We are all aware that the grit numbers we use when selecting our  sanding supplies relate to the size of the abrasive particles. Generally, this harks back to the number of particles in a “grain” or some other antique unit of measure, which explains why the higher numbers use smaller particles. But truth be told, the consistency of the abrasive grain is far more important than the type of abrasive or the actual size of the particles.

If all the abrasive pieces on your sanding disc stick up exactly the same height, the scratches they leave behind will be uniform and blend into one another leaving a visually smooth surface. But any that are higher than the others around it will leave deeper, more visible scratches which can be hard to see until they show up clearly with the application of finishes. This is why buying quality sanding supplies matters.

In these photos, two areas have been sanded with the same 120 grit sanding discs, using the same Mirka Deros random orbit sander , and for as close to same time and pattern as possible. The discount disc on the right, bought at a home center, did leave behind some clearly visible swirl marks that the Mirka Gold discs from 2Sand , used on the left, did not. A highly accurate screening process used to sort abrasive particles during manufacturing certainly adds a few cents per sanding disc, but you may regret not paying for it if you need to re-sand and refinish a part.

As a side note, look at how fuzzy the die cut holes are in the discount disc compared to the Mirka Gold disc . I was surprised to see that all five discs in the package were the same way. To be fair, this is not a common problem, but it does speak to the quality control exercised by the two manufacturers.

In short, buying high quality sanders and then trying to save a few cents on the sanding supplies that will be in contact with your work is a bad bargain and will come back to haunt you. When you buy from 2Sand, you can rest assured that we only offer Fast, Fair, Superior Sanding Supplies that will serve you well.