacher. Thank you.

Thank you for your focused, clear and detailed advice. I’m sold on your videos!

Great tips on grit level sequencing and dust extraction. Thanks 👍

So helpful. I love that you didn't just share what to do, but why. I knew some and definitely learned some. The light pencil pattern is genius.

I appreciate how precise you are with your processes. It's always a relief to find someone whose mind works the same way. I did, however, do a double take when you said "no one likes sanding", because it's my favorite part of woodworking! So satisfying.

You addressed several issues I wasn't aware of, thanks for your insight!

Yes, please, talk all day about sanding techniques 😍

This guy way of teaching his ideas works like a charm. Ive been sanding bad for a while, but after his video ill be able to challenge it totally different.thatd why i never miss a video, lated but shorely.

Your videos are amazing. I’ve learned a lot from many different channels but you always explain the why? question so well. I love learning the proper way to do things with theory behind it.

Possibly the best woodworking channel out here

Again, another golden nugget. Thanx James. Listen -up guys.

I am new to wood working and enjoy sanding. For me it’s somewhat meditative and I learn a lot about what I did wrong on the project that I can hopefully learn from. Thanks for all the videos, such a wealth of knowledge!

After lots of experimentation, I've settled on a rule of thumb of roughly doubling the final grit of my long grain when finishing end grain. I've found it gives me the most even match when staining. So if I finish the face at 180, I use 320 on the end grain. For 220, I use 400. Great video, there are some things I hadn't considered that I'm going to start adopting.

Thanks for sharing these tips, especially the dura grit discs

A big Thanks directly from Brazil !

Wonderful wonderful wonderful, so much in that I have had to save to watch several times, note not enough at first viewing. Cheers Bob England

Great video! I definitely learned a few things. I was taught the best way to conquer sanding was to avoid it as much as possible by hand planing 👍

This video really demystified a lot of aspects of sanding. Great work.

Very straightforward and informative. Thanks!

You are so easy to listen to. As my French daughter in law taught me: I go to bed less stupid 🌞. Thanks for sharing

I’m the odd man out I actually like sanding, it means that the project is nearly finished.

I can’t tell you how much I learn from your videos. You are awesome!

Fantastic and superbly detailed advice for sanding. Thank you for this.

Never heard of you before watching this video. After 1 minute of watching I decided to subscribe!

Using dust extraction on a palm or mouse sander helps to extend the life of the sander as it pulls in more cool air, and doesn't rely on the sander alone to cool itself.

Your sander is so happy because you use good quality sandpaper and go through the grits properly

A wealth of information clearly presented. Thank-you.

how do you feel about the newer sanding "nets" that are becoming more popular? Personally I love them.

That was the best sanding advice I've heard yet.

Thank you for nice, simple and convincing explanations.

Thanks for sharing with us James. Great information and tips on sanding!! 👍👍👏🏻👏🏻 Fred.

One time I found a pack of sand paper from a dollar store and figured why not. Well you would be far more productive to just use the dollar bill.

I had to laugh when this video popped up. I just picked up some diablo sandpaper and ready to sand for a project. Holy coincidence. 👍

Every video I watch I learn something new... thanks for taking the time ✌️

The next time I have some sanding to do I'll definitely rember your tips!

I always enjoy learning something that I thought I already knew but didn’t. Thanks for the sanding techniques especially about proper pressure of the orbital sander, I also wonder how you have a Dewalt sander, but have a Festool hose fit? Do you have a special adapter?

I've been wearing snug-fitting cloth gloves when I hand sand. Much much less fatigue..

Excellent! Such a seemingly simple subject and yet I learned plenty in just a few minutes.

I'm learning a lot. Please keep em coming.

On plywood, I tend to only hand sand and then it's with very fine grits like 220 or so. Power sanders no matter what grit can eat through that veneer way too fast.

I hate using 80 grit paper, I always endeavor to have my tools do a good enough job to be able to start with 120 grit.

Wonderful tempo, and quite to the point. Great job guys

Professionally presented, to the point, excellent advice. Thank you!

need some googly eyes on that orbital sander

Great tip on hand sanding on final grit, especially on a horizontal show surface

Another calm, relaxed and ultra informative video...thanks Stumpy, you are are real professional!

Sanding is my zen. Very well informed and presented.

I really enjoy watching your videos. You are a natural teacher.

No matter how long I've been doing something in woodworking, every time I watch one of your videos I learn something new I can use, in a clear and concise manner. Thanks much and thumbs up to crush a troll.

Great tips. Another worthwhile class at Stumpy School. Keep them coming, so much I don't know, but do need to learn.

Appreciate your knowledge and ability to communicate well and accurately about each subject. Thank you!

Sanding is so important. I'm glad you made this video. It is amazing how few videos are out there regarding this important topic.

Best sanding video I’ve seen! Thanks!

Excellent commentary and instruction. Thank you!

Dang, I've watched so many sanding videos in preparation for a project I plan to start & yours was by far the most insightful for me. Cant thank you enough, I look forward to checking out your other videos as well!

I’m sanding an outdoor sectional sofa I built and this was really helpful. Thank you!

Wow! I learned a lot and need to review this again! Thank you for your very clear, logical and clear teaching technique!

Still the most useful video on this whole channel, and I come back to rewatch often and share with others. Thank you very much!

Absolutely wonderful sanding instructions., Thanks.

You were right, you gave me some tips that I did not know. This was very informative and I feel I've just upgraded my sanding game, thanks to you!

One stop learning place! Thank you!

I used to hate sanding, grade 7 Shop class ugh!! That teacher did me no favor for the love of the grain. I now, after decades of sanding, know better, and find it thrilling (yeah I'm weird) to see what's underneath that old thick paint(yes I use PPE 😉) or ah ? whatever the people before me used as stain. Omg 😲 sometimes your like, "did they mix tar with Coca-Cola??" 🤣🙄🤨 I6 months ago I finally decided I'll buy myself an orbital sander, and 😲 WOW!! the difference. I will admit to a learning curve. Today I decided to look up how to use it,and thank God I found your videos. So much help I've been watching for hours now. So thank you for your non annoying voice, and for conveying in a way that I can understand. You have introduced me to so many great tips. The one about putting the mark on the sand paper To see if I'm pushing too hard, that's brilliant. I'm going to try the pencil trick now I'll tell you how it goes

I like your delivery very much. Keep'em going!

Just spent the weekend sanding projects and revisited this video before getting started. SOOOO many helpful tips made my weekend go smoothly!

So much useful information about sanding. Keep up the good work and help sessions. I appreciate the all of the tips!!

And I thought I knew how to sand ! How naïve I have been. At the age of 62 I'm learning all over again ! Driving the wife mad because I'm now saying things like: "Stumpy says . . " or when she thinks she knows best: "Not according to Stumpy". That one really gets up her nostrils. . . . . just light hearted humour, while learning some 'game changing' stuff. Thanks for all your excellently presented tutorials.

I have learned something from every video I have watched made by you. I like how you get down to the basics so us woodworking challenged can understand what you’re saying.