Choosing the Right Abrasive: A Practical Guide by Englau Group

Our products cut, grind, strip, sand, clean, and polish materials such as wood, metal, plaster, plastic, paint, bricks, and tiles. They are suitable for surfaces such as walls, floors, furniture, and vehicles, and are suitable for both DIY users and professionals.

Our grinding wheels are suitable for heavy-duty industrial and professional applications. Diamond wheels are designed for concrete and masonry. Aluminum oxide and zirconia alumina wheels are best for ferrous metals. Metal grinding wheels remove surface irregularities from steel, while sanding wheels smooth wood and plastic surfaces.

Before selecting an abrasive, consider the challenges of tasks such as repainting a car or repairing scratches. These projects can be complex, so choosing the right material helps prevent mistakes, ensures quality, and reduces costly rework, especially in auto body repair.

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Abrasive

To achieve the best paint finish, consider these key factors when selecting sandpaper:

Grit

Size and shape of the sandpaper

Means of attachment

1. Grit

Select the appropriate grit, which ranges from 20 to the high thousands. Lower numbers indicate coarser sandpaper.

Choose a grit that efficiently removes the underlying paint layer, but avoid grits below 60 to prevent deep scratches.

For deep scratches or rust removal, use 60-80 grit sandpaper, which is considered coarse. For lighter scratches, use 120-grit sandpaper.

Medium grit (400-600) does an effective job of smoothing the vehicle surface before a base coat is applied. It’s strong but fine enough to smooth rough areas without scratching the metal. For fixing tiny scratches, try 600-grade sandpaper. To sand a car’s final finish primer before applying the primer sealer, use 800-grit sandpaper.aper.

2. Size and shape of the sandpaper

Recommended sizes and shapes for automotive sandpaper include:

9” x 11” Rectangular

2-3/4” long strips

6” diameter round disks

3. Means of attachment

The three most common attachment methods are: dry-backed sandpaper, suitable for wet and dry sanding at all grit levels; PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) paper, which features a peel-off backing for easy application and removal; and hook and loop backing, designed for quick changes and typically used for round disks and coarser grits.

PSA paper (pressure sensitive adhesive) backed – Includes a peel-off backing

Hook and loop backed – Only for round disks and coarser grade grits