Smooth Move: Sanding Wood to Perfection

Aiming for a satiny finish on that woodworking project? Before you stain it, first sand it down to a silky smoothness, using successively finer grades of sandpaper. Once it seems perfect, soak a rag in turpentine and rub it into the wood. As the turpentine dries, the wood's grain will rise. Sand this down with super-fine grit, making sure never to sand against the grain, then stain away.