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I spent some time stripping paint off and sanding some boards from an old set of shelves with the intent of using them on a small project. When I got all of the paint off I was surprised that it wasn't pine or something like that - it actually looks like maple. So it's really too nice to use for the project I prepared it for.
I started by screwing the boards to a long aluminium straight edge and ripping one side on the table saw. The boards were bowed and not straight, but mostly flat. From there I found a width that matched both of my boards and ripped the other side off, using the newly cut edge against the fence. This way both pieces were exactly the same width.
Then if was onto the work bench for a sanding. This is the first time I'd used my 4" belt sander hand held, it's normally sitting in a jig to use it as a vertical belt sander / linisher. With 40 grit paper on this thing is hard to control! Once the paint was off, I sanded the sequence up to a fine unmarked paper which feels like it's maybe 240 or so. This is the finest I had on hand.
Typically the wood I buy is already sanded, probably to 400. This was good practice anyway. I've always been keen to rip, joint and thickness plane my own lumber.
Looks like I'll go off to Bunnings at some stage and get some pine for the job and keep this unexpectedly nice wood for something else!