Sandpaper

[Dekenba]

What range of sandpaper grades do people use?

At the moment I'm going from P400 up to about P2000 - is that typical?

I also use Squadron sanding sticks - great but expensive - and jewellers files, which I find lack enough give to use for any sort of detail stuff.

[uncletony]

I've been doing 240 / 600 / 1500

I make little sanding blocks out of scrap plastic and/or rolled up paper towel if it needs a little give. I cut sandpaper into strips about 1/8" wide, wrap the around the block and grip the ends with hemostats. I use water with the sandpaper.

[Des]

My main weapon of destruction is wet and dry paper, I use anything from 300 grade up to 2000 grade and everything in between. I have a set of very fine files which are used on a daily basis, flat, round and triangular are the most commonly used ones. I also use sanding sticks quite a lot, these are the ones you can purchase from a chemist shop (pharmacy, drug store) and are used for filing fingernails, they are relatively inexpensive and usually have different grades on each side of the board, see below.

Des.

[Ian from Doncaster]

I use a variety of sanding sticks including the nail filing variety, and also a product called micromesh in grades from 3600-12000.  The 8000 grade is very good for polishing a matt finish into a satin.

[ALBATROS1234]

i use from 220 to 12,000. yes 12,000. ok its a sanding pad and granted 12,000 feels like leather not sandy but it polishes plastic to a gloss. i will use the 220 rarely but to take off large amounts. generally i start w 600 or 800 range. then 1200 to 1500 then 2000 to 2400. 3600 and 4200 then i jump to the 12000 and if you take your time and use all these grits you will have a perfectly smooth sand job.

[Trackpad]

I'm with Des on the nail boards in drug stores/pharmacies/chemists: less expensive than dedicated modelling sticks and just as effective. The sanding pads are also excellent. My set goes from 1800 to 12000 grit, probably the same set that Albatros 1234 uses. I also have a set of jeweller's files, but I seldom use them. Guess I need a tutorial from Des on this topic! 

Gary

[Dekenba]

I've just tried a glass nail file, borrowed from my better half.

Very interesting - obviously works with water and never wears out. Ever.

Anybody else come across these things?

[bobs_buckles]

Micromesh for ultra fine work.
Sanding sticks for everything else.

 

[lcarroll]

I keep a small amount of the commercial model stuff (Flexigrit?) on hand however mostly use stuff bought from an Auto Parts Dealer. Great quality, I mostly use it "wet" and a few sheets lasts years when chopped up into 1-2 inch squares. Also use the cheap drug/variety store nail sticks, the price is right!
Cheers,
Lance

[Ian from Doncaster]

I have a double sided nail file about the same size as an ice lolly/popsickle (?) stick, and have been using it wet for almost 2 years - primarily for cleaning up those annoying chunks of plastic remaining when I cut the parts off the sprues....

[pepperman42]

Micro mesh here too. Clear parts get the full range.

Steve

[Trackpad]

Micro mesh here too. Clear parts get the full range.

Steve

I concur, doctor! 

[Dekenba]

I bought some brilliant nail files in bulk. Wet & Dry, foam backed in fine & medium.

It's possible to buy 10 for far less cost than Squadron's back of 5 - around £3. When used in conjunction with a micro mesh set, it provides me with pretty much all the sanding I'll need for a good time to come.

[JoeDxMB]

I've just tried a glass nail file, borrowed from my better half.

Very interesting - obviously works with water and never wears out. Ever.

Anybody else come across these things?

If they are the ones labled "essie", I have one and it actually  made of a very hard (and brittle) plastic. 

A local thrift/second hand shop  had large box of them for $1 each. I figured it would come in handy for something besides filling nails .
Anyway, mine broke when testing its limits but, it is still usable.  I must get another one as it does come in handy to  sand/ shape very small parts without leaving any sanding marks.     

[JoeDxMB]

BTW, I recently got an inexpensive set (of 12)  jewler's files (e-Bay) and I find them very handy  for many things. 
Everyone should have a  set.