Getting the abrasive right is the difference between a finish that holds and one that fails early. At Paint Outlets, we carry professional-grade sandpaper and sanding supplies to suit every prep stage and surface type, from coarse stock removal through to fine finishing before ADVANCE Waterborne Alkyd or any topcoat — call (248) 598-0311 to discuss FESTOOL sanding systems.
Choosing the Right Abrasive Material
Not all sandpaper is the same. The abrasive mineral affects durability, sharpness, and which surfaces it handles well. Here is what we carry and when each earns its place.
Aluminum Oxide Sandpaper
Aluminum oxide is the workhorse of the shop. It is hard and friable, fracturing to expose fresh cutting edges as it wears, and it handles wood, metal, and painted surfaces equally well. Cost-effective and long-lasting, it is available across the full grit range. Prepare your substrate before you sand and aluminum oxide will carry the rest of the process.
Silicon Carbide Sandpaper
Silicon carbide is sharper and harder than aluminum oxide, making it the right choice for glass, ceramics, stone, plastic, and automotive clearcoat. It is also the standard for wet sanding as the grain holds up under water where aluminum oxide breaks down. For sanding between finish coats on Lenmar lacquers and conversion varnishes, silicon carbide is the correct material.
Sandpaper for Metal
Aluminum oxide handles ferrous metals well. For non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, and brass, silicon carbide cuts cleaner and clogs less. For any project heading toward a DTM or HP High Performance coating, the abrasive needs to profile the metal enough for adhesion without leaving scratches the finish coat cannot hide. Match grit to the task: 80 to 120 for rust removal and heavy stock, 180 to 220 for a final key before primer.
Sandpaper Grit Guide
Sandpaper grit refers to the number of abrasive particles per square inch. Lower numbers cut faster and leave a rougher surface. Higher numbers refine the surface progressively. Here is the guide, matched to the products we stock:
- 24 to 36 — Extra Coarse: Heavy stripping, rough shaping, and aggressive material removal.
- 40 to 60 — Coarse: Removing old finishes, paint, or deep scratches.
- 80 to 120 — Medium: General sanding, smoothing wood, and removing surface imperfections.
- 150 to 180 — Fine: Final sanding before applying stain, paint, or varnish.
- 220 to 240 — Very Fine: Sanding between coats of paint or varnish, and light finishing.
- 320 to 400 — Extra Fine: High-quality finishing and polishing.
- 600 and above — Super Fine: Ultra-smooth finishing, polishing, and final detail work.
The standard progression for bare wood is medium to fine, from 80 through 220 grit. Skipping grits means the finer paper cannot remove the scratches left by the coarser one.
What We Stock
Our sanding collection covers Norton ProSand sheets and sponges, Full Circle Level 360 discs and pole sanders, and hook-and-loop discs for random orbital sanders. We stock both dry and wet/dry options. If you are tackling exterior paint prep or stripping stained decking before applying Woodluxe exterior stain, we have the abrasives to get the surface there.
- Norton ProSand sheets aluminum oxide, 9x11 in packs of 3 or 20, multiple grits
- Norton ProSand sponges contour, single angle, and small area formats for detailed work
- Norton Wallsand drywall-specific sandpaper in 5-packs and 25-sheet job packs
- Full Circle Level 360 discs 80, 100, 120, 150, and 220 grit for random orbital sanders
- Full Circle Radius 360 pole sander for ceilings and large wall surfaces
- Wet/dry sheets silicon carbide, fine through super fine grits for automotive and lacquer finishing
- Tack cloth for dust removal between coats
Pair your sanding supplies with patching and repair compounds for a complete surface prep workflow, or browse the full range at the Paint Outlets homepage.
What Professionals Do Differently
A few rules that separate clean results from redos:
- Sand with the grain on bare wood. Cross-grain scratches telegraph through stain and clear finish.
- Progress through grits without skipping more than one step. Going from 80 to 220 leaves 100-grit scratches that 220 cannot remove.
- Use a sanding block on flat surfaces for consistent, even pressure. Hand-only sanding tends to leave high and low spots.
- Dust before you coat using compressed air or a tack cloth every time. Sanding dust in the finish is a callback waiting to happen.
- Prime after sanding bare wood. A quality interior or exterior primer seals the grain and gives topcoats a uniform surface to grip.
- Keep wet/dry paper lubricated with water or mineral spirits. Dry silicon carbide clogs fast and scratches unevenly.
Sandpaper Frequently Asked Questions
