I have been doing a bit of pen turning with various woods. I usually sand down to 1000 grit with wet-or-dry paper. The problem is that when my stock is a light colored wood such as sycamore, oak or maple, some of the dark color from the abrasive works in to the grain of my wood. How can I avoid this discoloration? I there another type of abraisive which I can use? I usually go 320, 400, 600, then 1000 prior to my finish coat.

Oh, I occasionally turn pens using man-made blanks of laminated colored wood. After I have sanded to the 1000 grit, I find that I can acquire a mirror-like sheen on this product using an automotive rubbing compound on a small soft cloth. Just rub in a coat of carnauba wax and it is ready for assembly.