Until ceramic was used, zirconia alumina was the most abrasive grain available for sanding projects. ![]() Garnet sandpaper is used for polishing and fine sanding of multiple materials and wears quickly. Our Recommendation: 3M Garnet Sandpaper at Amazon for $6.49 Some use it for power sanding, but it’s also used as a hand sander. While it will wear quickly while it’s being used, the rapid wear helps to create a finer finish on the surface it’s sanding. ![]() Used for polishing and fine sanding of wood, leather, and plastic, it tends to dull relatively quickly when used to sand metal. Our Recommendation: LYFJXX Emery Cloth Roll at Amazon for $17.99Įmery cloth is a durable sanding material that’s used for tough sanding jobs like deburring or paint removal.Īnother natural grain, garnet, is slightly softer than flint and emery. Often referred to as emery cloth, the abrasive is actually glued to a cloth rather than a paper so it is actually a little more durable than sandpaper.īest For: Removing corrosion and polishing steel. The edges of its particles can be too sharp for sanding wood, and is best for deburring, paint removal, or mechanically finishing a surface. EmeryĮmery sandpaper features a natural grain that’s most often used for removing corrosion and/or polishing steel and other metals. Our Recommendation: 3M Scotch Brite Flint Sanding Sheet at All Industrial Tool Supply for $0.16 per sheetįlint is a natural material that works well on tough sanding products. It can be rinsed after sanding jobs for repeated use. A natural grain, flint is not durable and is traditionally used for light sanding and polishing. It’s the oldest type of sanding paper and known for being inexpensive. Flintįlint sandpaper’s surface has pulverized flint (or quartz) that creates its textured surface. The following are the most common types of sandpaper materials that DIYers may encounter. Most manufacturers list the type of material best suited for sanding on their product labels, but it’s smart to know what type of grit material to look for before you shop. On many projects, you’ll start with a coarse sandpaper grit, then gradually switch to finer grits to obtain a smooth finish. Extra fine sandpaper (150 grit or higher): Often used between coats of paint or varnish, as well as for finishing. ![]() Fine sandpaper (100 to 120): For most DIY projects, this sandpaper will suffice for final smoothing before the work is finished.Medium sandpaper (60 to 80 grit): Primarily used to sand rough wood and remove scratches and planning marks.Coarse sandpaper (40 to 50 grit): Used to roughly shape wood and remove old finishes, such as light coats of polyurethane.Extra coarse sandpaper (24 to 36 grit): Used for removing paint and varnish, sanding old floors might also require extra coarse sandpaper.Manufacturers may indicate sandpaper grit by the number or by describing it, so it’s helpful to know what each description means. Can remove scratches from lower coarse grits.Light sanding between drywall coats or other finishes.Can remove scratches created from coarse grits.Smoothing wood surfaces prior to painting.Sanding extra rough and uneven surfaces.Make sure to check out the ‘common uses’ column if you are unsure of which grit to use on the project, and always test an inconspicuous spot or scrap material when using new sandpaper. Here’s a quick reference that will help you find the right sandpaper grit for the job at hand. FEPA sizes are not identical to CAMI sizes, but you can find a very similar option by selecting one of the two closest FEPA numbers. Grit sized with the FEPA scale is indicated by the letter “P” preceding the grit number. Most sandpaper follows the CAMI scale, but if you order sandpaper online, you may run across sandpaper grit sized by the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA). ![]() The higher the number, the finer the sandpaper grit. In the United States, grit is determined based on a gradation scale established by the Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute (CAMI). RELATED: 9 Clever Alternative Uses for Sandpaper The particles (also known as grains or grit) are sifted through screens and sorted by size before being bonded with adhesive to a paper, sponge, or cloth-type backing to create an abrasive material. Sandpaper consists of fine particles from either natural or synthetic sources. It’s helpful to learn about different sandpaper grits, so you can find the right options for your next project. Usually more than one-and often three-types are needed for most projects. Coarser grits are used for heavy sanding on rough and uneven surfaces, while fine grit sandpaper is used to polish and finish the surface of materials. Therefore, a sheet of 220-grit sandpaper is more coarse than a sheet of 400-grit sandpaper. Generally, the lower the grit number, the more coarse the grit. Each sandpaper grit performs a different job.
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