Best discs for a 5 inch sander
The best discs for a 5-inch sander match your tool’s attachment system, hole pattern, sanding material, and finish requirements. This guide explains what to look for before buying.
Sanding Products
Help choosing sandpaper grit and format for wood, paint and refinishing jobs.
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Best grit for scuffing a cabinet before paint
For most painted wood cabinets, use 180- or 220-grit sandpaper to dull the sheen and improve paint adhesion without creating deep…
Best Paper for Oak Before Stain
For most oak projects, finish with 150-grit sandpaper before staining. Use 120 grit first when the surface needs more leveling, then…
Buying guides
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Best paper for removing polyurethane
The best paper for removing polyurethane is usually a coarse aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasive, starting around 60 to 80 grit for a thick…
Best Sanding Sponge for Trim: How to Choose the Right Grit
The best sanding sponge for trim should match the profile of the molding, the finish you are removing, and the smoothness you need before…
Best sandpaper for paint
The best sandpaper for paint depends on whether you are stripping old coating, smoothing imperfections, or preparing a surface between…
Best Sandpaper for Wood: Grits, Types, and Buying Guide
The best sandpaper for wood depends on the surface and task. Use coarse grits for removing material, medium grits for smoothing, and fine…
Open-coat 80 on resinous softwood
Open-coat 80-grit sandpaper is a practical starting point for removing rough mill marks, old finish, and uneven areas from resinous…
5 inch 80-120-180 disc pack
A 5-inch 80-120-180 disc pack covers coarse shaping, surface smoothing, and final preparation for many wood and refinishing projects. Check…
Troubleshooting
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Green film discs versus paper discs
Green film and paper sanding discs can use similar abrasive grits, but their backings behave differently. Choose film for durability and…
Mesh abrasive versus paper on paint
Mesh abrasive and paper sandpaper can both work on painted surfaces, but they behave differently. Mesh is usually the better choice for…
Stearated finish paper versus plain woodworking paper
Stearated finish paper resists loading better than plain woodworking paper, but it is not ideal for every surface. Here is how to choose…
Setup & accessories
View all setup & accessories →Aluminum oxide versus silicon carbide versus ceramic
Aluminum oxide is the versatile choice for most wood and paint sanding. Silicon carbide is better for fine finishing and wet sanding, while…
Open Coat Versus Closed Coat Paper
Open-coat paper leaves more space between abrasive grains to resist clogging, while closed-coat paper has more complete grain coverage for…
How not to skip grits
Skipping sandpaper grits can leave scratches that the next grit cannot remove. Use the previous grit to establish the surface, then move up…
About our guides
Sanding Products publishes informational guides for sanding products. Product options shown in articles come from Amazon catalog search results that pass this site’s relevance filters. A catalog result is not evidence that a product was tested in a lab or used long-term.