Sandpaper is much more than just a coating of abrasives glued to a paper or cloth backing. That would be garnet paper, which is cheaper and less effective for serious sanding projects. There are several forms of sandpaper, from rolls and sheets, to discs and belts; and each come with a variety of grit sizes to choose from. When it comes to sanding metal, it is easy to make mistakes.

Many metals scratch very easily, even with a fine grit sandpaper, and this is a common result for novice sanders. For this reason, it important to use the proper grit count in order to preserve the metal’s integrity as much as possible. If you have a metal sanding project in the works, be sure to match the proper grit count in order to get the best results. 

Continue reading to learn how to do just that.

Metal Sanding

The general purposes behind sanding metal are to remove rust, deburr an edge, or to polish its surface. But if you use the wrong grit count on metal, it can cause irreversible scratch marks that are not easily covered up. For instance, when sanding metal for the purpose of rust removal, edge deburring, or sanding finishes between coats, it is best to use a sandpaper grit count higher than 220. In fact, 220 grit count is the most course grit you should ever use for these purposes. It is recommended to use a 320 or higher grit count to sand metal.

If you need to polish metal, it is best to use a much finer sandpaper grit. Although you could get away with using something as course as a 320 grit count, is it recommended to use something as fine as 1,200 grit count to achieve the smoothest finish. The grit count you use for metal polishing will depend on the level of finish you desire for your project.

Buy Sandpaper Products Online

Call Sandpaper America at 1-800-860-7263 (SAND) to buy high-quality, economically-priced sandpaper products in Indiana. We manufacture our abrasives in-house, so you can be sure that your products are high quality. Call 1-800-860-7263 to place an over-the-phone order, or go online and buy directly from our website! We offer custom orders, bulk orders, reoccurring orders, invoicing, and much more!