The abrasive grains used in todays coated abrasives are Emery, Crocus, Garnet, Aluminum Oxide,Silicon Carbide and Zirconia Alumina. Emery, Crocus and Garnet are natural grains whereas Aluminum Oxide,Silicon Carbide and Zirconia Alumina are man-made synthetic grains. The newer synthetic grains are more common in typical coated abrasives because of their strength and durability, however natural grains, like Garnet, are still very popular with specialized craftsmen.

Within each type of backing there are numerous variations of strength and flexibility. In paper, for instance, the weights (unit of measure determine by the tensile strength) range from the lightest "A" weight to the heaviest "F" weight. The lighter weights are generally more flexible and are used for fine finish or detail sanding. The heavier weights are more durable and are used primarily in the coarser abrasive grains and for heavy machine applications. Cloth backings are typically used for belt sanding where durability and flexibility are required. Cloth is also commonly used in roll or disc form to clean or deburr metals. Abrasive mesh is a variation of a cloth backing where the cloth fibers are woven into a mesh pattern. Mesh, or screen, when coated with abrasive grains leave openings which allow the abraded materials to pass through the mesh instead of loading up the abrasive surface. This limits the negative effects of loading on the life of the product.

The adhesive that is used to adhere the grains onto the backings are either animal hide or bone-based glues or various types of resin adhesives. Depending upon whether there will be heat generated or whether the abrasive will be used in or near moisture usually determines which type of adhesive to use. Resin glues are also generally preferred where longer life of the abrasive product is desired.

Coated abrasives take many shapes depending upon the particular use of the sanding product. Rolls, sheets, discs and belts are available in a variety of sizes and configurations to fit individual hand or machine sanders.

All-Kut™ Paper | A general purpose aluminum oxide sandpaper available in 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180 & 220 Grit.

Wood-Kut™ Paper | Use garnet based abrasives for a softer abrasive for a smoother finish before applying stain or polyurethane, available in 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180 & 220 Grit.

Auto-Kut™ Paper | A fully waterproof silicon carbide paper suitable for wet sanding, available in 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 240, 280, 320, 360, 400, 500 & 600 Grit.

Finish-Kut™ Paper | Non-loading paper to prevent sanded material or finish from building up on the surface of the abrasive sheet, available in 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 240, 260, 280 & 320 Grit.

Wet-Kut™ Cloth | Waterproof aluminum oxide cloth does not deteriorate where water, solvents or cutting oils are present, available in 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 240, 260, 280 & 320 Grit.

Smooth-Kut™ Paper | 80, 100, 120 & 150 Grit.   Screen-Kut™ Mesh | 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 240, 280, 320, 360 & 400 Grit.   Wet-Kut™ Cloth | 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 240, & 320 Grit.   Lightning™ Paper | 80, 100, 120 & 150 Grit.   Lightning™ Mesh | 80, 100, 120 & 150 Grit.

To determine the appropriate grit range for floor sanding paper, start with the finest grit which will achieve the desired finish and work backwards to the coarsest grit. It is recommended that you do not skip more than one grit in your grit sequence. The following illustrations show exploded views of wood pieces representative of finishes with CORRECT and INCORRECT grit sequences.

With a proper grit progression, each pass takes away the points left from the previous pass. The final pass leaves a smoothly sanded floor ready for stain or finish. A quality job! However, by skipping several grits, the final pass takes away only the tops of the points left from the initial pass. This leaves an uneven floor which will not take the stain or finish consistently.

If you need additional assistance, please send us an email or consult your local Johnson Abrasives authorized supplier.

We ship "$5 Dollar Flat Shipping" USPS ground or first class mail, within the continental United States you can expect your package to arrive within (2-9 business days). If you select "$5 Dollar Flat Shipping" and your order is over one pound we ship USPS standard ground and you can expect deliver within (2-9 business days). If you would like faster shipping we do offer faster shipping options at checkout!

We do ship internationally, however, you will need to account for the longer transit time. We estimate that international shipping depending on destination can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. At the checkout screen please select the final destination for your order and international shipping rate will be added to your total.

When the item you are purchasing is currently "Out of Stock" or "Pre-Order Only" this means it is not immediately available. Check the item description for an approximate delivery date (if the delivery date changes you will be notified by email). All purchases will be shipped in the order they are received. When you purchase items that are "Out of Stock" or "Pre-Order Only" you are guaranteed that you will receive this product once the item is in stock and able to be purchased (even if it sells out). When you purchase an item that is "Out of Stock" or "Pre-Order Only" we will immediately process FULL PAYMENT for the item(s) in the same manner we process payments for in-stock items. You may cancel this purchase at any time, BEFORE shipping, for a full refund. Email us at info@johnsonabrasives.com and reference your name, address, and order (#) with any questions.

We generally fulfill customer orders within 24 to 72 hours, if you have any specific questions please contact us directly at info@johnsonabrasives.com

No problem, here is how to get a hold of us, you can call us: +1 (800) 628-8005, email us: info@johnsonabrasives.com