SANDPAPER

TYPES OF SANDPAPER

50 - 60 COARSE:

Add a bit of elbow grease, and this will remove all paint and smooth out any rough surfaces

80 - 100 MEDIUM:

This sandpaper is used to prepare painted surfaces, such as varnished window frames, before you repaint them. This will remove the worst dry varnish or paint flakes before you use a finer grade of sandpaper. Also sand any surface with this grade after you've tackled it with coarser sandpaper

120 - 150 FINE:

This grade is used to obtain your final smooth finish before you apply varnish or paint

160 - 240 VERY FINE:

This grade is used between coats of paint or varnosh. After your first coat of paint or varnsih, small wood hairs usually pop up and make the surface feel slightly iuneven. Very fine sandpaper can be used to sand the little hairs away so that you can achieve a smooth finish

360 - 400 WATER SANDPAPER:

This grade of sandpaper is mostly used by panel beaters to prepare surfaces for spray painting. Used with water, it can provide a very smooth finish

TIPS FOR BETTER SANDING

• It's difficult to sand away scratch marks that run against the grain of the wood. Always work with the grain
• Remove varnish that may collect on the sandpaper by rubbing a new piece of sandpaper against it, or clean it with a steel brush
• Nail the sandpaper onto a block of wood using small nails to ensure that the sanding will be even. This also makes it easier to sand a large surface such as a door or it's frame. It's also easier to reach into uncomfortable corners if you use a wooden block
• Store sandpaper by sticking it (in the right grades) onto a notice board (chipboard) and hanging it in a dry place. When the paper gets wet it's nearly impossible to save it for re-use, except, of course, if it's used specifically with water.
• If you have a blunt pair of kitchen scissors, use it to cut sandpaper into strips. At the same time you will be sharpening the blades of scissors
• You can use sandpaper - preferably a finer grade - to scrub your heels (EEEEEEEEEEEEEEUW, ok not for me, thanks)
• The more sandpaper gets used, the finer it gets, so keep used sandpaper for the next, finer, sanding job
• Although it is slightly uncomfortable to sand with gloves on, it's safer.

Home - April 2005