Choosing Sandpaper For The Perfect Wood Finish

By Author: Uneeda Enterprizes
Total Articles: 18
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There are many varieties of sandpaper available in the market. You will need to select the perfect type of sandpaper for the specific woodworking project. This article will provide you with some information about the different types of sandpapers and their uses.

Choosing the perfect type of sandpaper is the key to getting the right finish for any wood project. The right type of sandpaper can help you get the job done better and faster. Also known as glasspaper, sandpaper is paper made from abrasive material and come in different forms like sheets, rolls, bands and disks.

To select the best quality of sandpaper for your wooden project, you need to research carefully as there are many varieties of sandpaper and they may look similar to one another, but they could be made from different materials, which would produce different results. So it is important to understand their characteristics and features. Here we will provide you some important information related to sanding and different sandpapers.

Sandpaper is classified in different categories according to the number of abrasive particles per square inch. ...
... The lower the number of the abrasive, the more coarse the grit will be. They are commonly graded as:

Coarse (40-60 grit) - Used for heavy duty sanding work.
Medium (80-120) - Commonly used for smoothing the surface and removing small flaws and imperfections
Fine (150-180) - Used for the final sanding before finishing
Very Fine (220-240) - Used to sand between coats of stain or sealer
Extra Fine (280-320) - Removing dust spots or marks between finish coats
Super Fine (360 and above) - The finest grade of paper, used in the final sanding of high quality work.

Types of Sandpaper:

Aluminum Oxide – These are made from synthetic material and are light gray, grayish brown in color. They are generally used in power sanders.

Uses/points to consider:
1. Can work easily with all types of sanding.
2. Good for use with a power sander.
3. Ideal for raw wood, hardwood and metals.
4. More durable than Garnet paper.

Ceramic – Made from synthetic material which is generally reddish-brown in color. It can easily remove considerable amounts of material. It is often used for belt sender.

Uses/points to consider:
1. Extremely hard and durable.
2. Ideal for rough sanding.
3. Usually leave a very rough finish.
4. More expensive than other abrasives.

Garnet – It is usually reddish or golden brown in color and commonly used in woodworking. It cannot sand wood as quickly as other sandpapers.

Uses/points to consider:
1. An excellent choice for finish sanding.
2. Can used for all types of wood.
3. Coarse paper wears down to provide fine finishes.

Silicon Carbide – It is typically blue-gray, black or charcoal in color, used generally for finishing metals.

Uses/points to consider:
1. Can be used on wet/dry surfaces.
2. Ideal for polishing.
3. Sharp and durable.
4. Less likely to clog than other types.

Flint – It is very lightweight and comes in a pale yellow color. It is the best for rough work on small projects and is rarely used for woodworking.

Uses/points to consider:
1. Not particularly durable.
2. Economical.
3. Least expensive belt sand paper.
4. Can wear down quickly.

If you are planning for your wood sanding project, be sure that you choose the best quality sandpaper that can provide the finish you desire.

The writer is associated with Uneeda Enterprizes, Inc., one of the leading abrasive suppliers that provide specialized abrasive products for the cabinet, flooring, furniture and other wood related industries.

Website: http://www.sandpaper.com/