Sandpaper materials are rated for coarseness or fineness by their grit number. The higher the number, the finer the grit, and the less rough the sandpaper. Coarse sandpaper removes material faster but leaves deep scratches. Fine sandpaper removes less material and leaves a smoother surface.

Which sandpaper is rougher 80 or 120?

Macro Grit Sandpaper

Grade Description CAMI
Very Fine A coarser material than Very Fine under the micro abrasives 150, 180 or 220
Fine Cannot remove varnish or paint on wood 100 or 120
Medium Medium to coarse surface texture after sanding 80
Coarse Has the ability to remove material rapidly 40, 50 or 60

Which is coarser 80 or 320 grit sandpaper?





Sandpaper Grit FAQ

The most common include 60-80 grit (coarse), 100-150 grit (medium), 180-220 grit (fine) and 320 grit (ultra-fine). There are also different types of sandpaper, such as ceramic alumina, silicon carbide and aluminium oxide.

Does quality of sandpaper matter?

Quality sandpaper and grinding discs CUT what you are focusing on. A run in clear for instance, quality paper will cut JUST the run much easier. With poor quality paper you work harder at “rubbing” on the run and end up cutting surrounding areas thin or even THRU, before you CUT the run.

What are the different grades of sandpaper?

Sandpapers are commonly graded as coarse (40 to 60 grit), Medium (80 to 120), Fine (150 to 180), Very Fine (220 to 240), Extra Fine (280 to 320) and Super Fine (360 and above). Sanding with progressively finer grits removes the scratches left by the previous paper and eventually leaves a smooth finish.

What is the finest grit sandpaper for wood?





Coarse grits are typically in the 40- to 50-grit range. Medium sandpaper, ranging from 60- to 100-grit, accommodates some final shaping. Primary sanding of rough wood and the removal of planning marks on wood is often best done with medium-grit sandpaper. Fine sandpapers range from 120- to 220-grit.

How do I choose sandpaper grit?

Sanding different surfaces

  1. For stripping wood, use an extra coarse grit of 40.
  2. For sanding wood, use a medium grit of 80.
  3. For finishing wood, use a fine grit of 120.
  4. For super finishing wood, use an extra fine grit of 180.

What’s the smoothest sandpaper?

Garnet



Garnet and Flint Sandpaper
Garnet sandpaper features a soft grit and wears out the fastest but produces the smoothest surface.

What is a high grit sandpaper?

The highest grit sandpaper is 1200-grit but this is not typically used on home DIY projects. In practical terms, the highest grade of fine sandpaper you would need is around 800-grit to 1000 grit sandpaper which would be ideal for final sanding and also for use prior to and during polishing.

What is 120 grit sandpaper used for?

Fine grit sandpaper of the 100-120 grit variety is best for sanding bare wood in preparation for finishing. It’s not suitable for removing varnish or paint from wood though.

What does P mean on sandpaper?



The European scale is the “P” grade, and is known as FEPA (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives). Both scales are based on the diameter of the average particle size in micrometer (µm), also know as a micron (one millimeter equals one thousand microns).

Is 220 a fine for sandpaper?

180 to 220 Grit Sandpaper: Finer grit sandpaper is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits on unfinished wood and for lightly sanding between coats of paint. 320 to 400 Grit Sandpaper: Very fine grit sandpaper is used for light sanding between coats of finish and to sand metal and other hard surfaces.

Can you go from 60 grit to 120 grit?

Summary: A good general rule for grit progression is to use 100 or 120 grit for initial sanding, 150 or 180 grit for the next pass, and 220 grit for the final pass.
Going Through the Grits.

Grit Coarseness Level
40-60 Coarse
80-120 Medium
150-180 Fine
220-240 Very Fine

Can Plywood be sanded?

Plywood has different textures and can be sanded to create a smooth finish. Plywood consists of two or more flat panels of wood veneer you see in some furniture assembly, flooring and paneling. You can stain the plywood or apply protective polyurethane coating to give it the appearance of real wood.

How do you know when to change sandpaper?



Typically, you can use sandpaper until it’s no longer flat (meaning noticeable warps or tears) or until it becomes clogged with debris. So If you notice that your sandpaper isn’t doing its job as effectively as it used to, then it’s time for a change.