Which Sandpaper Grits for Sanding Wood?

What are Grits?

• Sandpaper grits measure the coarseness of the paper. The lower the grit, the rougher the paper. The rougher the paper, the more material it can remove with a single pass. The higher the grit, the finer the paper. Higher grit sandpapers remove less material and provide a smoother surface. Higher grit papers have finer particles embedded on the paper, while lower grit papers have more course particles.

Rough Grades

• Sandpaper grades start in the 40 to 60 grit range and are used for heavy sanding and stripping of paint. Grades 80 to 120 smooth the surface, while grit sizes 150 to 180 finish the surface and prepare it for staining or a protective coating.

Finer Grades

• Sandpaper grades can go as high as the 12,000, which are used to provide a smooth finish to high gloss items such as cars and musical instruments. For wood, 220 to 240 grit sandpaper is used to sand out runs and air bubbles between coats of paint. Grits between 280 and 600, which are the highest you can usually find in a home improvement store, are used to remove fine scratches and blemishes prior to finishing coats.

Grit Progression

• For dirty, blemished and damaged wood, start with 60 or 80 grit and progress through grades of sandpaper up to 180 grit to create a smooth finish. Its acceptable to stop at 180 grit when you are sealing or staining wood.