Sanding Paper

Sanding paper from Klingspor, 3M and Norton in grits from coarse 40 for stripping and shaping to 1200 for flatting paint and lacquer. Pick the backing for the job: paper gives the finer, flatter finish, cloth such as emery stands up to metalwork and pulling round pipe, and waterproof wet and dry paper can be used with water for smoothing between coats. Sheets, rolls, strips and hook and loop discs from 80mm to 150mm are all available.

Grit choice comes down to how much material you need to remove. Coarse grades from 40 to 80 strip old finishes, level filler and take down high spots quickly. Medium grades from 100 to 150 smooth out those marks and prepare bare wood or metal. Fine grades from 180 to 320 are for final preparation before painting, and 400 to 1200 are for flatting between coats and refining a finish. Work up through the grits one step at a time rather than jumping from coarse to fine, as skipping grades leaves deep scratches that the finer paper only partly removes.

Standard sanding sheets in 230 x 280mm, such as Klingspor PS30D and PL31B, can be used whole on a block or cut down to fit a hand sander. For wet sanding, Klingspor PS11 and 3M 734 Wetordry sheets have a waterproof backing that holds together when soaked, which keeps the paper from clogging and gives a finer finish on paint, filler and lacquer. Klingspor KL371X emery cloth sheets are tougher than paper, so they suit metalwork, deburring and cleaning up corroded parts by hand without tearing.

Sanding rolls are the economical choice for workshops that get through a lot of abrasive, as you tear off exactly the length you need. Narrow 25mm cloth rolls such as the Klingspor KL361JF and 3M 314D utility cloth are made for wrapping round pipe and tube or polishing shafts on a lathe, while the 115mm wide Klingspor PS22N paper roll is sized for cutting strips to fit hand blocks and sanders. 3M Scotch-Brite rolls and sheets are a non-woven alternative that won't load up, useful for removing rust, keying surfaces and blending finishes.

Hook and loop sanding discs and strips attach to a backing pad in seconds, so swapping grits mid-job is quick. Check your sander's pad size and shape before ordering. Self-fastening triangle discs such as the Klingspor PS22K 96mm suit detail sanders for corners, and the 70 x 125mm strips fit compact orbital sanders. Round discs are available from 80mm to 150mm. Where your sander has dust extraction, match the disc's hole pattern to the pad so the holes line up.