The old methods work good but,
Method most of the turning & furniture guys are using is dry sand with very fine grits. You can buy papers up to 2000. Key is going though the grits never skipping one. Finer you go less filling required. 220 to 2000 10 papers, line them up on the bench and go though each one. Only takes a light sand before moving to the next paper.
If the wood has open pores will add a little filler at 400 first coat of oil finish at about 600 grit. Often skip the filler depending on the grain. With dry paper the filler or oil has to be dry before moving on.
On gunstocks have gone to 2000 then back down to 1200 or so when I thought it was a little too shiny. Pores were nice and filled just knocked off some of the gloss. Lot of vendors for the fine papers, I get mine from Klingspor's
Boats
