See full version: What Size Sandpaper Should I Use to Sand a Table
Tables are one of the most difficult surfaces to sand without creating swirls, scratches or defects due to poor sanding techniques or materials. Choosing the correct sandpaper for the job can improve your results, and that all starts with the grit size you use. Using the wrong grit size when sanding a table can cause permanent damage to grain patterns. You'll need different grit sizes for different steps in the refinishing process to get the best results.
Typical grit sizes for sanding a table range from 80, which is extremely heavy, to 220, which is very light. You'll use the coarser sandpaper in the beginning stages to get rid of the old finish and smooth out rough patches. Finer grit sandpaper smooths the wood before finishing to create an ideal surface for applying stains or varnishes.
As the old finish begins to come off the table, make sure the heavy grit doesn't scratch the bare wood underneath. When sanding a table, sanding parallel to the grain is vital. Never sand perpendicular or across grain patterns. more
How long it lasts depends a lot on what you expect it to keep doing. At the most basic level of functionality, it'll keep abrading for a long while. But at coarser grits of the SiC wet/dry (
I have been working on my sharpening skills with sandpaper. My best results have come by using spray adhesive to mount 3M wet dry paper directly on balsa wood. However, I am not sure how long the sandpaper will last and if / how I should clean it. Any feedback and advice on sandpaper would be greatly appreciated. here
400 or lower), it doesn't take long for it's coarseness/heavy-grinding characteristic to change. This is more noticeable if you are doing heavy grinding with it, as it'll slow down somewhat as the SiC grit breaks down. But, as Martin (HeavyHanded) mentioned, it usually sort of plateaus out a bit, settling into a finer, but still useful behavior, depending on what you use it for. At finer grits of 600+, I usually LIKE the fact that it gets finer, as it then gets better at refining/polishing edges, and gentler as well (this means burrs created tend to be smaller & finer). 1000-2000-grit paper will eventually make a great polishing strop, for example, as it gets 'finer' with use. In all cases, keeping it clean (unclogged) makes a big difference as you work. I've had very good results in just wiping down dry paper with a microfiber towel, such as the yellow ones often used for automotive polishing/buffing tasks; it does a great job lifting the swarf off the paper, and I also use them on my other hones, when used dry.
Are you using one inch wide balsa? Thats a tip, take 10-11 inch sheet of sandpaper, cut into 1 inch strips, glue to 1inch wide piece of wood with rounded edges (important for flatness) here
I have been working on my sharpening skills with sandpaper. My best results have come by using spray adhesive to mount 3M wet dry paper directly on balsa wood. However, I am not sure how long the sandpaper will last and if / how I should clean it. Any feedback and advice on sandpaper would be greatly appreciated.
Also, what grit should I expect to be able to slice though thin magazine paper? At 400 grit the edge catches and rips the paper. After stropping (on Flexcut or Stropman black & white) I can get mostly clean slices. Is this normal? [links]
Before you start replacing the worn sand paper, there are a few interesting points that you need to keep in mind.
Here is the first step. Start with checking the clamps. more
Here is a short and simple tutorial for you.
Im going to show you how to use any sandpaper you want on an orbital sander. Lets say you were sanding a solid cedar table, but you run out of sandpaper for your orbital sander or don't have a fine enough grit, or your sister did a "craft" with the rest of your sanding pads and you can't go to a hardware store because you can not drive yet. If so here is the instructable for you.
Trace an outline of the outside of your sander and cut it out. I used my bandsaw to cut it out more
- 1/4 inch plywood
-hotglue
-superglue
-spray adhiesive
-an old sanding pad
-sandpaper (duuhh)