Sandpapers are made up of various types of materials that have distinct characteristics. One type that’s great for shaping wood may not be the ideal option for creating an even finish on metal. Different sandpapers will perform and wear differently. Some are worn out in a short time and others may endure a variety of tough tasks before getting dull.
The Nitty Gritty of Sandpaper
The only thing that all Sandpapers share is the grid system. Sandpapers are evaluated for fineness or coarseness using their grit numbers. The more grit number is higher is the finer the grit and the more brittle the sandpaper. Coarse sandpaper removes material faster but leaves deep scratches. Fine sandpaper takes less material and creates smoother surfaces. Grits vary from 24 for the removal of heavy materials to 2000 and above for the most gentle sandpapers.
Aluminum Oxide Sandpaper
Aluminum oxide is a synthetic Sandpaper, which is typically available in various forms and sheets that can be used for machine and hand-sanding. It’s an excellent all-around option for sanding metal and wood, as well as painted surfaces. It will give outstanding results when used with an electric sander, but it can also be used hand-sanding.
Ceramic Sandpaper
Ceramic sandpapers are made of synthetic materials that are typically brown-reddish in hue. They are extremely tough, and they are perfect for the use of power sanders. This kind of sandpaper may be more costly than others however it can deliver excellent results when rough sanding. It lasts between four and 6 times as long as top sandpapers and is ideal for deep wood removal when needed.
Garnet Sandpaper
Garnet is one of the natural sandpaper that wears quickly, however it gives a more refined appearance as it gets worn down. Garnet typically has either a golden brown or reddish shade. It is suitable for hand-sanding, and for more delicate work. It is generally cheaper than other sandpapers and is generally sold in sheet form. Garnet abrasives feature sharp, hard edges that crack when sanding, forming fresh cutting edges. However, the overall sandpaper wears quickly.
Silicon Carbide Sandpaper
Silicon carbide sandpaper typically has an impervious backing. It is usually black or blue-gray in appearance It can be utilized on dry or wet surfaces. It is perfect for sanding metals and plastic, sanding between coats finish or grinding smooth surfaces. The paper is much less likely blocked than other sandpapers. Additionally, it gives outstanding results on plastic, metal, and fiberglass. The water-based wet-sanding process helps minimize clogging as well as extend the lifespan of the abrasive. It’s perfect for sanding steel for repainting prior to applying the primer coating.
Alternatives to Sandpaper
Steel wool is a fantastic material to remove sludge or rust from any surface prior to finishing. Steel wool is evaluated using an arbitrary number scale that indicates coarseness. Grad 4 represents the coarsest and grade 0000 is most fine. The grade 0000 can be so perfect it is able to clean windows.
Other abrasives are diamond stones as well as water stones used for sharpening knife blades as well as different tools and scrapers (steel cutouts) to finely cut wood as well as abrasive sponges for use on awkwardly shaped pieces that sandpaper isn’t able to reach.
