Sandpaper Basics
Sandpaper serves several purposes, including:
- Smoothing rough, damaged or splintered surfaces
- Shaping and leveling wood
- Removing paint, rust and corrosion
- Preparing a surface for paint
- Preparing a workpiece for multiple finish coats
Sandpaper is available in sheets for hand sanding or in sheets, discs, pads or belts for power sanders. Hand sanding products give you a lighter touch and let you sand areas that a power sander can’t reach. A power sander removes material quickly but requires practice for the best results.
Sanding Safety
Wear a respirator and eye protection when sanding. Depending on the tools you’re using, you might need hearing protection. Follow the sanding product or tool manufacturer’s instructions for use and safety.
Look for power sanders with dust management and extraction features to reduce airborne particles. Some can connect to a shop vacuum with a fine-particle filter for dust extraction.
Sandpaper Types
The abrasive material or mineral defines the different sandpaper types. Each abrasive has properties that make it suitable for specific projects.
Emery
- Emery sandpaper or cloth is suitable for metal.
- The abrasive works for hand sanding and power sanding.
- Coarse grits remove rust or paint, while finer grits polish the metal.
Aluminum Oxide
- Aluminum oxide works on wood, plastic, metal and drywall.
- The abrasive is a long-lasting option for hand and power sanding.
- The particles break during sanding, constantly exposing new, sharp edges.
Silicon Carbide
- Silicon carbide is suitable for wood, plastic and metal.
- It works for rough sanding, removing paint or rust, sanding between finish coats and sanding drywall joints.
- The abrasive removes material more quickly than aluminum oxide but doesn’t last as long.
Zirconia Alumina
- Zirconia alumina works on wood, fiberglass, metal and painted surfaces.
- You’ll find it in the form of belts, pads and discs for power sanding.
- The abrasive particles break during use, maintaining sharp edges that remove material quickly.
- Zirconia alumina lasts longer than aluminum oxide.
Ceramic Alumina
- Ceramic alumina works on wood, metal and drywall.
- It’s available in sheets for hand sanding as well as discs for power sanding.
- The abrasive removes material aggressively.
- Ceramic alumina lasts longer than aluminum oxide.
Fabric and film backing are more durable than paper and can conform to the contours of a workpiece. Fabric and film can also make a sandpaper suitable for wet sanding to reduce airborne dust.
Sandpaper Grit Numbers
- Lower-grit sandpaper has larger particles that remove more material but create more noticeable scratches.
- Higher-grit sandpaper has smaller particles that don’t remove as much material but leave a finer, more polished appearance.
Sanding projects generally use several grit sizes, starting with lower grit numbers and moving to increasingly higher grits. Each higher grit creates an increasingly smooth surface. Grit numbers between 60 and 220 handle most household projects. Woodworking requires additional, higher grits. The specific grit numbers you need vary by project and the material you’re sanding, so follow the abrasive product manufacturer’s recommendations. Here are some general guidelines for common grit ranges:
When to Use Sandpaper Grits 36 to 100
Grits from 36 to 100 are good for removing material quickly and work well with power sanders. Choose these grits to:
- Strip away finishes, such as paint or varnish, from a workpiece.
- Remove rust on metals or flaws in wood.
- Level and shape wood.
When to Use Sandpaper Grits 100 to 180
Grits from 100 to 180 perform well with both hand sanding and power sanding. Use these grits to:
- Smooth workpieces.
- Remove scratches.
- Prepare surfaces for finishing.
When to Use Sandpaper Grits 180 to 320
Grit numbers from 180 to 320 are ideal for hand sanding during wood finishing projects. Choose these grits when you need to:
- Remove raised woodgrain fibers.
- Scuff wood between finish coats.
When to Use Sandpaper Grits 400 to 600
Grit numbers from 400 to 600 are good for final sanding of a woodworking project. Use these grits to:
- Remove imperfections in the cured finish.
- Create an ultra-smooth surface or add shine to the cured finish.
Other Abrasives
There are other abrasive materials that can be helpful in sanding and smoothing projects.
Sanding sponges are flexible pads with an integrated grit.
- They’re effective on both flat and contoured surfaces.
- Use them for wet-sanding or dry-sanding.
- They’re reusable and more durable than sandpaper.
- Sponges with channels help prevent clogging.
Steel wool is another abrasive that conforms to the work surface.
- It lets you work on areas sandpaper can’t easily reach.
- Clean any loose steel strands from the workpiece to avoid rust and discoloration.
Refinishing or stripping pads are reusable sheets of abrasive material.
- The pads are flexible, allowing them to conform to the workpiece.
- They don’t shed.
- You can cut them to a specific size or shape.
Drywall screens are metal, open-mesh products designed to level joint compound and plaster.
- Drywall screens don’t clog as easily as drywall sandpaper.
- They’re reusable and easy to clean.
Sanding Tools
- Hand sanders use sandpaper sheets cut to size and give you more leverage on flat surfaces.
- Pole sanders are ideal for large, flat surfaces such as drywall panels.
- Sheet sanders are power sanders that use a small sandpaper sheet on a vibrating base to create a smooth finish on flat surfaces.
- Detail sanders are power sanders with a triangular vibrating sanding base to fit in tight spaces.
- Random-orbital sanders use an arbitrary, circular sanding motion to prevent conspicuous marks on the work surface.
- Handheld belt sanders are best for large surfaces, with a rotating band of sandpaper that aggressively removes material or shapes wood.
- Benchtop sanders are stationary power tools that sand surfaces on large workpieces.
- Drills, as well as oscillating and rotary tools can use bits and accessories to handle sanding jobs.
Make sure any sandpaper you purchase for a power sander is compatible with the tool. Check your sander manual for compatible sizes, shapes, etc.
Using Sandpaper and Other Abrasives
- Try out any power sander on scrap material to get a feel for how it works.
- Practice with large tools like belt sanders and benchtop sanders to ensure you can control them and use them safely and effectively.
- Work in an area with good ventilation.
- Use dust collection when power sanding.
- Use the finest grit size that can handle the task and follow the correct sequence of grits.
- Whenever you change sandpaper grits, clean off dust and loose abrasive from the workpiece.
- Hand sand with light, consistent pressure.
- Power sand at a slow pace with a light touch to reduce the risk of visible scratches.
Key Takeaways for Choosing Sandpaper
The right sandpaper is a key part of any finishing or painting project. It’s also useful for shaping wood and plastic, as well as removing rust from metal surfaces. Here’s what you need to remember when you’re choosing sanding products:
- Sandpaper is available for hand sanding and power sanding.
- Emery cloth sandpaper is ideal for removing rust or paint from metal and polishing metal.
- Aluminum oxide sandpaper has particles that break during sanding to remain sharp.
- Silicon carbide sandpaper removes material quickly but is not as long lasting as other types.
- Zirconia alumina particles break like aluminum oxide, but zirconia alumina sandpaper lasts longer.
- Ceramic alumina offers aggressive material removal and lasts longer than aluminum oxide.
- Lower grit numbers mean better material removal while higher numbers mean a smoother finish.
Shop Lowes.com for the types and grits of sandpaper you need for any woodworking or finishing project. Or visit your local Lowe’s and talk to a Lowe’s Red Vest associate. They’ll help you find the best sandpaper for your work and can recommend tools and supplies you need for a successful project.
FAQ on Choosing Types of Sandpaper
Use the answers to these questions to help you find the sandpaper that will give your project the best results.
How Do I Know Which Sandpaper to Use?
Choose a sandpaper designed for your material. Most common types work for wood, plastic and metal but emery sandpaper is best for metal, while silicon carbide and ceramic alumina are good for drywall. Make sure the sandpaper is suitable for hand sanding or a power sander, depending on your preference. Choose low-grit sandpaper to remove more material and high-grit sandpaper to create a finer finish.
What Sandpaper Grit Do I Need for My Project?
Choose low grit numbers to remove lots of material or shape a workpiece. Choose high grit numbers to remove obvious scratches and create a smooth or even glossy finish. For wood-finishing projects you typically start with a low grit to smooth the workpiece and remove imperfections, move to a medium grit to remove the scratches the sandpaper left behind and end with a high grit to smooth the surface.
Should I Hand Sand or Use a Power Sander?
Hand sanding is best when control and a light touch are key, such as when applying coats of finish to a woodworking project. Hand sanding is also good for tight spaces and contoured workpieces. A power sander is usually best when you have a large surface to sand or when you need to remove lots of material.
What Sandpaper Should I Use Between Coats of Finish?
Check the finishing product and sandpaper instructions for recommendations, but in general, sand with a fine grit from 180 to 320 between finish coats. Once the final coat of finish has cured, use very fine grit in the 400 to 600 range for final smoothing.