Not all sandpaper/ emery paper is created equal!

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello,

while sanding my beads, i realized…a bit late!…that papers with the same grit…are not the same…! (do not perform the same)
which has proven problematic when mixing papers in use…

i normally buy the 3M Tri-M-Ite wet or dry papers

somehow i accidentally bought alot of 3M waterproof papers…which seem alit more aggressive…oy! and papers are not cheap!

alas, my 800 grit waterproof is much more aggressive than my 600 grit Tri-M-Ite!

oh well, sorting now…need to order more Tri-M-Ite

will also pay attention to the grit type…ie: silicone carbide, etc…$
gotta busy out the p-touch label maker next!

julie

2

Hi,

…i think i got into this trouble because if i recall, the type i “think”normally bought only went up to a certain grit…and so i bounced around to other papers that gad the grits i needed…

i have now gone down the abrasive paper rabbit hole…i am determined to decipher “the code”…!

julie

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3

ok!…so!…so far, my research is:

my favorite is 3M 413Q Tri-M-ite Wet or Dry (grey/ brown backing)
silicon carbide
paper A wt
which comes in 220, 240,320,400,500,600

i also have 3M 213Q Wet or Dry in 800 grit…(yellow backing)
(i think i had problems finding the 800 grit and got this…)
aluminum oxide
paper A wt
comes in 220,240,320,400,500,600,800

and i have 3M 401Q Imperial Wet or Dry (yellow backing)
silicon carbide
paper A wt
comes in 1000,1200,1500,2000,2500,3000

ok…so this all makes sense…that is why my 800 grit is diff, and my 1000+’s are different…

i also have a ton of Hermes WS-Flex16 in 320,400,600,800 grit (blue backing)
silicon carbide
paper B wt
avail in grits 60 thru 5000

i personally find the Hermes WS-Flex16 Waterprood backing paper B wt to be too stiff/ thick for my needs…and the grit seems more aggressive…

this more agressive 800 grit is where this odyssey began…i ran out of the “some kinda” 800 grit and must have bounced to this brand…

so…paper A wt is thinner than paper B wt

ok, now i need to order…!…

julie

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4

It’s always something making life complicated isn’t!

I’ve definitely found that different brands of silicone carbide wet or dry sandpaper with the same grit number don’t always feel the same.

I agree that it’s best to strive to stick with the same brand of sandpaper, but somehow other brands seem to end up in my sandpaper drawer. Not sure how that happens? Sorry it happened to you!

Jeff

5

Hi,

i think the problem for me was that the online jewelry supply sites i usually (infrequently) buy it from do not show the backing or give alot of product details…

now that i know what i am looking for, i ordered from R.SHughes…whuch gives product details.

julie

1 Like
6

…i misspoke in my original post…

i said the 3M waterproof 800 grit was more aggressive …i should have said the Hermes WS Flex 16 waterproof on paper B wt in 800 grit was more aggressive…

the 3M 800 grit is 213Q Imperial, and that was good
(i haven’t tried the rest of the grits…they come in 220 thru 800…maybe i should try that whole range…(i think i want to stay with one type/ item# of paper)…but…it is aluminum oxide versus silicon carbide…not sure which is better…i have read about the characteristics of both…the 3M 800 grit is only in aluminum aluminum oxide…the test of my papers are silicon carbide…on paper A wt…

oy!

julie

7

I used to only use 3M wet or dry silicon carbide sandpaper. That’s not readily available in my rural location anymore. Now I buy my sand paper in a box of 50 sheets from McMaster Carr because it’s easy for me to get. They only sell aluminum oxide wet/dry sand paper though. It seems to work fine with jewelry metals.

Jeff

1 Like
8

Hi,

ok…so…Otto Frei has the 3M Imperial (401Q?)
silicon carbide
in more grits than just 1000 grit and up, which is what i have been seeing out there…

Otto Frei has grits 180,220,280,320,400,600,800,1000,1200,1500,2000,2500

good to know for next time…

maybe i should order and test/ compare…i already have 1000 thru 2500…i would just need 320,400,600,800…

and this would solve having just the random 800 grit in aluminum oxide…

my goal is to get the full range of grits in one kinda paper…which i have struggled with…until finding this offering at Otto Frei!

julie

9

My local hardware store stocks wet/dry silicon carbide sandpapers in various grits, but any new sandpaper sheet always is much more aggressive and it needs to be gently evened out to avoid deep scratches from unevenly laid down grit. I do use tape backing on it and cut strips or circles, etc., to suit sanding needs. My favorite sanding sticks always are the old used ones!

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10

Hi,

To summarize my above crazy convoluted monologue posting, here are some links for abrasive papers that might be helpful…where each is available in a broad range of grits.

SILICON CARBIDE:
here is a link for 3M 413Q Tri-M-ite, Wet or Dry, Silicon Carbide, paper A wt, grey color backing
in grits 220,240,320,400,500,600
https://www.rshughes.com/p/3M-Tri-M-Ite-413Q-Sand-Paper-Sheet-02007-9-In-X-11-In-Silicon-Carbide-220-Very-Fine/051144_02007/

here is a link for 3M (401Q) Imperial Wet or Dry, Silicon Carbide, paper A wt, yellow color backing
in grits 220,240,320,400,500,600,800,1000,1200,1500,2000,2500
https://www.rshughes.com/p/3M-Imperial-Sand-Paper-Sheet-02019-9-In-X-11-In-Silicon-Carbide-2500-Ultra-Fine/051131_02019/

here is a link for 3M (401q) Imperial Wet or Dry, Silicon Carbide, paper A wt, yellow color backing
in grits 180, 220,280,320,400,500,600,800,1000,1200,1500,2000,2500
(i emailed Otto Frei, and they confirmed that this is 401Q Imperial)

ALUMINUM OXIDE:
here is a link for 3M 213Q, Wet or Dry, Aluminum Oxide, paper A wt, yellow color backing
in grits 220,240,320,400,500,600,800,1000,1200,1500,2000,2500
https://www.rshughes.com/p/3M-Imperial-213Q-Sand-Paper-Sheet-02042-9-In-X-11-In-Aluminum-Oxide-P240-Very-Fine/051131_02042/

julie

2 Likes
11

Hi

omg…i just noticed that for the link for the Aluminum Oxide

grits 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500 switch to silicon carbide

…i can’t …

julie

12

Thanks for all the info, very helpful!

Shame the whole process was crazy making!!

13

After all that info on polishing papers, what do the majority of jewellers use?
I get the impression that silicon carbide is likely longer lasting.
Is aluminium oxide less aggressive or am I imagining it? I have a very assorted collection of papers mostly given to me by a retiring watch maker, but I don’t know what type they are as the packaging does not state it.
Cheers Willie

14

Hi,

well, i seem to prefer the 3M 413Q tri-M-ite paper A wt grey paper backing

the backing, although the same paper A wt, seems to be more supple…less stiff…it could be how the.grit is bonded and not tge paper st sll…I just prefer it…and wish it came in 800 grit…

Julie

2 Likes
15

Hi,

ok, so!…my latest sandpaper findings!

i ordered a bunch, to kinda round out my sandpaper inventory

in some cases, i thought i was ordering a grit run of one item number…only to receive 2 different item numbers…regardless of the item description…ie: i never received 401Q in grits lower than 1000…i was shipped 413Q for the lower grits up to 600…and the 213Q up to 800…

so, what i have experienced is:
413Q Tri-M-ite silicon carbide only goes up to 600 grit

it is by far a finer grit than the 213Q (and my favorite)

ie: the 213Q aluminum oxide goes up to 800 grit, but the grit seems alot more aggressive than 413Q… for some strange reason…ie 213Q aluminum oxide 400 grit is much more aggressive than the 413Q silicon carbide 400 grit

this makes me fear that the 213Q 800 grit is alot more aggressive than the 413Q 600 grit…thus i think i need to just skip the 800 grit and go from 413Q 600 grit, to 401Q 1000 grit

401Q silicon carbide (starting at 1000 grit) seems to be a consistant grit progression after the 413Q (up to 600 grit) since a suitable 800 grit cannot be found by me…

i think my search for 800 grit has just ended…i need to let it gooooo…

well at least now i know

i think it was otto frei…they called it 401Q…but up to 600 grit is actually 413Q…not a problem i guess…since those would be the 2 item numbers i would use for a grit run from 320 to 2500 anyway

ok well…so much for that…at least i am clear now…i hope i was clear to anyone reading this crazy thread😂

julie

1 Like
16

I’m not aware of the crystal shapes of SiC and AlOx, but that could be an issue, as well as how quickly the grit breaks down into smaller pieces. This is quite an issue in faceting where polycrystalline diamond (A synthetic diamond) is preferred for polishing because it breaks down into smaller and smaller particles. Oxides like AlOx are supposed to do this, too, as loose grit, but I have no idea whether that is a factor with sandpaper. Another, perhaps more important issue, is that grits are graded in sizes, but it’s actually a range of sizes on your sandpaper. So your 600 grit might actually have some particles that are 400 and some that are 800, tho’ I don’t know whether the variation is that wide or not. Possibly you could find out from the manufacturer.

One last comment. With the variation in grit range, I think that going from 600 to 800 is scarcely a step. A few widely spaced steps work fine. It’s something you determine empirically by doing and observing the surface, perhaps under magnification. Another trick you possibly know is to end sanding with one grit by sanding all in one direction and then to sand with the next grit at right angles to that directions. That way it’s easy to see when all the scratches from the first grit are gone. I think 600 to 1200 to tripoli and then rouge will work fine, but experiment to see what you prefer, just like the type and brand of sandpaper. -royjohn

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17

Matador is my choice. I have a ridiculous amount of sandpaper but his stuff wins.

1 Like
18

Hi, Interesting that you mention the grit “breaking down”…as aggressive as the AO 800 grit is, it breaks down FAST and thurns into like 1500 grit in no time at all…

even if it is just folded over a few times…the unused grit on the interior fold become MUCH finer than its original state…becomes kinda wasteful when i am folding down strips to use…

julie

19

Hi,

i will research Matador imediately! thank tou!

julie

20

Hi,

is this the one you use and like?…grey backing color?

julie