Sandpaper is textured paper used for woodworking and metalworking. It comes in different grades known as grit, which varies by region. Sandpaper sheets are sold in packs and can be ripped to make them more manageable. Special sizes and types of sandpaper are used for different sanders. Emery cloth is another type of sandpaper used in metalworking and finishing. Coarser grits are used to remove material and shape the workpiece, while finer grits polish scratches and provide a smooth finish.
Sandpaper is a type of textured paper used for woodworking, metalworking, or other work on different materials. More commonly known as sandpaper, sandpaper comes in different grades known as grit; a fine-grit sandpaper will remove less material from a piece of wood, metal, plastic, and so on, while a coarse-grit sandpaper will remove more material. Sandpaper grit is often measured numerically, and the specific numbers that define a grit vary by region. The United States and Europe, for example, have different measurement standards. Some less expensive sandpapers are measured as simply fine, medium, and coarse.
Sandpaper sheets are often sold in packs, and sheet sizes vary by manufacturer. Often a user will rip sheets in half or quarters to make the piece of sandpaper more manageable for use. Some people choose to use a sanding block, or piece of wood or metal with a flat face to spread the sandpaper over; the sanding block is used to apply even pressure to the material to be sanded.
Some sanders also use special sizes and types of sandpaper. A palm sander, for example, often uses a small piece of sandpaper that is adhesive on one side so it can be affixed to the large, flat surface of the palm sander. The sander will move the paper in an orbital motion, thus reducing the scratches that will appear on the material to be sanded. A belt sander uses a continuous belt of sandpaper attached to rotating rollers. This type of machine will remove a significant amount of material at high speeds and is generally reserved for larger, heavier jobs.
Emery cloth is another type of sandpaper that can be coarse or extremely fine. It is often used in metalworking and a very fine grit of emery cloth will only remove a small amount of material without scratching the material too much. It is often used in the finishing process after coarser grits have been used to smooth or shape the piece. Emery cloth and sandpaper are often used as part of a process: first coarser grit paper is used to remove material and shape the workpiece, then a medium grit is used to remove small amounts of material, then used a fine grit to polish scratches and provide a smooth finish.
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