Sandpaper is a highly beneficial and unique tools that is perfect for smoothing out surfaces on several different types of materials. It is used in various industries including carpentry and woodworking. Sandpaper is used for prepping walls for painting, exterior paint preparation, wood finishing, carpentry, metal sanding, and much more. Although many people are familiar with the traditional uses of sandpaper, like the ones just mentioned, there are a few interesting and unique purposes to this popular abrasive as well.

Continue reading to learn more about sandpaper, and a few unconventional uses for it too!

The Useful Qualities of Sandpaper

Sandpaper is a sheet of heavy paper with an abrasive-mixture glued to one side. The abrasive mixture can be made from various elements, like aluminum oxide or silicone carbide. But the grains specifically are made from sand, rock, gravel, and even metal. There are several different types of sandpaper, all with different grit levels. The grit represents how fine or course the sanding paper or finished surface should be. The lower numbers represent larger grits, and higher numbers represent finer grits.

The most common ways we use sandpaper and abrasives include sanding walls prior to paint applications, wood floor refinishing, sanding floors prior to sealant applications, grout stain removal, wood floor stain removal, metal polishing, rust removal, woodworking, and carpentry.

Alternative Ways to Use Sandpaper

As promised, we will discuss some fun and unconventional uses of sandpaper that many people do not know about. For example, you can sand the bottom of shoe soles for better grip. This is helpful for anyone who works in a slippery environment, or for better traction on ice and snow.

What about those pickle jars that never seem to want to open? A small square of sandpaper will give you that extra grip you need to pop that top off in a jiffy! You can also use sandpaper to remove rust from tools, scissors, and other metal commodities.

Also, gardeners can benefit from sandpaper. A few strokes of sanding paper on a seed can promote expedited sprouting because water can better penetrate the seeds! Another unique use of sandpaper involves cat and kitten training.

You might be asking yourself how this is possible but as a cat owner you must be familiar with them scratching up your furniture posts and beams! Simply tape a few squares of sandpaper to the affected area and cats will eventually stop scratching there. Turns out that they are not fans of rough surfaces.

Are you looking for top-quality sandpaper for your abrasive needs? Call Sandpaper America at 1-800-860-SAND to buy woodworking sandpaper products and abrasives at a competitive price. We manufacture all of our sanding products in-house, so you can feel confident in the quality of our products.

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