> Yep, I would definitly recommend strips with the grain PERPENDICULAR to
> the wide face of the strip. I'm still struggling with fairing my Wee
> Lassie because of the strip with the grain oriented parallel to the face.
> I used a long board with 50 grit to fair which worked pretty good, and
> then switched to a ROS to remove scratches, but I ended up re-creating the
> ripples in the soft wood between rings even using a light touch. The
> vertical grain strips are much easier to work with. In fact, most
> horizontal grain strips aren't too bad, I think I just got one plank that
> produced some really difficult strips. I'll try not to repeat my mistake
> again.

> Ross

Ross; It sounds like you just got into some soft wood, and it happens. especially with the redwoods and pines. When working on a project, I would take my fingernail and stick it into the boards and sometimes it would give and even scoop out, and sometimes it wouldn't do more than just mark the board. So, there are different densities in the wood, and even the same boards. That is one reason why I NEVER use such a low grit on any soft wood. It takes too much work to get the scratches out and thus, the ripples in the soft wood. I NEVER use less than 100 grit and take a little time, long strokes. Don't stay in one spot very long, especially on the flat grain woods. That 50 - 80 grit stuff can really cut deep and then you have to work that orbital in spots to get out the scratches. Bad news!! The 100 grit takes longer, but, you aren't getting the scratches that you will later need to take out. You might still be able to get a few bad spots out by shading the highs with a pencil and just working those marks out till they are really close. Sometimes, with the soft woods, when you get the glue drips, you end up with a "Catch 22" situation. Damned if you do and Damned if you don't. Hope you can get those dips out, but, if you can get them close, then use one or two of the ideas posted earlier on leveling with the resin and glass. Don't spend so much time trying to correct that you end up with paper thin redwood. If the boat doesn't look as good as you'd like you could use it as a reason to build the next. That's how we become experts....... {:o) Good luck !!

Rehd