What series of sandpaper grits to you use?

[Joel Sauder]

I am looking to get some hook and look discs for power sanding. Looking at the the Klingspor catalog, the following progression of grits is available: 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 240, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500. I know that the grit that most people end with is mainly a matter of person preference (often somewhere at or above 600), but is it really necessary to go through all those grits? Which do you choose to skip?

Also, are the premium discs in catalogs like Packards (i.e. the green and purple discs) really worth the extra money?

Once again, thanks for you help

Joel

[Jim Ketron]

80, 120, 220, 320, 400, 600

[Bernie Weishapl]

Ditto what Jim said.

[RL Johnson]

I agree with Jim but sometimes I do not even go to 600.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Joel,

Ditto Jims grit selections.

A lot of folks will buy the bigger sheets from Klingspoor and then cut their own disks.......squares that is....the 4 corners act as "fingers"......One accomplished turner I work with uses a piece of pipe sharpened to cut his own disks round.

[John W. Willis]

80, 120, 220, 320, 400, 500

[glenn bradley]

60 80 120 220 320 400 disc and sheet.
600 in sheet form.
120 220 400 used most often.

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

180, 220 or 240, 320, 400, sometimes 600

[Allen Neighbors]

80, 120, 150, 180, 220, 280, 320, 400, 600.
Sometimes I get to start with 180 or even 220. Sometimes I stop at 400. Just depends on the piece and the wood.
A friend of mine whose been in the furniture building and repair business for years advised me to not skip grits, and it'll pay off in the long run...but Vince doesn't sell the 100.

[Steve Kubien]

Notice with many of these choices that the second grit is around 50% higher number than the previous? 80grit times 150% equals 120g, x 150% = 180, x 150% = 270 which I have never seen so go with 240, x 150% = 360 (go with 320 or what ever is available)...well, you get the idea.

Steve

[Robert McGowen]

Sometimes 80 to start, but mostly 120, 220, 320, 400, 600. I have up to 2000 grit for pens though.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Joel - like Robert I sometimes start with 80, but usually start with 120, 180, 220, 320, 400 and then use an ultra fine sanding sponge to burnish with.

[robert hainstock]

I learned years ago polishing steel, that a progression through the grits is best. You need to remove all traces , (scratches) of the previous grit before going to the next. It is tedious, but quickest.
Bob

[Nathan Hawkes]

Well, I still consider myself a new turner, but I use either 80,100, 120,or 150 to start, depending on the surface quality, then 180,220,280,320, then 400 & 600, sometimes 1000, all wet sanded by hand with whatever finish I'm using. I usually can use a 2" disc a couple times at least when I use a light touch and work through all the grits like that. Its a pain but it really gives a super nice surface, IMHO. If its a pretty simple looking bowl, I might just use 100,150,220, 320, and stop there. It depends on what I want it to look like. Not everybody examines the finished product with a magnifying glass, just me (metaphorically, not literally).

[Reed Gray]

Most of the time I start with 120. Some times higher, and on rare ocasion 80. I then go to 150, 180, 240, 320, and 400. I don't really do 'art' pieces so have no need for higher grits most of the time. I could skip from 120 to 180, but consider the 150 kind of an insurance thing to make sure I get all of the lower grit scratches out. This is especially true if I have to start at 80 grit. It takes more time to get the 80 grit scratches out than any other grit. I do prefer the discs from Vince to be the best out there in terms of cost, and how long they last. Even when they feel dull, they cut really well. I judge when to change discs by how they feel, and how much dust is coming off.
robo hippy