How to Choose, Store and Recycle Sandpaper

Sandpaper is a household staple for any do it yourselfer. It's used to prepare surfaces such as wood and metal for painting or staining. It can be used wet or dry for everything from drywall, autos, furniture and more.

Things You'll Need

• Contact paper
• Cereal box - large size
• Plastic zipper bags

Instructions

Everything You Need to Know About Sandpaper

1. Know what you're buying. There are four types of sandpaper: two that are used for wood and two that are used for finishes such as paint or varnish. All sandpaper has grit. This is the collection of little particles that cover it's surface. The size and amount of the grit is measured in numbers that run from 36 to 2000. The lower numbers have a larger and rougher grit, the larger numbers have a finer and smaller grit.

2. Choose the right paper for the job. You want to sand wood surfaces with garnet sandpaper. This is the most commonly used sandpaper and it's a nice orange color. It's also the least expensive. Garnet sandpaper comes in grits that range from 36 to 280, which means that it shouldn't be used for any fine work as it is only available in the rougher grades. You can make this sandpaper last a lot longer if you put some contact paper on the back as it usually gets ruined because it creases and bends as you use it. Tan sandpaper, made with aluminum oxide abrasives, also comes in 36 to 280 grit. This sandpaper is a little stronger and will last longer. It's the kind of sandpaper that's commonly used for belt sander belts and orbital sander discs.

3. Use the proper finish for each stage of your projects. For finish work, such as the light sanding you need to do between coats of paint or varnish, use sandpaper that is made with silicon carbide that is attached with water resistant glue. This is made to be water resistant and is very strong. This is a more expensive and finer grade sandpaper with a grit that goes all the way up to 2000 for the finest work. This paper should be used with water or an oil based lubricant or it will clog up and need to be thrown out too often to be affordable to use. It comes in two types as well; gray and black.

4. Understand the difference between fine grade sandpapers. Gray silicon carbide sandpaper is made with a residue in it that is kind of soapy in consistency. It doesn't need any water or lubricant because of this. Use this type for the first two coats of finishes of paint or varnish when it isn't quite as delicate as the final two coats. The black silicon carbide paper is used in the final finishing work and is the finest of the sandpapers. For both the fine sandpapers, the paper often wears out before the grit on it does so adding contact paper to it before you start will help it last much longer.

5. Get the most for your money. You can recycle sandpaper if you clap the dust out of it after each use and if you use it on a project that requires less grit when it starts to look shabby. Remember to add a contact paper backing to extend the life of the cheaper papers. Sandpaper needs to be stored in a way that protects the grit and keeps the paper from bending and creasing which causes it to ruin faster. You can store it in large zipper close bags which will help to keep it dry, which is really important in giving it a longer life. Put these bags flat on sleeves or in a drawer, or poke a hole through the bag and hang them on peg hooks.

6. Store your sandpaper properly to get the most use out of it. You can also store sandpaper in a file drawer. If you use a lot of sandpaper or if you just have several kinds, you can store it in a file drawer or a carry file. Just put it inside a bag and then file it in a drawer. If you don't have a file cabinet you can make one simply and cheaply. Take a large cereal box and tape both ends shut. You can cover it with contact paper if you want to to protect it from the damp. Cut one of the side panels off and slip the bagged sandpaper inside the box which can then be stored on your workbench or in a cabinet. Your paper will stay dry and flat. This is good for sanding discs as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding contact paper to the back of your sandpaper will help extend its working life.

• Moisture, creasing and bending will ruin your sandpaper.

• Using the wrong type or grit of sandpaper will also wear it down too fast, and it could make more work for you.