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Sandpaper on a tools and material list may seem like an well-heeled enough item to watch off . That is , until you impinge on the hardware memory board and face spate of sandpaper sheets and booklets , each distinctly identified with different number that point emery paper grits .
Each sandpaper sand execute a unlike task . Generally , the lower the grit number , the more coarse the guts . Therefore , a sheet of 220 - grit emery paper is more coarse than a sheet of 400 - backbone sandpaper . Coarser grits are used for heavy sanding on rough and uneven surfaces , while fine- gritrock emery paper is used to polish and finish the surface of textile . commonly more than one eccentric — and often three case — is take for most projects .
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It ’s helpful to learn about different emery paper grits so you could find theright emery paper for your next projection .
What do sandpaper grit numbers mean?
emery paper consists of fine particles from either natural or synthetic source . The particles ( also known as grain or grit ) are sieve through screen and sorted by size before being bonded with adhesive to a paper , poriferan , or cloth - type support to make an abrasive material .
In the United States , backbone is determine based on a grade scale established by the Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute ( CAMI ) . The in high spirits the telephone number , the finer the sandpaper backbone . Most emery paper stick to the CAMI scale , but if you range sandpaper online , you may run across sandpaper grit sized by the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives ( FEPA ) .
Grit sized with the FEPA shell is indicated by the letter of the alphabet “ phosphorus ” precede the grit number . FEPA sizes are not identical to CAMI size , but you may bump a very similar option by selecting one of the two airless FEPA numbers .
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Sandpaper Grit Chart
Here ’s a spry point of reference that will help you find the correct sandpaper grit for the caper at hand . Make certain to check out the “ vulgar uses ” pillar if you are unsure of which grit to use on the projection , and always examine on an invisible billet or scrap fabric when using new emery paper .
How to Choose the Right Sandpaper Grit
Manufacturers may designate emery paper sand by the bit or by line it , so it ’s helpful to know what each verbal description mean .
On many projects , you ’ll bulge out with a vulgar emery paper grit , then gradually switch to fine grits to get a placid finish .
Types of Sandpaper Grit Material
Most emery paper manufacturers list on their product labels the type of stuff best suited for sand . However , it ’s saucy to fuck what character of moxie material to depend for before you betray . The following are the most common types of emery paper materials that DIYers may encounter .
1. Flint
granitic sandpaper ’s Earth’s surface has pulverize flint ( or quartz ) that creates its textured open . It ’s the oldest type of sandpaper theme and known for being inexpensive . A rude cereal , Flint River is not durable and is traditionally used for light sanding and polishing . It can be rinsed after sandpaper jobs for repeated use .
Best For : Light sanding , removing varnish and paintOur Recommendation:3 M Scotch - Brite Flint Super Fine Sanding Sheet at All Industrial Tool Supply for $ 0.16 per sheet . Flint is a natural stuff that work well on tough sanding products .
2. Emery
Emery sandpaper sport a raw cereal that ’s most often used for removing corrosion and/or polishing steel and other metals . The edges of its particles can be too sharp for sanding wood , and it ’s good for deburring , paint removal , or automatically terminate a airfoil .
Often denote to as emery fabric , the abrasive is in reality glue to a cloth rather than a paper so it is really a little more durable than sandpaper .
well For : Removing corroding , smooth blade , deburring , rouge removalOur Recommendation : LYFJXX Emery Cloth Roll at Amazon for $ 13.98.Emery material is a indestructible sanding material that ’s used for tough sanding jobs , such as deburring or paint remotion .
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3. Garnet
Another rude grain , garnet is slightly softer than flint and emery . Used for polishing and fine sanding of wood , leather , and plastic , it tends to dull relatively quickly when used to sand metal . While it will wear thin quickly while it ’s being used , the rapid wearing helps to create a finer finish on the Earth’s surface it ’s sanding . Some employ it for baron sanding , but it ’s also used as a hand sander .
well For : Polishing and fine sanding of wood , leather , and plasticOur Recommendation:3 M Garnet Sandpaper at Amazon for $ 3.69.Garnet emery paper is used for shining and all right sanding of multiple materials and wears speedily .
4. Zirconia Alumina
Until ceramic was used , zirconia alumina was the most harsh caryopsis available for sanding projection . A synthetic product , this sand is long lasting and idealistic for grinding away bur on metal and for an initial sanding of rough woodwind instrument . When it ’s used for sanding metal , the grit particles can really become sharp , so you wo n’t have to interchange sandpaper ofttimes .
Best For : Grinding away metal burrs and sanding jolting woodOur Recommendation : ABN Zirconia Alumina Sandpaper Disc Set at Amazon for $ 13.99.One of the most abrasive types of sanding materials , zirconia alumina is often sold as belts and magnetic disk for tough projects .
5. Aluminum Oxide
Another very durable synthetical gumption , aluminum oxide is well suited for sanding and polish various type of metal , including bronze and alloy brand . It ’s known for being long lasting and can be establish in a mixed bag of grits from fine to coarse . Aluminum oxide is also a good selection forsanding all types of hardwoods .
Best For : Sanding hardwood and various types of metalOur Recommendation:3 M Aluminum Oxide Sandpaper 6 - pack at Ace Hardware for $ 4.59.A general - design sandpaper that ’s available in a form of backbone , aluminum oxide is undestroyable and long permanent .
6. Silicon Carbide
Often used for automotive projects or wet sandpaper projects like polishing marble or stone , Si carbide is made in harsh sand that can remove rust fungus and in less - coarse hominy grits for polishing . The most durable of all synthetic abrasives , Si carbide is good for sandpaper a wide reach of materials , including plastic , metal , hardwood , and softwood .
Best For : Sanding plastic , metal , hardwoods , and softwoodsOur good word : LotFancy Silicon Carbide Dry Wet Sanding Sheet at Amazon for $ 8.99.Silicon carbide emery paper is often declare oneself in a range of 80 to 3,000 grit , work it a various type of sandpaper for many dissimilar kinds of projects .
Looking for the besttype of sandersfor your sanding undertaking ? See our guides to thebest random orbital sanders , the honorable palm sander , and thebest detail sanders .
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