Thread: Abrasives: type and grits for turning?

Originally Posted by LanceC

The only abrasives I currently have are several pads for my RAS (running low), and a roll of paper backed 320 and 400 grit. My understanding is that I need a mesh/cloth backed abrasive for sanding on the lathe.

Can anyone suggest what range of grits I should be buying, and any particular type/brand of sandpaper?

I use grits from 180 up to 400 and from 400 up to 1200 in the finishing stages. The finer grits are usually wet & dry, paper backed abrasive and used wet with water in the polishing processes. The coarser grits are cloth backed and used, folded three times and will allow he natural flexibility to do the sanding, not tightly folded and used under hand pressure. the brand doesn't concern me. All abrasives should be used gently and not allowed to get hot. This softens the adhesive that holds the grit, thus letting the grit come loose. Resist using a pad inside the abrasive, "To stop burning your fingers", again let the natural flexibility of the abrasive do the work.


Jim

I agree with Jim's comments entirely and will add the following,

Let the tool do the work, when its "blunt" exchange it!

Sandpaper or more correctly "abrasives" are simply another tool. Like bowl gouges where there are benefits in using a particular grind & profile for some tasks or problematic woods, there are benefits in using a particular type of abrasive in various applications.

Dry woods, sand differently to wet or oily woods, so there are benefits in using "open" abrasive products, or "spaced" abrasives (i.e. Astradot), or to wet sand in some applications.

The backing medium and weigh of the medium, i.e. cloth, paper or the newer generation "abranet" style abrasives definitely have benefits in certain applications.

For maintaining the sharpness / crispness of fine detail in spindle turning, say lidded box finials etc, a medium weight paper backed abrasive will offer far better results than a cloth backed abrasive, however the cloth backed will be a better choice for most bowl turning applications.

Finally, size your abrasives for the task, don't expects a scrunched up full sheet of sandpaper left on the lathe bed, or floor covered in all sorts of crap to perform well. I do a lot of small fine spindle work, so I cut full sheets of paper backed sandpaper (SIA) to 30 x 30 mm squares fir small items, or into four strips across the sheet for sanding spindle turnings that I want to maintain a true cylindrical or conical surface i.e. minimalist pepper mills. I find that cloth roll abrasives do not perform as well as the medium weight paper backed abrasives in that situation.