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- 1). Inspect mantle for any nail holes, deep gouges or cracks to large or deep to remove with light sanding.
- 2). Fill any voids you discover with wood putty. Use enough putty to completely fill the imperfection leaving a small amount just above the surface of the wood. These bumps will be smoothed during sanding.
- 3). Allow putty to dry completely. Refer to product instructions for drying time.
- 4). Starting with 120-grit sandpaper, sand the mantle until all surfaces are smooth. Repeat this step using 220-grit sandpaper. Prepare to spend quite a bit of time on this step. This is the most critical and most tedious step in the process.
- 5). Use tack cloth to remove dust from the mantle. Feel for any rough spots that may have been covered by sanding residue. Remove any rough spots with sandpaper and clean again with tack cloth.
- 6). Apply finish of choice. There are a number of finish materials that would be excellent choices for your mantle. Before you begin your project, take the time to research your options. The links below will get you started.
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