The crack manual tells me to use 220 grit sandpaper, but the wood stain I'm using says to use 120~150 grit. Which instructions do I go with? Thank you very much, and sorry for posting such a non-audio related question.
In my experience the surface finish of the Bottlehead base's is very good so you don't need very abrasive paper. I usually use 320 grit, then apply the stain or oil.
After the first coat the grain will stand up so the best option is to use some steel wool to flatten it out which will leave you with a silky smooth finish.