Sandpaper. Tool consisting of a paper support on which some abrasive material, such as glass powder or emery, is adhered .
Summary
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- 1 Sandpaper Sheets
- 2 Different types of sandpaper
- 3 Some tips when sanding
- 4 How to identify the abrasion capacity of sandpaper
- 5 Sources
Sandpaper Sheets
Sanding sheets for sanding manually are generally made of paper and in some cases fabric, the latter being better in applications where we need maximum flexibility. According to the grain number, we can make the following classification of the sandpaper sheets
Sanding sheets can be used directly or by fixing them to a wooden block. To sand flat, it is best to buy a small piece of handrail railing and fix the sandpaper to it by stapling it on the sides. This will allow us to take it perfectly and sand effectively. To sand difficult places (moldings, etc.), a piece of molding that fits the place to be sanded is usually sought and the procedure is as before (the sandpaper is fixed with staples). We can also use a sanding sponge.
Different types of sandpaper
In the market we can find a wide variety of accessories that facilitate sanding. As for sandpaper, it comes in different grades, depending on the abrasive particles of the sandpaper. The grains range from 600, which is the finest sandpaper, to 30, the latter being the thickest. Something we should know is that the lower the sandpaper granulation number, the stronger and more powerful it will be. Although there are different colors, this has no meaning, we should only look at the information on what type of sandpaper it is, which we find on the back of the paper. To find out if the sandpaper is of good quality, what we can do is fold it; If in doing so we notice that the grains come off, especially the bending lines, then the quality of the sandpaper is not very good.
Some tips when sanding
- To achieve a fine or intermediate polishing on surfaces that were previously varnished, you must use between 220 and 400 grits.
- When polishing a surface to which previously lacquer has been applied, it is advisable to use sandpaper of between 100 and 180 grains. This thickness is also best for achieving a fine polish on solid woods.
- To remove and polish the paint from a piece of solid wood, you must use sandpaper of between 30 and 80 grains.
How to identify the abrasiveness of sandpaper
Types of sandpaper
Sandpaper is made up of a special type of high grammage paper, on which different types of abrasive material (glass, carborundum dust …) adhere, which determine the degree of abrasion of the sandpaper. The label bears a three-digit number, depending on the weight of the abrasive material attached.
This key indicates the number of granites of abrasive material that the sandpaper has per square centimeter. Depending on the work to be carried out, we must use one type of sandpaper or another. There are special ones for plastic, wood and other surfaces, and it is recommended to use each sandpaper for a specific material to make sure that the abrasion that we are going to carry out is adequate and we do not damage the material with this work.
