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Today the list of materials and applications is impressively long, with most coated abrasives being used in industrial production. (Scroll down for a list of various sanding tools and materials.)
In the beginning it was much simpler.
The earliest mention of “sandpaper” is from 13th Century China. The abrasive was made from crushed shells, seeds or sand, which were then bonded to parchment using natural gum.
Since then other materials have been used ranging from shark skin to flint.
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 | Wet/Dry Sandpaper 5 pack Available in a variety of grits for wet, oil, or dry sanding... |
By the 20th century sand-paper was replacing glass-paper in the US. A 1935 addition of Home Craftsman Magazine described sandpaper as:
[A]n abrasive material prepared by coating stout paper with glue and sifting fine sand over its surface before the glue sets.
Today sandpaper is made with garnet as well as aluminum oxide, ceramic and silicon carbide among other abrasives. Each material has its own properties that suit it for a specific task. Technology continues to improve both materials and the process of applying them. As woodworkers we reap the benefit.
Aluminum oxide is great for woodworking, because, as it's used, the heat and friction cause it to break down into more sharp edges. This makes it a good, long lasting, sandpaper.
 | Norton Aluminum Oxide Sanding Discs with Universal Hole Pattern A redesigned hole pattern lets you use these 5" diameter discs with both 5 and 8-hole random orbit sanders. Available in grits from 60 to 320... Norton Aluminum Oxide Sanding Discs with Universal Hole Pattern |
Ceramic can also used by woodworkers but only for the toughest applications - sanding belts, for instance, may be made with ceramic abrasives.
In the past, the abrasive was randomly applied to the glue. Today, the abrasives can be electrostatically charged so all the abrasive particles line up in the same orientation. This creates a fast cutting, long lasting, product.
Furthermore, new technology has made it possible to create abrasives the size of smoke particles (!) used for “superfinishing.”
Superfinishing, also known as micromachining, can give a surface finish of 0.01 μm. A μm (micron) is 1×1000000 of a meter.
To give you an idea of it’s size, a human hair is around 100 microns wide. So, divide that hair 100 times (width, mind you, not length), then take one of those and divide 100 times again. Tiny little abrasive. It's used in high tech products which need micro precision. It has nothing to do with woodworking, but I think it's incredible that it can be done.
Back to woodworking:
If you look on the back of your sandpaper you will likely see a bunch of information. Sometimes the brand name and trademark name will be listed. Almost always you will see a number for the grit, followed by a letter.
Sandpaper used in the work shop is usually backed with paper, sometimes cloth. The weight of the backing is designated by that letter. For paper, the letters range from A to F, with A being the lightest and F the heaviest. Cloth goes from lightest to heaviest using J, X, Y , T and M.
Grit refers to the coarseness of the paper. The higher the number the finer the sandpaper. I usually have 60-800 grit on hand in the shop. I use 60-80 grit for hogging off material, 100-150 for smoothing a piece and 220-320 for final sanding to prep for finishing and for sanding between coats. I use higher grits when I’m after a real polish, but mostly I use it for sharpening tools.
Your paper might also be labeled open coat, meaning the paper has less abrasive coverage. Since the abrasive particles are further apart the paper is less likely to clog. Similarly, stereated sandpaper has a dry lubricant loaded to the abrasive to keep the paper from clogging.
Stereated and open coat sandpaper are good for use on oily woods with a lot of resin or for sanding off paint and other tasks that would generally clog the paper quickly.
If you aren't sure what to use, start with the grit you need, then experiment with different brands and materials. You can find a huge variety of sheets, rolls, disks, drums... and tools to use them, ranging from sanding blocks to top of the line orbiting sanders.
Below is a short list of some of the products available to help with your sanding needs. If you don't see what you're looking for you can search for it here.
| Norton 3X Sandpaper Assortment Pack | |
| 3X premium aluminum oxide sandpaper cuts three times faster and lasts three times longer than standard sandpaper. Includes four 9" x 11" sheets: one (60 grit) coarseone (100 grit) mediumone (150 grit) fineone (220 grit) very fine |  |
 | Norton 3X Contour Sanding Sponges These thin, flexible sponges conform nicely to contoured parts like chair and table legs. Plus, they feature the durability and fine finish of Norton 3X, made from a superior grade abrasive that cuts .. |
 | Adhesive Disc Paper Self adhesive backed aluminum oxide sanding discs. Available in 9'' or 12'' diameters. Sold per sheet... |
| Micro-Mesh™ Cushioned Abrasives | |
| Put the smoothest possible finish on your projects with ultra fine grit cushioned abrasives. Available in 5" disk assortment pack with hook-and-loop design and 3" x 4" soft-touch pads. |  |
 | Abrasive Cleaning Stick Increases the abrasive life of sanding belts and discs up to 10 times as long. Fast and easy to use. Cleans while your sander is running. Saves time and money. Improves the finish quality. Prevents bu.. |
 | 25 Piece Rubber Sanding Drum Set You'll be ready for virtually every job with this quality set of drums and sleeves... |
 | Rubber Sanding Block 5" long pliable rubber sanding block securely holds sandpaper during wet or dry sanding. Takes 2-5/8" x 9" sandpaper.When sanding, use a back and forth motion to avoid tearing of the paper... |
 | Delta Industrial Model SA350K Bench Oscillating Spindle Sander with a 1/4HP In charge of all your sanding needs.Model SA350K Delta Industrial Model SA350K Bench Oscillating Spindle Sander with a 1/4HP, single phase motor, cast-iron table, table insert, 1/2" spindle, 3/4" sa.. Delta Industrial Model SA350K Bench Oscillating Spindle Sander with a 1/4HP |
 | JET - 22-44 PLUS Bench Top Drum Sander, 20 Amp Service 1-3/4HP, 115V 22-44 Plus Drum Sander (Rockler #29284) Exclusive SandSmart controlled infinitely variable feed rate from 0 to 10 feet per minute, gives the ultimate sanded finish and preventing machine overloa.. JET - 22-44 PLUS Bench Top Drum Sander, 20 Amp Service 1-3/4HP, 115V |
 | Sanding Stars Eliminate tedious hand sanding on wood moldings curved pieces and textured surfaces. .. |
| Pneumatic Sanding Drums | |
| Pneumatic Sanding Drums with adjustable air pressure let you get a ''custom fit''. Lower air pressure is perfect for compound curves and rounded edges, while increased air pressure works well on square edges. |  |
 | Porter Cable Speed-Bloc Quarter-Sheet Finishing Sander, Model #330 Accepts both adhesive-backed and standard sandpaper. .. Porter Cable Speed-Bloc Quarter-Sheet Finishing Sander, Model #330 |
 | Powermatic 1632 Open End Belt Sander, 5HP 1PH 230V The 16" Open-End Sander has front mounted controls and a load meter, which maintains a constant check during operation. Metal-tipped safety limiters inside the machine will stop the sander immedi.. |
 | Bosch 1/4-Sheet Palm-Grip Finishing Sander Kit Innovative design lets you quickly load sandpaper for a perfect fit every time, making this the perfect finishing sander for all your project needs! 2 amp motor handles a wide variety of sanding .. |
| Fein Multimaster FMM 250Q Top Kit, with FREE $25 Gift Card | |
| Includes the new Multimaster FMM 250 Q, boasting 40% more power, better ergonomics and the ability to change accessories with just the flip of a lever. Go from saw to sander to scraper in just seconds. Unique oscillating action makes quick work out of tough, picky jobs like removing grout and scraping paint, and it’s the perfect sander for tight spots that you’d otherwise have to hand-sand. Variable speed lets you slow it down for delicate parts and crank it up for quick removal. Kit includes FMM 250 Q, sanding pad, universal E-CUT saw blade (29mm), carbide-tipped segment saw blade, HSS saw blade, rigid stopping knife, plus 5 each of 80, 120 and 180 grit sanding sheets, profile sanding set, dust extraction device, perforated sanding pad, 5 each of 80, 120 and 180 grit perforated sanding sheets, perforated triangular carbide rasp and a plastic carrying case. |  |
 | Inflatable Bowl Sander Here’s the inside story: This is the first sander to adjust completely to underlying surfaces. It's ideal for sanding and polishing the interior of bowls, spoons, or any other concave surfac.. |
 | Porter Cable Oscillating Spindle Sander Get a smooth edge with ease on large projects. Variable speed control has rotation from 2400-3600 RPM and 38-80 oscillations per minute... |
 | Sanding Cord Great for sanding hard-to-reach places on turnings and carvings. Round style cords. Coated in aluminum oxide grit. You'll get approximately 50 feet per spool... |
 | Sanding Sponges Flexible sponges offer a cleaner way to sand wood, paint, metal, plastic, and drywall. Wash and reuse. Works wet or dry. Outlasts sandpaper! Small Area Sponge has two sides and measures 4'' x 2-3/.. |
| DELTA 31-300 Sanding CenterTM | |
| The DELTA 31-300 includes 1-1/2 HP, 115/120Volts motor (wired for 120 Volts operation), on/off toggle switch, stand, dust collector connector, sliding pivot pin for circle sanding, 80-grit abrasive belt, 50-grit abrasive disc, wrench, instruction manual
Sturdy, cast-iron tables tilt 0° to 45° for bevel sanding. Sturdy steel stand for greater stability. Eccentric belt tracking control for easy, accurate belt alignment. Milled table slots permit use of accessory miter gauge for accurate straight and angle sanding. Fully-machined and balanced cast-iron disc for smooth, vibration-free operation and proper adhesion of adhesive discs. |  |
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