Reach for sandpaper and the first question is always the same: which grit? Use one that is too coarse and you leave deep scratches; too fine and you are there all day. The grit number is the whole game, and once you know the ranges, matching paper to the job is easy. This guide breaks down what each grit is for, when to sand wet versus dry, and how a single 120 to 3000 set takes a project from rough stripping to a polished finish.
How grit numbers work
The number is simply how coarse the paper is: the lower the number, the rougher the grit and the faster it removes material; the higher the number, the finer it is and the smoother the finish it leaves. Low grits do the heavy work, high grits do the polishing. The skill is starting coarse enough to fix the problem, then stepping up through the grits to refine the surface.
Wet or dry sanding?
This silicon carbide paper works both ways, and which you choose depends on the finish you want.
- Dry sanding removes material faster and suits wood and rougher shaping work. It makes dust, so a mask helps.
- Wet sanding means adding a little water (a drop of dish soap helps) as a lubricant. It stops the paper clogging, keeps dust down, and leaves a much finer, scratch-free finish. It is the way to go for the higher grits on paint, clear coat, metal and plastic.
The grit guide
Here is what each band in the set is for. The set runs 120, 150, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2500 and 3000, so you have the full range on hand.
- 120 to 180 (coarse): stripping old paint or finish, heavy material removal, shaping, and knocking back rough wood or rust.
- 240 to 320 (medium): general smoothing, prepping bare wood before a finish, scuffing between coats, and levelling filler or body putty.
- 400 to 600 (fine): final prep before primer or paint, deburring metal, and smoothing plastic.
- 800 to 1000 (very fine): wet-sanding primer and paint, smoothing between coats, and prepping metal for polishing.
- 1500 (extra fine): wet-sanding automotive clear coat and taking out minor paint defects and orange peel.
- 2500 to 3000 (ultra fine): the final step before buffing and polishing, wet-sanding clear coat, restoring clarity to plastic and acrylic, finishing resin and model parts, and polishing a metal or blade edge to a near-mirror shine.
What people use it for
- Car bodywork and paint: from levelling filler at 240, through primer and paint, to wet-sanding clear coat at 1500 to 3000 before a polish. This is the classic wet and dry job.
- Woodworking and furniture: shape at 120 to 180, smooth at 240 to 400, and you have a surface ready to stain or seal.
- Resin, models and 3D prints: work up through the grits, wet-sanding the fine end, to erase layer lines and seams for a clean finish.
- Metal and knives: remove rust and burrs low down, then progress to 2500 and 3000 for a polished, near-mirror edge.
- Home DIY: smoothing filler, prepping trim and doors before painting, and tidying small repairs.
Why a multi-grit set beats single sheets
Good sanding is about progression: you step up through the grits rather than jumping straight from coarse to fine, because each grit removes the scratches left by the one before. That only works if you have the grits to hand. This 24-piece wet and dry set gives you 12 grits from 120 right through to 3000 in one go, so you can take a project from rough to polished without stopping to buy more paper halfway through. At a few dollars for the set, it is the cheapest way to keep the whole range in the drawer.
Get the set
The Wet and Dry Sandpaper Set (24 pieces, 12 grits, 120 to 3000) ships from Singapore with fast local delivery. Whether it is a car panel, a piece of furniture, a resin print or a knife edge, the range has it covered.
Frequently asked questions
What grit removes scratches from car paint?
Start around 1000 to 1500 wet to take the scratch down, then refine with 2500 and 3000 before polishing or compounding. Always wet sand clear coat and use light pressure.
Can you use wet and dry sandpaper dry?
Yes. Silicon carbide paper works dry, which is handy for wood and rough work. For the fine grits on paint, metal and plastic, wet sanding gives a noticeably smoother, scratch-free result.
What grit should I use on bare wood before finishing?
Shape with 120 to 180, smooth with 240 to 320, and finish at 400 for a surface ready to stain or seal. Going much finer on wood can stop stain soaking in evenly.
What is 3000 grit for?
It is an ultra-fine polishing grit. Use it wet as the last sanding step before buffing, on clear coat, plastic, acrylic, resin or metal, to leave a surface ready to polish to a shine.
How do I wet sand?
Soak the paper for a few minutes, keep the surface wet with water and a drop of soap, sand with light pressure, and wipe the surface often to check progress and clear the slurry.
