Sandpaper

[zgrimsley]

What sandpaper do you use? What grit count? Where do you get it? Thanks for your help

[Toneman]

I buy my sandpaper at Lowes in a variety pack of 80 grit to 350 grit I believe. It comes in sheets of 8x10 (several per grit, I think 5 sheets ea). I use the 80 grit on wood before cutting and the 350 grit for finishing and I buy 900 grit at Auto Zone for some finishing after applying final coat of spray finish.
By the way, the paper at Lowes comes with pouch with dividers to keep it separated by grit.
Tony,aka,Toneman

[zgrimsley]

The 900 grit at autozone can you use it dry or is it the wet kind? Do you know how much it runs?

[julief]

Save yourself some money and when you get to that fine a grit, use a brown paper bag or a piece of brown painters paper.  I keep a roll of it in the shop to put under my projects when finishing so there is always a piece laying around.

[Toneman]

The brown tape and paper bag are good ideas! Never thought of either of these. And yes, the 900 grit is expensive, around $2.00 per sheet and it's use is very short term. I am going to the brown paper bag!

Tony,aka,Toneman

[dgman]

I usually sand to 220 grit. Starting at 100, to 150, to 180 and then to 220. If using Baltic birch, I will sand to 320. Sand your blank to final grit before you cut. That way all you have to do when you are done cutting is touching up with 220 grit. I use a sheet of brown paper bag to level off the final finish and remove any dust nubs.

[zgrimsley]

Thanks I like the brown paper bag idea. Ill have to try that

[Marcellarius]

I start with 240 grid and sometimes 400 before sawing.
with spray lacker i do at least 5 or 6 thin layers of glossy lacker and sand between each layer.
so after the first layer of finish the 400 grid for a couple of times and then 600 to get it real smooth.

[slowcutter]

I hate finish work.......
I knock off the burs & fuzzy's
If I get past 180 paper I have worked to hard.
Wipe on a finish & its finished.
People seem to like the home made done by hand work.


  JP

[Toneman]

AMEN JP!

[stipes]

I like 180. Seems like that have worked great for me for a decent smooth finish .

[tux_linux]

There is a certain grain in the wood - one can not sand past this point.

I use 180, 240 and 400 for the finish. 180 for the first sanding, 240 for the fine and 400 only for fine details. Oh, and also some very fine steel fleece after the finishing.

Put some tape on the back of the sand paper, it will last much better and is easier to work with. Otherwise one has those ripped, scrambled bits of sand paper that harm more than sand the piece.

[MOONIE]

Being tighter than bark on a tree...  I love the 'tape on the back of sandpaper'  idea!!

[tvman44]

Any kind of tape?

[tux_linux]

Any tape will work. I like to use the clear plastic tape, that makes the back of the sand paper a bit slippery and easy to pull along while holding down with the thump.

Just try and experiment a bit - it's worth it.