I bought some Douglas Fir shafts from Sherwood and they are good quality and easy to straighten. However, I find that some of them are kind of grainy in that when I am cresting them, there are lines in the grain like tiny valleys that the brush cannot get into. Can I sand the shafts down enough to get that out of there and still maintain the integrity of the shaft?
You can sand them a little. It's the nature of doug fir to cut that way. I haven't used any Shurwoods but when I turn DF out on my own shaft maker the blade has to be very sharp and even then the cut is not smooth.
Are you cresting on the bare shaft? Reason I ask is I cap dipped mine and I don’t recall having same results you are having. Then agian natural materials can throw us a curve now and agian.
Same as Tom. I never had a problem cresting over painted or stained DF shafts.
Deno
I don't cap dip them. I usually dip them in a waterborne satin before I do the cap. Then I crest the cap. Maybe it's time I try something different. The problem with cap dipping for me is so far I haven't used the same color. Many times I will cover the cap with white so the colors will show up better. I am a novice and I am always open for suggestions. Thanks folks
There is another way that might fill those grains. You need 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper and your satin finish. Wet the shaft and paper and gently sand the shaft. The slurry created will fill in the grain. Once your satisfied with the fill wait a minute then wipe off excess. Let that dry and reapply a coat of finish. I know it’s a lot of work because I have done it. It takes time you may not have as well.
Use caution sanding the whole shift will drop the spine.
I haven't had that problem when cresting after capping but I usually always taper the aft end of the shaft so they are smooth from the tapering.
Sailor I just happen to have been watching several videos about tapering. I'm going to try that myself.