Sandpaper is a tool used for removing material from a surface. It comes in a wide range of grit sizes and can be used for a number of different projects.
Each type of sandpaper has three important qualities: its coarseness, its abrasive material and its coating. The grit number on a piece of sandpaper reflects the number of holes per square inch in the screens used to sieve the grains during manufacture. With a Lowes Money Off Coupon from We Are Coupons, sandpaper and so much more costs less.
Medium
Sanding is a crucial part of DIY projects, and there are many different types of sandpaper to choose from. It is important to know which type of sandpaper you need for your project before you start so that you can get the smooth finish you want.
When choosing a sandpaper, it is best to look at the coarseness of the paper and the material used to make it. This will determine which grit level is best for your project.
The finer the grit, the smoother the surface will be. It is also important to consider how you will be using the sandpaper.
You can use a coarser paper to shape wood surfaces or to remove surface defects such as scratches, dents or splinters. You can also use it to smooth out surface sanding marks or blemishes left by a finer sandpaper.
Coarse sandpaper comes in various grit sizes, depending on how many sand particles it contains per square inch. The grit number is printed on the paper and usually bears a CAMI scale or a FEPA (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives) gradation.
Using a coarse paper can make it difficult to sand a surface flat, so be sure to take the time to do your sanding in stages. For example, you might circle a low spot with pencil before using 80-grit sandpaper. Once the board is completely flat, you can move on to 120-grit sandpaper.
Medium sandpaper is often the go-to choice for many DIYers. It is commonly used for sanding down previously painted surfaces, smoothing out plaster and getting rid of filler. It also gets rid of any small nicks or imperfections so that the next coat of paint can stick better.
Fine
Fine sandpaper ranges from 120- to 220-grit and is typically used in most home workshops. It is often used for final sanding before a project is completed, and can also be useful for cleaning plasterwork and removing water stains from wooden surfaces.
The grit number is the most important consideration for choosing sandpaper, as it determines how many pieces of grit are required to cover the same area. The lower the grit number, the more rough the sandpaper will be and the more scratches it will leave. As you progress to higher grits, the scratch marks are less noticeable and eventually disappear completely.
Grit sandpaper is made from a variety of materials, including natural occurring grits such as emery and garnet, and man-made materials such as aluminium oxide, silicon carbide and alumina-zirconia. These materials are bonded to a strong backing material such as paper, mylar or PET film.
A number of different abrasive products are available to sand a variety of surfaces, including steel wool (fine flexible filaments of steel or other metals), aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and alumina-zirconia. Some of these abrasive materials are much more suitable for certain types of work, while others may not be as effective at all on particular tasks.
Some abrasive products do not use a paper backing, but instead feature a cloth or plastic film. These backings give a stronger surface that resists tearing and is able to handle flexing and blending in a sanding application, and can tolerate constant reapplication of grit.
The abrasive materials on the sandpaper are held to a backing material by a chemical adhesive. The backing can be made of paper, fabric, a plastic film or fibre - and it is this backing that differentiates commercial grade from industrial grade.
