How To Choose The Right Sandpaper For A Job?

By Author: Uneeda Enterprizes
Total Articles: 18
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Sandpaper is extensively used in the wood working and other industries for sanding purpose. The size of the grit, abrasive grains, backing material and adhesive are important points that should be kept in mind when selecting the right sandpaper for a job.

Sandpaper is an excellent tool for making a quality and smooth finish to any uneven surface. In order to find the right quality of sandpaper, you should first decide the grit size. If you want to get a level surface, 80 grit will be the right one to start with. This grit number is also suitable for removing a coat of paint. For sanding the wood to a smooth finish, it is better to start with a heavier grit. By increasing the grit size at each stage of sanding, you will find it easy to remove the scratches left from the previous grit.

Today, sandpaper with Aluminum Oxide grain is commonly used because it gives a long lasting finish. Garnet comes handy for staining wood as it creates a soft finish, however it requires high maintenance because it wears out quickly. The sandpaper with Silicon Carbide grain can also give an excellent final finish and is used for wet ...
... sanding.

When selecting an abrasive, the backing material and the adhesive should be considered. Paper as a backing material will work well if you want a smooth finish by hand sanding. For heavy duty uses, sanding belts with cloth backing are a usual choice and can also help in rapid stock removal.

As glue is sensitive to heat, sandpaper with resin bond adhesive can do a sanding job well in which a lot of heat is generated. The amount of adhesive also makes the sandpaper behave differently. With a densely coated backing, it is easy to get an even finish. This type of coat is called a closed coat. With an open coat, the abrasive grains on the backing get scattered. The sandpaper with an open coat is usually used for removing the stock rapidly.

All the features described above are clearly marked on the sandpaper packet. The sandpaper with Aluminum Oxide grain, cloth backing and resin-on-resin adhesive is recommended for general sanding work. When it comes to the width, you can choose from a wide belt sander or narrow belt sander, according to your requirement.

The author of this article is associated with Uneeda Enterprizes, Inc., a leading supplier of abrasive sponges and sandpaper belts.