I've never been fanatical about preparing a surface for covering. usually, I just sand and wipe down with a tack cloth. But in preparing my new 27% Extra 300, I decided to try something new, and it worked so well, I thought I'd pass it on.

After it was sanded, I thinned down some Carpenters glue with water (About 1 part glue to 2-3 parts water) and brushed it over the entire surface. As it dried, it raised the grain, then locked everything in place. Then, I did a final sanding with 360 grit sandpaper, and the results were amazing. Smooth as glass!

Also easy and cheap! (I like cheap )