Sandpaper grit refers to the size of the sand particles on any given sheet of paper, and it’s an essential part of woodworking because different grains result in different levels of coarseness when used with different types of wood. That’s why it’s important to understand what each grain level means, how it will affect your project and what the best way to use them is when you start your next woodworking project. Here’s a breakdown of each type of sandpaper grit and how to determine which one works best with each type of wood you work with.
The Different Grades of Sandpaper
The three most common types of grit used in sandpapers are coarse, medium, and fine. The first number in the paper’s name indicates its level of coarseness. For example, 60-grit sandpaper is coarser than 40-grit sandpaper. The second number indicates how many grains per inch there are on a piece of paper that is folded in half (or sometimes thirds) and then glued together. So, 80-grit sandpaper has 80 rows of grains per square inch. Generally speaking, the higher the number before the grit word in a paper’s name, the finer it is and vice versa.
There are also a variety of specialty papers such as waterproofing or finishing papers that have different levels of grain size as well.
The Different Types of Sandpaper
The grit of your sandpaper is the number of tiny grains per square inch. The finer the grit, the smoother and finer your surface will be. You’ll want a higher grit when you’re finishing wood or smoothing down old paint. But if you’re going for a rougher, rustic look or working on metal, choose a lower grit. Lower grits work better with rough surfaces like metal and have more bite, which means they don’t wear away as quickly. If you have a lot of prep work to do before painting, use 80-100 grit first then switch up to 120-150.
Which Grade is Right For Me?
What is your project? Is it a new furniture piece, or an old one that needs refinishing? 2. Will you be using any other tools in addition to sandpaper? 3. What type of surface are you working on, and what are you doing with it afterward? 4. Do you want a smoother finish or would some texture work better? 5. Which grit do I use first? 6. Which grit should I use next? 7. What grit should I use last? 8. How can I keep track of which grit I used where?
