What Grit Sandpaper For Painting Kitchen Cabinets

100 150 and 220 for example.

What grit sandpaper for painting kitchen cabinets.

If your cabinets have a factory finish sand lightly with 120 grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge. Very fine grit sandpaper is used for light sanding between coats of finish and to sand metal and other hard surfaces. 320 to 400 grit sandpaper. Many woodworkers find they only need to go down to 100 to 120 grit paper with their random orbital sander for surfaces that will be painted or receive a clear finish.

In rare cases you may also need to use extra coarse sandpaper 16 to 24 grit where you may want to quicken the task. But you don t need to sand to bare wood. It s aggressive enough to get the job done but not so aggressive that it leaves scratches that can t be removed. And for a slightly smoother surface use the macro grit grading near to 80 grits.

Belt sanders come in 3 21 and 4 24 models so you can plan accordingly when looking at the best sandpaper. Finer grit sandpaper is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits on unfinished wood and for lightly sanding between coats of paint. In most cases a light scuff with 150 grit paper removes all surface defects without producing noticeable scratching. If you desire to get a rougher surface as an end result you may be using near to 30 grits.

When determining which grit best follows the one just used remember that the next grit should be no more than about 50 percent higher than the one before it. Cabinet shops rarely use anything but 100 grit sandpaper. If the surface is rough from a previous paint job or poor varnishing job start with coarser 100 grit paper to remove bumps. Painted cabinets should get a thorough sanding with 120 grit paper but no matter the finish do a final pass with 220 grit.

Fold it four ways bend it around your fingers and sand with short back and forth motions. Typically the only times to start with coarser sandpaper 80 or 100 grit are on boards with deep scratches or gouges or uneven joints after gluing. Use a sanding sponge to dig into any tough areas that need special attention or corners that are hard to get with your sander. Use 100 grit sandpaper for all purpose sanding.

If you are sanding cabinet doors or drawer fronts then starting at an 80 grit and working to a 120 or 150 grit is a great way to reduce time spent with an orbital sander.