Ceramic alumina lasts longer than aluminium oxide, and is considered to provide cooler sanding. It’s best suited to sanding metal. Extra-coarse (24-, 30- and 36-grit): Generally used for preliminary hardwood floor sanding, this usually comes in belts that fit on a drum sander, or disks that fit an edger. It comes with a company guarantee that it will not discolor any surfaces you are using it on. One of the many satisfied customers commented that it “works well, doesn't clog much, lasts forever compared to budget papers. So worth the extra money, as it goes 20 times longer than the cheap stuff.” These indicators are easy to understand, and they often come accompanied by a short description of the uses of that sandpaper, making it almost impossible to buy the wrong product!

Other applications include removing old paint and making a surface rougher (such as in preparing it for gluing). Finer Sandpaper Sandpaper is an essential tool that any DIYer and homeowner should have in their toolbox. With sandpaper, you can make your paintwork look great and give your project an extra luxury finish. However, when buying sandpaper for the job, it is crucial to understand how different grits can impact the overall result. Very minor blemishes or small scratches in final coats can me smoothed out with super fine sandpaper. Grit Material This is a good choice for bare wood finishes such as coarse cut timber, wood that has been stripped and needs to get rid of leftover paint, and rubbing down previously painted woodwork ready for painting.Coarse sandpaper has the lowest numbers. The abrasive material is made of bigger particles designed to cut through most materials. While fine sandpaper with a higher grit is a must-have in any toolbox, it should only be used after you have already worked the surface with other tools or with a coarser grit of sandpaper. Ordinary grade sandpapers are more economical than their premium counterparts because they don't have special features, like water resistance or chemical resistance. However, they're great for basic applications like changing flat tires and working on wood furniture that needs a bit of TLC to fix the damage. Steel wool: Made of fine flexible steel strands, this version falls into the finer grits category and is used primarily in between paint coats to prepare a smoother surface for the next coat.

On coarse sandpaper, the abrasive material is present in large particles that are able to cut through the toughest surfaces. As such, we are often faced with the following dilemma: should I choose a coarser or finer grade for my particular application? The answer can be just as difficult to determine as deciding which type and brand of sandpaper to use in the first place! Below are some points for consideration: Thanks to its high versatility, you can use it to round edges and corners or apply the finishing touches to your piece.This technique will help you avoid wasting labor and ensure a consistent result. What Grit Is More Coarse? For most DIY sanding projects you will need 60-240 grit sandpaper (Image credit: Steven Jenkins) Should I sand by hand or use a power sander?

Very-fine (150-, 180- and 220-grit): This produces ultra-smooth surfaces on wood. People often use it to scuff-sand lacquer, polyurethane and other finishes before applying another coat. Also Available at: Walmart , Tractor Supply 4. Best Sandpaper for Orbital Sander—S&F STEAD & FAST Sanding Discs If you are unsure about the right type of sandpaper for your project, select an assorted rage and start with a finer grit. Medium Sandpaper Is Versatile With a per-disc cost of just 16p, this well-priced 72-piece bundle from S SATC really delivers. For your minimal outlay, you’ll get 12 40 grit discs, and 10 each of 60, 80, 120, 180, 240 and 320 grit – a selection that will suit the vast majority of home DIYers. Coarse grits are good for bare wood, removing paint and deep scratches. However, do keep in mind that this specific paper is to be used only manually or with a finishing sander.The Grit grades below are a guide to the commonly found sandpapers available and thier uses. Manufacturers differ on the scale but this is the average. While it’s theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions, it would be impractical and confuse customers. Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. The higher the number, the finer the grit. Coarse grits progress from 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 to 800 to 1,000 and beyond.

The “P” in front of the second number indicates it refers to the FEPA scale rather than the CAMI one. Sandpaper is an inexpensive, versatile piece of equipment with a long shelf life, so keeping one—or a set—in your toolbox is a must. The right sandpaper can come in handy for when you need a smooth finish, to remove paint, or for sanding wood. Even though they all may all appear to be the same, different sandpaper grit grades and materials should be used for different sanding projects. If you are looking for more coarse sandpaper to create rounded edges or remove old paint from a surface, go with smaller numbers. Aside from not wasting labor, overworking a particular area might cause it to look blotchy or shiny. It can be challenging to reverse the damage and give your surface a uniform appearance.

What is Sandpaper Grit?

Other applications include making a surface rougher. You might need to do so when gluing two surfaces together. When one thinks of sanding, a few key ideas often come to mind. One is that a high level of finish will likely be required. For this reason, the woodworker may go for an abrasive paper with a larger grit number, i.e., lower on the scale. Sandpaper grits are categorized by how coarse the abrasive material is. You will ideally start with a coarser abrasive and use progressively finer ones to achieve a smooth result. The most common grits are 60-80 (extremely coarse), 100-150 (medium grit), 180-220 (fine), and 320 (ultra-fine). However, you should only move from sandpaper to a finer one once the material is smooth enough. Otherwise, you will be putting too much effort into trying to smooth out a surface that still requires harsher abrasive particles.