Extra coarse sandpaper in the 24- to 36-grit range is tough stuff. It's used for removing paint and varnish that you think might never come off. The sanding of old floors may also require the abrasiveness of extra coarse sandpaper. Don't even think about using this stuff on any but the toughest jobs.
You need to choose the grit size of sandpaper depending on the particular job you are trying to accomplish. For heavy sanding and stripping, you need coarse sandpaper measuring 40- to 60-grit; for smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections, choose 80- to 120-grit sandpaper.
Perfect for sanding metals and automotive finishes. Made with Silicon Carbide grain which retains its sharpness throughout its sanding life. Excellent flexibility of soaked material.
For heavy sanding and stripping, you need coarse sandpaper measuring 40 to 60 grit; for smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections, choose 80 to 120 grit sandpaper. For finishing surfaces smoothly, use extra fine sandpaper with 360 to 400grit.
40 – 80 Grit: Coarse. 40 to 80 grit is used for heavy or rough sanding and to help remove scratches or imperfections. While it is okay to be abrasive, take your time when using a low-grit sandpaper because it may show noticeable scratches or swirls in the wood.
The "P" prefix by the grit number means this coated abrasive conforms to the FEPA grading system. Q: At a woodworking show I bought some sandpaper in the grit numbers I normally use, but the abrasives didn't match the texture of the products from my local supplier. I think the sandpaper I bought is imported.
The lower the number, the coarser the grit; and the higher the number, the finer the sandpaper. Since coarse sandpaper leaves deeper scratches, start with the finest sandpaper that will tackle the project easily and work your way up to finer grits.
Fine grit sandpaper of the 100-120 grit variety is best for sanding bare wood in preparation for finishing. It's not suitable for removing varnish or paint from wood though.
The higher the number, the finer the grit, and the less rough the sandpaper. Coarse sandpaper removes material faster but leaves deep scratches. Fine sandpaper removes less material and leaves a smoother surface. Grits can range between 24 for heavy material removal to 2000 and beyond for the gentlest sandpapers.
180 to 220 Grit Sandpaper: Finer grit sandpaper is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits on unfinished wood and for lightly sanding between coats of paint. 320 to 400 Grit Sandpaper: Very fine grit sandpaper is used for light sanding between coats of finish and to sand metal and other hard surfaces.
Aluminum oxide is a common sandpaper type that works on wood, plastic, metal and drywall. The particles break during sanding, constantly exposing new, sharp edges. Aluminum oxide sandpaper is long lasting, making it a popular choice for power-sanding, and you can also use it for hand-sanding.
Sandpaper at 220-grit is on the border between those that are good for sanding wood and those that are commonly used for finishes. In most cases, there is no need to use a grit finer than 180 on wood because you won't see the difference. That makes 220-grit the coarsest paper used for sanding finishes.
One micron is a millionth of a meter, so 535-micron sandpaper corresponds to the coarse 36-grit CAMI sandpaper, and 116-micron sandpaper is similar to 120-grit CAMI sandpaper. The 3-micron sandpaper is equivalent to 1,500-grit CAMI sandpaper, and 1-micron sandpaper is like 2,000-grit CAMI sandpaper.
Pro and enthusiast detailers can use the 5000 grit foam backed sanding discs to level surface texture, orange peel and deeper swirls and scratches. The sanding mark pattern left behind is easy to buff out of even the hardest, factory baked on paints by simply compound or polishing.
Sandpaper is available in grits from #60 to grit # 10,000. This is the finest sandpaper available from the range.
Ceramic sandpaper is a synthetic material that is generally reddish-brown. It is extremely hard and durable and is best for rough sanding.
Silicon carbide sandpaper is often the best option for sanding and finishing aluminum wheels. For average to poor condition rims, about a 200 grit will be where you can start. If fairly good, you could start with 300. As you work through, you will use a higher number to finish your project.
Scrape away paint chips or rust flakes, use 40-grit sandpaper to remove the rust and then feather the edges with 120-grit sandpaper. Use 220-grit paper to smooth the entire patch and then wipe to remove any sanding dust. After you've removed the rust, paint the area according to the manufacturer's directions.
Personally, I like to stay in the range of 320-360 which is a good grit to paint over. In this range, it's completely safe to go painting single stage enamel. The reason is because enamels, acrylic enamels, synthetic enamels in general are thicker and they fill the tooth of the sandpaper a lot easier.
Garnet: Garnet sandpaper is a good choice for woodworking. The particles don't crack off the way the aluminum oxide does, which means that the sandpaper dulls as you use it. So while garnet paper wears out faster, it tends to create a smoother surface on wood than aluminum oxide paper of the same grit.