The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-25-2021, 02:06 PM
kmanuele kmanuele is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 37
Default sandpaper for finishing

General purpose sandpaper (Norton 3x, eg.) seems to have occasional large grains that leave visible scratches behind when leveling. Or, I am doing something wrong.

So I've been using Norton Black Ice before buffing. Seems to work pretty well.

Wondering if other members use other brands with consistent grain size?

Thanks in advance

Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-25-2021, 02:44 PM
Dyson Guitars's Avatar
Dyson Guitars Dyson Guitars is offline
Custom Guitars
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Hillsborough, NC
Posts: 121
Default

I do my wet sanding to buff with 3M auto papers. 800 and up. I level my finish with the gold colored 3M FreCut stuff. 320 or 240. I guess I like 3M for finish work! Ha. I tend to use Klingspor for my wood sanding paper.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-25-2021, 03:10 PM
charles Tauber charles Tauber is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,381
Default

My current favourite for wood is Mirka mesh, but I also use Norton 3X. The Mirka stays sharp a long time and the mesh allows it to be used with a vacuum that eliminates almost all of the dust.

Micromesh works well for me for sanding finishes and comes in just about every grit you'd want.

I have found, particularly for finish work, not all sandpaper is created equal.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-25-2021, 07:48 PM
kmanuele kmanuele is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 37
Default sandpaper for finishing

Thanks for the replies.

3M FreCut is promoted as having tight control on grain size, so I will give that a try. I use their Perfect It polishing compounds for buffing, so should have thought of their abrasives :-(

re: micromesh, I got confused with their grit sizing system, then learned that 1500 is same as 400 US :-) Will get some of this too.

Thanks again

Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-25-2021, 11:13 PM
Simon Fay Simon Fay is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Posts: 1,789
Default

Kovax paper is game-changing, in my opinion. Absolutely superb stuff but it is expensive. The American distributor is Eagle Abrasives.

It is a dry sanding system - which is particularly useful for your 1st and primary leveling after you've done you've applied your finish.

You could start the yellow or orange papers -- roughly equivalent to P800 and P1200, respectively. I continue to use the rest of their sandpaper up to P3000 grit. However, you could switch to another high quality paper. Mirka's Abralon pads are pretty good as well.
__________________
Luthier
New Smyrna Beach, FL
www.fayguitars.com
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-26-2021, 12:19 PM
Victory Pete Victory Pete is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 760
Default

This stuff is great:
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tool...inch-roll.html
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-26-2021, 12:41 PM
Fatfinger McGee Fatfinger McGee is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 369
Default

I also use 3M auto papers for wet sanding (though not on guitars). It has the advantage of being sold at every autoparts store.

Glued in successive grits onto a thick glass plate, it's also great for getting chisels and plane blades shave-hair sharp.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Tags
finishing, leveling, sandpaper

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=