How Sanding Reveals the Figure in Highly Figured Maple

Sanding is where patience pays off. And boy, do I need patience.

Working through each grit, the rough milling marks slowly disappeared, replaced by a surface that revealed more and more character. Maple has a way of surprising you. What looks ordinary at first can suddenly come alive as the light catches the subtle curls, waves, and color variations hidden beneath the surface.

It's a little like listening to a jazz recording. The more attention you give it, the more details you notice. That's exactly why I'm listening to Travelogue by Danny Grissett while I work. It feels like the perfect soundtrack for slowing down, paying attention, and appreciating the details that reveal themselves with time.