The first step to completing any woodwork project is sanding. You can choose to use sand by hand or use a power sander. However, you must select the right type and grit for the sandpaper. If you use the wrong sandpaper, you can damage your woodwork. Sandpapers are made of various materials and also have different characteristics. Sandpaper might be good for shaping wood but not be the best choice for giving your metal product a smooth finish. It is important to note that different sandpapers work and also wear differently. We have those that wear out fast and others and last long to do multiple jobs before they can lose their bite.
Different sandpapers grits accomplish different jobs. Choosing the right grit is important. However, it can be confusing if you have not chosen sandpaper in the past. The following are guidelines that can help you to choose the right sandpaper. Consider the gritty of sandpaper. One of the common things that sandpapers have in common is their grit system. Your sandpaper materials are valued for fineness or coarseness by the number of grit. The more the number, the finer the grit is, and the less the number, the rough your sandpaper will be. Rough sandpaper will remove the materials, yes. However, it will leave deep scratches on your product. When you use fine sandpaper, it removes fewer materials and leaves your item with a smooth surface. Sandpaper grit can rank between 24 for removing the heavy materials to 2000 and more for the gentle sandpapers. It is important to differentiate sandpaper grits sizes, especially because not all projects will need the same grit. Most manufacturers display the coarseness level clearly on the package, and they also specify the grade.
Grading of sandpaper.
There are two types of sandpaper, and this is the industrial and commercial grades. The grit used and the glue for holding the grit on the sandpaper differ. For the industrial grades, they use the highest quality materials when it comes to these three components. There are some sandpapers that are rated as closed-coat and others as open-coat. For closed-coat sandpapers, their grit particles are arranged closely together, but for the open-coat sandpapers, the grit has larger gaps in between the particles.
Aluminum Oxide sandpaper. This is synthetic sandpaper, and it usually comes in sheets and other types for machine and hand sanding. It is an ideal choice for sanding bare wood, painted surfaces, or metal. When using a power sander or hand-sanding, it can also give you amazing results. Ceramic sandpaper is another option. This type of sandpaper is made of synthetic materials. They are tough and strong, and they are more idea to use with the power sanders. You will find that ceramic sandpapers are more expensive compared to others. However, they give the best results for rough sanding. It lasts longer compared to other sandpaper, especially when you use it for deep wood removal.
Another option Is garnet sandpaper. It is ideal for hand-sanding, finer and light work. This type of sandpaper is not expensive, and you can buy it in sheet form.