Grit Size: Beginner's Guide to Grit Sizes

We’ve all been there, the sand paper isle. You see all these different colors, styles numbers, textures, applications, etc… So, fall into a panic attack and seek help from the kid in the orange apron stocking spray paint cans the isle over. He, of course, just direct you back to where you came from and response, “I don’t know anything about the stuff; you just sand and paint, bro”. So what do you do then? Especially when you’re not “just sanding and painting…bro” You see, choosing the right grit size is the key that separates a good job from a flawless job. And with so many options out there, how do you know you’re picking the right paper for the right job? Well, I’m going to shine some light on what grit sizes are and what grit is tailored for the right job.

Grit size is refers to how much embedded abrading material is on the sand paper you are using to finish a job. The finer the sand paper the higher its grit count, as opposed to a courser grit is normally represented by a smaller grit count. For example, when referring to glass refinishing, a 40x grit size would be used for shaping and glass removal, where as a 600x (which would be a much, much finer grit size) would be used for smoothing before polishing and adding the luster finish.

The variance of grit sizes will shift judging by the level of sanding needed for the application. For instance a 60x grit size would be used for fast glass removal (Mitered Edge) as for an 80x would be more for quick contouring of glass. A 120x grit size would be used for the smoothing and seaming polishing, whereas the finer 220x grit would be for a fine frost finish application.  

The same way that’s there is a right tool for every job, there is a right sand paper for every finish. Always check to make sure you are using the write sanding disk for the right surface and finish you wish to achieve, and happy sanding.