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Sandpaper can either be held directly in hand or wrapped around a sanding block for easier use.Coated abrasives come with paper backing in four distinct weights: A, C, D, and E. A, also known as 'Finishing,' is the lightest and best for light sanding tasks. C and D, or 'Cabinet' weight, are suited for heavier work, while E is the heaviest and made for the toughest sanding jobs. The abrasives can be either open or closed coated. Open coated means that the abrasive grains cover only part of the surface and are ideal for working with soft woods, metals, or painted surfaces. Closed coated means that the abrasive covers the entire surface, offering maximum cutting power but tends to clog more quickly, making it suitable for harder woods and metals. Coated abrasives are graded in three popular ways: Simplified markings (e.g., coarse, medium, fine), grit (indicating how many grains fit in an inch), and the 'O' system, where the coarsest grade is 41/2, and the finest is 10/0, or 0000000000.This chart provides details on various sandpaper types and their uses.CHOOSING THE RIGHT SANDPAPER
| Grit | Number | Grade | Coating | Common Uses |
| Very coarse | 3036 | 21/22 | F,G,SF,G,S | Rust removal on rough-finished metal. |
| Coarse | 405060 | 11/211/2 | F,G,S F,G,SF,G,A,S | Rough sanding of wood; paint removal. |
| Medium | 80100120 | 0(1/0)00(2/0)3/0 | F,G,A,SF,G,A,SF,G,A,S | General wood sanding; plaster smoothing; preliminary smoothing of previously painted surface. |
| Fine | 150180 | 4/05/0 | F,G,A,SF,G,A,S | Final sanding of bare wood or previously painting surface. |
| Very fine | 220240280 | 6/07/08/0 | F,G,A,SFASFAS | Light sanding between finish coats; dry sanding. |
| Extra fine | 320360600 | 9/0_2_2 | FASSS |
High finish on lacquer, varnish, or shellac; wet sanding.High-satinized finishes; wet sanding. |
1 F = flint; G = garnet; A = aluminum oxide; S = silicon carbide. Silicon carbide can be used either dry or wet, with water or oil. 2 No specific grade classification.
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