HOW TO CHOOSE SANDPAPER FOR YOUR PROJECT + PRINTABLE

DIY AND CRAFT / UNCATEGORIZED

Sanding is almost always a necessary step when working with wood.  But which sandpaper is best to use when?  Let’s talk about how to choose sandpaper for your project.

I have found that each person has their own opinions on which grits work best on which surfaces.  Basically, I am going to tell you what works for me, and I have gained my knowledge from other people willing to share with me.  You will want to find out what works best for you depending on your projects and needs.

Scroll Below To Download Your Free Sandpaper Grit Sheet

The lower the number, the coarser the sandpaper is.  In other words, 40 grit sandpaper is like little tiny rocks on paper, while 220 grit is fine and fairly smooth to the touch.

Let’s break it down!

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How To Choose Sandpaper For Your Project

  • 40-60 grit sandpaper is great for a rough surface such as rusty metal or wood with lots of gunk to be removed.  These are your coarse sandpapers.
  • 80 grit is a good basic starter sandpaper for wood.  This is my go-to grit to sand a piece that is in decent condition.  You can use it to level out surfaces as well as to remove some finishes.
  • 120 grit is perfect for sanding a laminate piece since you do not want it to scratch the surface of the piece.  You are just getting the surface ready for paint to stick with 120.
  • 150-220 grit removes scratches left by coarser grits.  These grits are your final step before painting and staining. These finer grits are great for sanding lightly between coats when needed.  In general, these finer grits also work well for distressing a painted piece (removes a bit of paint to make the piece look old).
  • 250+ grit works well for sanding between coats of stain, as well as sanding metal or other surfaces that need to keep a very smooth finish.  These are your fine sandpapers.

I always have 80, 150 and 220 grit sandpaper on hand and my favorite brand to use is 3M Sandpaper.  This variety of grit takes me from the initial rough sanding of a basic wood piece (80 grit), the pre-paint sanding (150 grit), and the between-coat and after-paint sanding (220 grit). Download your free SANDPAPER GRIT SHEET by signing up below:


Since sandpaper is fairly inexpensive you can purchase a variety and use them on different surfaces and see if you like what they do to finishes.  Everyone has a slightly different formula for what works for them personally.

I hope this helps you with how to choose sandpaper grit for your next project!

Happy DIYing!

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