Choosing The Right Abrasives

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Abrasives Chart

Application	Tool/Product	Abrasive	Grit

Surfacing rough wood, fast stock removal	Surface sander, belt sander	Aluminum Oxide, Zirconia Alumina	36-80

Rough-sanding mill marks, saw marks, defects, end grain	Orbital sander, belt sander, disk sander	Aluminum Oxide, Zirconia Alumina, Garnet	60-100

Smooth sanding	Orbital sander, disk sander, sheet sandpaper	Aluminum Oxide, Garnet, Silicon Carbide	120-320

	Sanding blocks, non-woven pads	Aluminum Oxide, Silcon Carbide	Medium- Fine

Sanding contours	Sanding drums, disks, flappers, cords, strips	Aluminum Oxide, Garnet, Silicon Carbide	80-320

	Sanding blocks, non-woven pads	Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide	Coarse-Fine

Wet sanding, applying stains or oils, sanding between finish coats	Sanding sheets, non-woven pads	Silicon Carbide, Aluminum Oxide	240-600 Fine-Extra Fine

	Steel wool (except wet)		#00-#0000