With an 80 CAMI or FEPA P60-P80, this grit sandpaper leaves a medium to coarse surface texture after sanding. Ranging from a 100 -120 CAMI or FEPA P100 – P120, this sandpaper cannot remove varnish or paint on wood and is better used to prepare wood for finishing, cleaning plaster, and removing water stains on wood. Macro Sandpaper Grit Guide Very FineĬoarser than very fine micro sandpaper and with a CAMI of 150 – 220 or FEPA P150 – P220, this sandpaper can be used to sand down fine wood. With a 240 CAMI or FEPA P240 – 360, very fine sandpaper is the least abrasive and is best used when applying sanding finishes between consecutive coats when working with drywall or wood. Ranging from 360 – 320 CAMI or FEPA P400 – P600, extra-fine sandpaper should be used during the initial wood polishing stages. Superfine grit is usually used for final wood finishing. Ranging from 400 – 600 CAMI or FEPA P800 – P1200, this fine-grit sandpaper slightly wipes away patches and/or minor inconsistencies but isn’t strong enough for complete removal. Ranging from 800 to1000 CAMI or FEPA P1500, this grit has incredibly delicate abrasives and should be used in the final sanding stages or when polishing thick finishes. Below is an essential sandpaper grits guide: Micro Sandpaper Grit Guide Ultra Fine

Micro grits are primarily used on wood and some drywall, whereas macro sandpapers are used on tougher metals and hardier wood because they have a more robust clearance. Sandpaper grit ranges can be divided into two types: micro and macro grit sandpapers. If there is a “P” in front of the grit number, for example, P300, then you know it follows the FEPA grading system. Sandpaper is labeled on the back with the grit size. CAMI is used mainly in North America and FEPA in Europe. Globally, the two standardized sandpaper grit charts are the Coated Abrasives Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) and the Federation of European Producers Association (FEPA). The larger the particle, the fewer can fit through at once. Here’s a basic sandpaper grit guide to help you decide which grit is best for you.Ĭontrary to popular belief, sandpaper grading size does not refer to the size of the abrasive materials but rather how many particles can fit through a 1 square inch filter. Sandpaper grit size will affect your finished project’s quality, so it’s important to know how and when to use which size. If you’ve ever tried to purchase some at your local hardware store, you’ve likely noticed that it comes in many different grit sizes, which can quickly become overwhelming. Sandpaper is an essential but often underrated tool that can help you finesse your drywall, woodworking, and metal projects. Sandpaper Grit Guide: What You Need to Know

Sandpaper 800 grit