What Is a Good Grade of Sandpaper for Wood?

Grit Size

• Sandpaper is graded on a numerical scale. These numbers represent a paper’s grit size and indicate how many raised particles there are per square inch. Grit size is found on the packaging and on the back of the paper. The coarser and more abrasive the sandpaper, the smaller the grit size, because the raised particles are larger to fill in the space. The finer and less abrasive sandpaper is rated with a higher number because the surface is filled with smaller particles. Grit sizes typically range between 12 and 600 grit, but 30 to 220 are the most commonly used grits.

Commercial Vs. Industrial Paper

• Most average users sand with commercial sandpaper, readily available at home improvement stores. This type of sandpaper is suitable for most home projects; however, the paper tears and loses its effectiveness much more quickly than industrial sandpaper. Industrial sandpaper uses higher quality materials, but is usually only available through industrial supply stores and online. Since it's made from stronger materials, industrial grade sandpaper must be replaced less often than commercial grade paper.

Sandpaper Grades

• If you're stripping the finish off of the wood or removing major imperfections such as large dents and deep scratches, start with a rough grit sandpaper rated less than 100. For small scratches and dents, or to smooth a rough surface, a medium grit between 100 and 120 will suffice. To remove all the small scratches and make the surface completely smooth, use a fine grit paper, such as 180 or 220. This is the last sanding you need to do before applying a finish to the wood. Finer sandpapers between 220 and 240 grit are good to lightly sand wood between finishes or sealers. Finer sandpapers work well to remove small marks or light scratches and to remove some of the finish's shine.

Types of Sandpaper

• Sandpaper is made from different types of materials. When sanding raw wood and hardwoods, sandpaper made from aluminum oxide -- which is the most common type of sandpaper used on woods -- works well on most projects. Sandpaper made from garnet also works well on all types of wood. Silicon carbide can be used for many different types of wood projects, including wet sanding projects. Flint, on the other hand, is not usually suitable for sanding wood.