How is sandpaper made?

Last updated on January 10th, 2023 at 04:07 pm

What is sandpaper

Sandpaper is a coated abrasive featuring sheets of paper or cloth with abrasive material glued to one face. There are varieties of sandpaper, with variations in the backing, the material used for the grit, the grit size, and the bond. Sandpaper is for smoothing and polishing. 

When making sandpaper, use rolls of backing material in paper or cloth. Feed the backing to the making machine, where the first adhesive layer is applied. Apply the layer of abrasive in two ways. That is either by gravity or electrostatically. The process can also control the spacing of the grains. Wide spacing helps to alleviate loading problems when grinding soft, stringy, or gummy materials.

How is sandpaper made?

1. The process starts with what is called backing. Back sandpaper with cotton or another pliable synthetic. The backing comes as large, uncut rolls. The backing thickness determines the rigidity or flexibility of the finished product. Grit size is printed on the backing and dried before moving on to the next stage.
2. Once dry, add the adhesive. Modern factories dip one side of the backing in a resin or epoxy and secure the abrasive to the paper using heat. Before that happens, measure the density of the epoxy using a computer to ensure an even coat.
3. Apply the abrasive as you adhere the abrasive to the paper. Create a level surface for the abrasive. Do not pour the grit over the paper since modern technology allows you to apply it using electricity. Flung the particles up at the paper and embed them in the epoxy. Applying the abrasive this way gives you an even application, avoiding the risk of damaging your project with too much grit or an uneven coat. Using homemade sandpaper gives you an uneven abrasive that will do more harm than good. Homemade DIY sandpaper cannot produce the quality of professionally created sandpaper. You might even ruin your project by using the wrong grit size. Using the wrong material can cause irreparable scarring, even if it does not look tough enough to damage your project.
4. The finishing stage involves cutting out a swatch, then take apart and weigh. The paper has to meet specifications and observe the top layer of grit beneath a microscope to check that all the grains are standing up at the same height.
5. Apply high heat to seal the abrasive to the backing rather than just sticking to it. Add a second layer on top of the abrasive and bake again to help prevent the sandpaper from falling apart after the first use.
6. Run a thorough inspection, then roll it up again. The sandpaper will be punched into discs, cut into long strips for sanding belts, or cut into smaller strips to combine onto flap discs. These are for larger projects and commercial jobs. When cut into smaller sections, they are for personal and home use. Some may even become grip tape. The kind you might find on stairs or even skateboards.

Is sandpaper made of sand?

No, sandpaper is not made of sand. It is made of abrasive minerals like aluminum oxide or garnet glued onto a paper backing. These minerals have sharp points or edges. That is why sandpaper looks like a cutting tool, like a saw or a chisel (Britannica.com). The difference between sandpaper and larger tools is that sandpaper cannot be sharpened.

When you push sandpaper across a piece of wood, the abrasive grains cut tiny shavings out of the surface. These shavings look like dust or shavings produced by other cutting tools. These shavings are called swarf.

Some sandpaper has spaces between the abrasive grains known as an open coat. The spaces between the sandpaper help prevent clogging by giving the swarf a place to go. Some types of sandpaper have a high degree of friability, meaning the abrasive grains fragment when heat and pressure are applied, creating new sharp edges, and allowing the sandpaper to renew itself. 

Is sandpaper made out of shark skin?

Sandpaper is not shark skin, but shark skin can be sandpaper. Sandpaper is made out of different materials. It can be from the grains of a natural mineral called garnet or from synthetic ones like aluminum oxide, alumina-zirconia, or silicon carbide.

How is sandpaper graded?

Sandpapers are graded in grits or as coarse (40 to 60 grit), Medium (80 to 120), Fine (150 to 180), Very Fine (220 to 240), Extra Fine (280 to 320), and Super Fine (360 and above). Sanding with finer grits removes the scratches left by the previous paper and leaves a smooth finish.

A coarse grit wears down the sanded surface more quickly but leaves scratches. If you are bothered by the scratches, remove those scratches by sanding them with finer grits. Woodworkers, flooring installers, and furniture refinishers call the process going through the grits.

Grit numbers increase by standard intervals. The higher the number, the finer the grit. Coarse grits progress from 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 to 800 to 1,000 and beyond. Coarse and fine sandpaper grits are used differently to help users decide which type fits a purpose. 

When choosing sandpaper, select the grade for the job. A paper that is too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged. Extra-coarse and ultra-fine grades are for rough sanding and polishing. A medium or fine grade works best for most projects around the house.

Why is sandpaper called sandpaper?

Sandpaper is called sandpaper because it is rough and abrasive like sand.

Do I need a sandpaper manufacturing machine?

Yes. You need a sandpaper manufacturing machine for efficiency and convenience. It keeps your business running. Select a high-quality sanding machine that gives you quality sandpaper. It is easy to operate, and that does not compromise its efficiency. 

What is sandpaper used for

Sandpaper smoothen wooden surfaces and removes loose paint, grit, or dirt when painting or refinishing something. It removes imperfections on walls, ceilings, furniture, and floors and roughens surfaces too glossy for paint or filling compounds to adhere.

Sandpaper manufacturers

• Saint-Gobain
• SIA Abrasives
• 4 Bostwick-Braun Company