EXPERTENWISSEN ABZIEHLEDER

Structure of the sandpaper:

Sandpaper basically consists of a backing material, a bond and an abrasive grain. The combination of these components determines the flexibility, durability and suitability for various tasks:

• Backing material: Paper , fabric or flexible films.

• Bond: Synthetic resin as the main bonding agent ensures durability.

• Abrasive grain: Aluminium oxide , silicon carbide, corundum or special materials for particularly fine applications.

What is grain size and how is it determined?

The grit of an abrasive paper describes the size of the abrasive particles that are applied to the backing material. It is usually indicated by a number that refers to international standards such as FEPA (Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Produits Abrasifs) or ANSI.

How is the grit value determined?

The number of grits indicates how many meshes of a sieve the abrasive grains pass through per inch. For example, a grit size of 100 means that the abrasive particles have been filtered through a sieve with 100 meshes per inch. The higher the number, the finer the grit.

How is the exact grain size of sandpaper ensured?

When sandpaper is manufactured, the abrasive grain is sieved and classified in a multi-stage process:

1. Crushing: raw materials such as aluminium oxide or silicon carbide are ground to the desired size.

2. Sieving: The grains are passed through fine-meshed sieves to separate the desired particle size.

3. Testing: Microscopes and other measuring techniques are used to ensure that the grain size is maintained.

4. Application: The precisely classified abrasive grit is applied evenly to the backing material and fixed with synthetic resin.

This process ensures that each sandpaper has a consistently exact grit size and is therefore suitable for the intended use.

What does the grit value say about the sandpaper?

• Coarse grit (40-80): Removes a lot of material and is suitable for rough work such as sanding off paint or shaping wood.

• Medium grit (100-150): Perfect for intermediate sanding or preparation for finishing.

• Fine grit (180-320): For final sanding before varnishing, oiling or waxing.

• Very fine grit (400 and higher): Suitable for polishing work and fine sanding of sensitive surfaces.

Sanding with sandpaper for wood

Sanding surfaces in several stages makes it possible to achieve a smooth, even surface. The process comprises several sanding stages: Pre-sanding, main sanding, final sanding and, if the surface is to be further treated with lacquer or the like, also the intermediate sanding step.

1.preliminary sanding

• Aim: Pre-sanding is used to remove rough unevenness and prepare the surface for the main sanding. Size irregularities such as wood defects, scratches or rough marks from previous sanding are removed here.
• Grit size: 60-80
• Area of application: For very rough or unfinished surfaces, e.g. raw wood.

2.main sanding

• Aim: The main sanding is used to further smooth the surface and remove fine irregularities that remain after pre-sanding. This is where most of the finishing work is done.
• Grit size: 100-120
• Area of application: For wooden surfaces that need to be prepared for a smooth structure.

3.final sanding

• Aim: The purpose of the final sanding is to prepare the surface for the final fine sanding and to ensure that no scratches or sanding marks remain.
• Grit: 180 for surfaces that are to be oiled or up to 320 for subsequent lacquering
• Area of application: For the final fine sanding before the final surface treatment or lacquering. Particularly important for high-quality surfaces, e.g. furniture or instruments.

4. intermediate sanding

• Aim: Intermediate sanding is used for fine sanding between the application of the individual layers of a surface treatment. After the oil or varnish has been applied, fine structural irregularities usually occur and wood fibres can stand up due to swelling. Intermediate sanding helps to smooth these out and achieve an even and smooth surface.
• Grit size: 240-320
• Area of application: After applying the first coat of the surface treatment product to remove small irregularities and improve the adhesion of the next coat.
• Oil: If oil is applied, the intermediate sanding should be done with a medium-fine grit (180-240), as these treatments often cause the wood to swell slightly. The intermediate sanding smooths out these irregularities and ensures that the wood can be treated evenly.
• Lacquer: After the first application of lacquer, intermediate sanding removes dust particles, bubbles or small runs of lacquer. With lacquer finishes, it can be useful to carry out a slightly finer sanding between coats in order to achieve the smoothest possible surface.

Product presentations from the Dictum range

1. Klingspor abrasive paper

• Klingspor sandpaper: Sandpaper in 115 mm width with aluminium oxide grain, ideal for general woodwork and fine sanding.

• Klingspor waterproof abrasive paper: Silicon carbide-coated abrasive paper, ideal for wet sanding, especially on varnished wood surfaces .

• Klingspor abrasive cloth: Highly flexible mesh backing, ideal for irregular surfaces or curves.

2. micro-mesh abrasives

• Micro-Mesh Soft Pads: Particularly fine sanding down to the micron range. Perfect for high-gloss wood surfaces and polishing work.

• Micro-Mesh Soft-Sand Set: Flexible sanding and polishing tool for difficult shapes, fine profiles and small surfaces .

• Micro-Mesh Kwick-Change Kit: Interchangeable sanding pads with matching sanding block, ideal for efficient processing of wooden surfaces.

3. sanding discs

• Klingspor sanding discs: Universal sanding discs with Velcro for sanding machines .

• Festool Ruby and Garnet sanding discs: Perforated sanding discs Ø 90, Ø 125 and Ø 150 mm for random orbital sanders and co.

Dictum offers a wide range of sanding paper for wood that is optimised for different tasks thanks to its specific properties. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or a professional, the products presented here can be used for any project, from rough pre-sanding to the finest polishing work.