What the best way to seal hardwoods to get a super-smooth finish?
Michael Dresdner: Sealing wood is not what gives a smooth finish. Proper preparation (sanding, puttying, pore filling, etc.) is what does it, followed by applying smooth coats thereafter. For open pore woods, pore filler will do wonders and save many cycles of coating and sanding. For close pore woods like maple, good sanding followed by smooth (and when needed, sanded) topcoats is really all you need. But don’t forget a final rub out to satin or gloss to get that nice look and silky feel.
