A professional woodworker will explain what you should learn about sandpaper to the wood so that your next project will go flawlessly.

Sandpaper is a common item within the shop, and with so many different types, it can be confusing to the novice. Do you prefer to sand at 180 or 220? What do the spongy blocks of sanding for? Why do some sandpapers have different hues?

This world could be vast and difficult to understand. But let's focus on what's helpful for woodworking. We'll provide all the info you need to succeed with your sanding efforts on the next job.

Understanding Sandpaper for Wood: Grit Size

The first thing to be aware of is the size of grit. Sandpaper is tiny particles, typically composed of metal compounds that are bonded to a backing; typically, it is paper. The size of the particles determines the size of the grit.

The smaller it is, the bigger the particle size and the more coarse the sandpaper. It removes the material faster, leaving rougher edges. The higher the number smaller the particles, leaving a smoother surface. There's no limit to how long or precisely you are able to sand.

Coarse grit = 36 to 80. This will be ideal to speed up the removal of stock, for example, smoothing the edge of a slab, or smoothing rough-sawn surfaces.

• Medium Grit = 100 to 180: This removes mill marks off your machines and leave the appearance of a clean and clean surface. Certain finishes recommend grinding to 180 grits for the finish to "bite" onto the surface of the wood. Therefore, make sure you review the instructions prior to you apply your paint.

• Fine grit = 220 to 400: The majority of the time, I sand to 220. This provides mus with the greatest quality of grain on the surfaces of wood. We can use sand the wood with 400 grit sandpaper or similar cloth that is abrasive prior to an additional coat finish to provide an attractive, smooth finish to the piece.

• Polishing grinding grits of 600 and higher: This grit, used for polishing surfaces that have been polished, is rarely used in wood shops.

Extra information: Europe has a different scale of grit than the U.S. If you've ever seen the grit size marked P-180 or even P-220, this is what you'll find on the European scale. While it's not exactly the same, however, it's similar enough. We think it's basically identical.



Hand Sanding vs. Machine Sanding

Based on the sanding configuration you have. You may require different kinds of sandpaper. The most popular are:

Sanding by hand

Sheet sandpaper: You will get sanding sheets in a variety of dimensions; however, the largest and most commonly used are 9-in. x 11-in. and 9-in. x 3-in. They typically come with a smooth back and are quite stiff when folded. They can be able to get into corners and crevices that machines cannot reach, let you get into, and allow you to sand each sq inch in your work.

Blocks for sanding: These semi-rigid sponge-like blocks are typically found in hardware stores at significant discounts over the sanding sheets. Although they can be useful in applications (drywall sanding is one that comes to mind) but they're not very useful for woodworking. Don't throw away your money. Purchase sandpaper sheets and create your own blocks to sand!