Sanding before staining

[blipndub]

I'm about to embark on finishing the flame-top body I had posted for sale a while ago. It's my first "natural" body job and also my first use of minwax wood stain and wipe on poly (I've only sprayed nitro before).

My question is how smooth should the top be before I finish? With nitro I always left it sanded to about 320 grit before applying finish and the nitro filled in any grain raising, I'm wondering if that will be true with the poly. Or if I should sand up to about 800 grit before finishing.

Also, what grit should I use between the stain and the wipe-on poly?

Thanks!

 

[Musiclogic]

Personally, I would sand to 600. you can go 800, the more the better, some would say, but I would suggest at least 600. Only my opinion.

 

[blipndub]

I know some folks go so far as to scrape the flame top with like razor blades to pop the grain, yes?