Sandpaper Raiders Final Step
Select sand grain material
Factors that affect sanding success include not only the grit size of the sandpaper but also the type of abrasive.
Certain types of grit particles work better with smooth and sand-type materials (for example, wood and metal).
Most manufacturers list the most suitable type of material for sanding on their product labels, but before we shop, it will be more helpful for woodworking to know the type of material for sandpaper.
Corundum: A natural grain, corundum abrasive paper is often used to remove corrosion and polish steel and other metals. The edges of its grain may be too sharp for sanded wood.
Garnet: Garnet is another natural grain that is slightly softer than emery and has rounded edges that produce a smoother finish, but this also means sanding is slower and the paper will wear down faster, making it excellent for the final sanding choice.
Alumina-Zirconia: This durable synthetic grit is great for deburring metal and for the initial rough sanding of wood. When sanding metal with zirconia alumina, the grit actually gets sharper so you don't have to change the sandpaper as often.
Aluminum Oxide: Aluminum oxide is a very durable synthetic grit ideal for sanding and polishing all types of metals, including bronze and alloy steel, and is another common type of sandpaper used for woodworking projects. This is the most common type of paper used in power sanders. Alumina is more durable than garnet paper but has a poor finish.
Silicon Carbide: Silicon carbide is a very hard abrasive used primarily for conditioning or "wet grinding" metals with water as a lubricant. Although some advanced finishes use silicon carbide paper, it is not commonly used by woodworkers and can be used for sanding metal woodworking tools.
Ceramic: Ceramic is a very hard abrasive. It can be used for quick removal of wood, such as belt sanders and grinders. It's durable and expensive but doesn't produce a very smooth surface, so be careful when using vitrified sandpaper, especially with plywood and veneers, as they can quickly sand down and destroy the surface layer.
