Avoid unnecessary damage or wasted effort by selecting the right sandpaper grit for your home improvement project.
You might need a few different kinds of sandpaper for your various projects.
Remember that it’s possible for you to buy packets of sandpaper with assorted grits for different needs.
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What Is Sandpaper Grit?
Sandpaper grit is a number that determines the coarseness of sandpaper.
In other words, this number determines how aggressively the sandpaper will sand a given material.
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Lower numbers signify coarser grit and higher numbers indicate finer grit.
Coarser sandpaper sands material more aggressively than finer sandpaper.
The more holes per inch in the screen, the smaller the holes.
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This results in smaller abrasive particles distributed on the paper.
Sandpaper Grit Vs. Sandpaper Grade
So what is the difference between sandpaper grit and sandpaper grade?
Each sandpaper grade consists of a range of grits.
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The grit consists of abrasive particles attached to a backer, often made from paper or cloth.
Sandpaper labeled as open-coat paper has spaces between grains that can clog the paper with dust.
The sandpaper grit number will determine how many cuts there are and how deep each cut is.
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Because of this, the sanding process usually involves starting with lower grits and advancing to higher grits.
Some power sanders cut more aggressively and leave more noticeable gouges than others.
Always test your sander and sandpaper in a hidden area before sanding the entire project.
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More than likely, you’ll need to use several incremental grits.
From there, your next grit will be determined by your finish.
Finishes that sit on the wood’s surface (paint, polyurethane, lacquer, etc.)
hide the fine scratches left by 120-grit sandpaper.
However, penetrating finishes (stain, Danish oil, penetrating oil, etc.)
soak into the scratches, highlighting their visibility.
Starting with too high of grit will result in wasted time and effort.
Plus, you’ll burn through sandpaper quickly trying to remove finishes or smooth rough material with higher-grit sandpaper.
120-grit sandpaper is often a good place to start if you’re unsure what sandpaper grit you should use.
The Nitty-Gritty of Sandpaper.Wood.
Saad, Hameed, et al.
1, 2021, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, pp.
28-37, doi:https://doi.org/10.1515/jmbm-2021-0004
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