Sanding kitchen worktop - Having problems...

[Sabee]

Hi!

I have recently sanded an old kitchen pine table we got from gumtree. There was a lot of gunk on it, which I spent ages cleaning with a meta scourer, before I could sand it as the sanding paper kept getting clogged up.

Today, I started to sand the kitchen worktop - I am experiencing the same problems - the sanding paper attachment keeps getting gunk on it so it stops sanding properly.

As I have a lot of worktop space to sand, I don't think I have it in me to scrub the whole thing - it took ages for the table.

Is there a chemical I could use to clean off the grime that would be easier? The stuff that is coming off feels like wax, or dirt and oil built up over many years.

Secondly, I have the Bosch compact sander - will this be sufficient? To be honest, its the grime/unidentifiable waxy stuff that is the main problem at the moment!

I would sincerely appreciate any pointers

Thank you!

It'll be the previous treatment tbh - you've just got to keep at it. Try washing g them down with a solution of soda crystals to shift as much surface grease and muck as possible.

Split the job into areas and do one completely before moving on or it'll be demoralising, as you are finding. Meths is what I used to wipe down with before applying Osmo hard polyx wax. With worktops you need to start with quite a coarse grit sandpaper and don't go to really fine or the grain won't be open enough to absorb the oil you put on it.

Ah, I have soda crystals somewhere, I could try those...

How low is too low? A post on mums net mentioned 180/240 etc but even 120 didn't shift anything... then i went to 60... and stopped as I think that is too low?

But even that didn't do anything, so I think its the grime!

Thank you for your help! much appreciated! and yes, it is a bit demoralising at the moment... so soon after spending a few days on the wretched table!

You need coarse to strip off the old finish, which is lower numbers - sorry I got my numbers mixed up in my reply. Could you hire a heavier duty sander? We have a large one - still hand held and a mouse detail sander.