In this issue of the blog, we talk again with RJ Stroman, President of 2Sand.com about why you get what you pay for in abrasives.

Question: Why is is that different brands of sandpaper can leave better or worse finishes even though they are the same material and the same grit?

RJ: For an item that seems so simple, a lot actually goes into making a sheet of sandpaper, and how meticulous a company is about the materials and processes it uses can greatly effect the outcome. It all begins with the abrasive. While sand on a beach may look uniform in size and even shape, looking at it under a microscope shows how varied those grains can really be. So how carefully a company screens it's abrasive grit material can make all the difference.

The process of sanding always leaves scratches behind. If these scratches are uniform, especially as they get smaller with higher grit ratings, then the surface looks smooth to the eye. When all of the particles are very similar in size and shape, as they are bonded to the backer, all of the peaks will be very similar in height. This means that whatever the actual grit rating, all the scratches will be very much the same depth. Even a few oversized particles on the sheet will leave deeper scratches which will stick out like a sore thumb.

Obviously, when a manufacturer insists on only using very uniform abrasive particles, it either takes them longer to screen them properly, or they pay more for properly screened particulate from their suppliers. This certainly adds to the cost of the sanding supplies, but saves the end user (you!) time and money. When you are working your way down through the grits, having a poor quality piece leaving visible scratches behind costs. and it is worse if they don't show up until you stain or paint!

The lesson here is to not select your supplies on price alone. 2Sand.com works very hard to make the best quality brands available to you at the best possible price. We have done a lot of the research and testing so that you do not have to.

We invite you to add your thoughts or send along questions that you may have. Please feel free to add your comments here on the blog, on our Facebookpage, or via Twitter. Let us know what you think! -2Sand.com