| Sandpaper and other abrasives such as grinding discs are generally used to remove surface corrosion, strip back old finishes such as paint and varnish, or to cut through hard materials such as metal. When choosing which abrasive product is right for you you should firstly determine whether it is for hand use or whether it is to fit a power tool. If it is to be fitted to a tool such as an orbital sander or angle grinder etc, you must ensure you purchase the correct size. Another important consideration is the coarseness of the abrasive. For example, if you are stripping back old paintwork you may start with some fairly coarse sandpaper in order to strip it back quickly, but as you get nearer the woodwork you should use a finer sandpaper to prevent damage. The coarseness is measured by its grit content. 60 grit is quite low whereas 120 grit is quite coarse. When using cutting discs to cut bricks or metal for example, it is important to find the correct disc for the material you intend to cut. Failure to do so will result in the job being more difficult and could cause damage to both the object you are working on, the grinder, the disc or you! |
