It's worth noting that on most projects, you will start off with a coarse sandpaper then work your way up to a fine one. Fine grit sandpaper can also be used to remove minor scratches from a surface.Įxtra fine sandpaper is used between coats of paint or varnish to achieve the smoothest finish.Īlso available is extra coarse sandpaper (24-36 grit) which is designed for floor sanding. Sheets: In the standard size of 280mm x 230mm, sheets can be divided into thirds or halves and clipped onto orbital sanders. Folding the paper back and forth ‘breaks’ it, allowing it to be easily torn. There are two main classifications of sandpaper: the American CAMI/ANSI standard, and the international ISO/FEPA standard that is replacing it. Rolls of sandpaper: These are best used with a sanding block. SANDPAPER GRIT GUIDE 24 - 36 GRIT: For removing thick layers of paint or rust: 40 GRIT: For projects requiring heavy sanding work: 60 GRIT: For use after 40-grit, on surface with less layers of paint or varnish: 80 GRIT: For smoothing out surfaces or removing minor imperfections: 100 GRIT: For smoothing previously painted surfaces, or. It is often used to sand wood before applying a finish, or to polish metal. Sandpaper comes in wide variety of pre-cut shapes, rolls and sheets. As a general rule, the higher a sandpaper’s grit number, the finer its abrasive media. This rating describes the size of abrasive materials which is affixed to the paper’s backing. Medium grit sandpaper can create a smooth finish without leaving any scratches.įine sandpaper is used for creating a smooth, polished finish. What Does the Sandpaper Grit Number Mean Every piece of sandpaper carries a specific grit rating. It is also a good choice for sanding between coats of paint or stain. Medium sandpaper is used for the final shaping work, to remove marks left over from planing or for smoothing a surface after coarse grit sandpaper has been used. Coarse grit sandpaper can also be used to create a textured surface. On the other hand, because FEPA does have a tighter tolerance for particle size (= more consistent scratch pattern), some woodworkers prefer FEPA graded paper for fine finish sanding tasks.Below we have explained what each grit means and the common applications they are used for:Ĭoarse sandpaper is typically designed for the rough shaping of wood, or to remove previous finishes such as paint or varnish. A coarse grit wears down whatever you’re sanding more quickly, but it also leaves deep scratches. This is not a big deal for coarser grits because a finished surface is not the goal and hence CAMI is still used for grades coarser than 80 grit by most major abrasive manufacturers. Grit measures sandpaper’s coarseness, determined by the size of the abrasive particles on its surface. In addition, CAMI is less stringent than FEPA in that it tolerates a wider range of particle sizes for a given grit grade. Move up in grit number, a medium grit of 100 to 150, to produce a smoother surface after the loose surface material has been removed. Above this, FEPA graded sandpaper becomes increasingly coarser than CAMI graded paper for a given grit size. A low number grit, coarser sandpaper of maybe 60 or 80 grit, is a good starter to remove looser surface wood splinters and rough edges. The CAMI and FEPA scratch patterns are similar for the coarser grits up to 220 grit or so. (There are other standards such as JIS but it is rarely used outside of Japan). If there is a “P” in front of the grit number (ex: P180), the grading system is FEPA. Sandpaper is labeled on the back with the grit size. The “ought” system is an older grading system that is seldom used anymore but included here for sentimental reasons. CAMI is used primarily in North America whereas FEPA is used in Europe and many other parts of the world. CAMI and FEPA are the two most common grading systems in use today. This chart compares sandpaper grits using three different grading systems: 1) Coated Abrasives manufacturer’s Institute (CAMI), 2) Federation of European Producers Association (FEPA), and 3) the “0” or “ought” grade system.
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