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. Super-fine (400-, 500- and 600-grit): Use this for polishing finishes on wood and metal, and to polish bare metal. It comes on waterproof sheets to allow for wet-sanding. One of the most common uses for sandpaper grits is in woodworking, where different grits are employed for sanding various species of wood. Different sandpaper grits serve different purposes in the woodworking industry, including smoothing surfaces, removing paint, stain, and finish, and priming surfaces for staining or painting. Metalworking

The 24-piece HSYMQ Silicon Carbide sandpaper set comes in a resealable bag of twelve grits to cover an array of sanding projects. As one of the many happy customers commented, “This is a great assortment of sand paper that ranges from low grit that could sand down the toughest of spots to the highest grit that could make your table top smooth as butter.” To get a uniform sheen without any rough spots, sandpaper of progressively finer grits is utilized. Removing deeper scratches and achieving a smoother surface is accomplished by working from coarse to fine grit. The Different Sandpaper Coarseness Levels Fine (100- and 120-grit): The best utility sandpaper. Fine grades smooth scratches left by coarser grades and rough up painted surfaces before accepting new paint. They’re also good for sanding drywall. When you just need some for hand-sanding, or to use with an orbital sander, this is the grade you’ll most likely use. Silicon carbide sandpaper: This is another synthetic option that can be used for wet sanding surfaces. It can also self-sharpen when used against especially rough edges. Because coarse and fine sandpaper grits are used differently, manufacturers established grades — each consisting of one or more grit numbers — to help consumers decide which type fits a particular purpose. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. The finest grade (i.e. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper.Woodworking, metalworking, automotive, glassworking, paint and finishing, drywall sanding, and sanding concrete and masonry are just a few of the many industries that rely on sandpaper grits. Woodworking When it comes to painting and finishing, sandpaper grits are used to smooth down surfaces in preparation for the actual painting or finishing process. Sanding drywall Very minor blemishes or small scratches in final coats can me smoothed out with super fine sandpaper. Grit Material The removal of saw marks, preparation of the wood for staining, and smoothing out of rough areas make medium-grit sandpaper very helpful in woodworking. They can also be used to sand down tiny flaws, defects, and corrosion from metal and other materials. Finer Grits (150–180) Make sure the surface is clear of dust and debris before you begin sanding. A dirty surface might clog your sandpaper and reduce the effectiveness of the sanding operation. To remove any dust or debris, use a clean cloth or a vacuum. Choose the appropriate grit for the job.

The degree of abrasiveness of sandpaper is determined by the different grit sizes. The number of abrasive particles per square inch of sandpaper is referred to as grit. The grit is finer, and the surface is smoother, the higher the number. From very coarse (like 24 or 36 grit) to very small grit sizes are possible (such as 1000 or 1200 grit). 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.Smooth surfaces are best achieved with very fine-grit sandpapers (220–240 grit), which are one step up from fine-grit sandpapers. They work great for sanding down surfaces to get them ready for a fresh coat of paint or varnish. The amount of abrasive particles on an inch-square of sandpaper is used to gauge grit. The grit gets coarser with a lower number. For instance, sandpaper with a 40-grit has 40 abrasives per square inch, whereas sandpaper with a 600-grit has 600 abrasives per square inch. When Used in Sandpaper, How Do Grits Function? 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. These sandpapers have widespread application in the woodworking industry, especially for use in between layers of varnish or paint to smooth and polish the surface. Also, you can use them to sand down metal surfaces to get rid of corrosion, oxidation, or minor scratches.