Sand, abrasive papers. What sort do you use?

Honestly I just use the emery boards and fine polishing sticks from the womans cosmetic section in any store. You can cut them to any size you want and they work great for filing pretty much anything. The polishing sticks you get for nail files have a very fine grid to them almost equalivent to a 1200. You can also wet them.

Just food for thought.

Hi,

thanks for everyones help.

I bought some 1200 grit, 800 grit and 250 grit wet and dry from my local ironmongers which did the trick.

When I said `polishing` I meant just to sand the plastic to a smooth finish so I could paint it. I didn't mean to actually polish it with a liquid or whatever.

 Cheers,

 Ted.

HawkeyeHobbies wrote:

Some of that tooth as you call it will show through with different paints. If you're doing a flat camo job or a high gloss colored one chances are you'll fill those scuffs with no problem. But if you are doing a thin skinned NMF or an acrylic painted scheme they might stick out like a sore thumb. If you need tooth...then prime. I use nail sanding and polishing sticks, rarely do I dig out the papers.

True Gerald, I was assuming paint and not a NMF finish which HAS to be smooth.

The Scotchbrite pads leave such light scuffs in the plastic that I have never had a single problem. It is much easier to scuff the bare plastic, wipe it clean and paint then it is to prime, wait for it to cure and then paint. 

Some of that tooth as you call it will show through with different paints. If you're doing a flat camo job or a high gloss colored one chances are you'll fill those scuffs with no problem. But if you are doing a thin skinned NMF or an acrylic painted scheme they might stick out like a sore thumb.

If you need tooth...then prime.

I use nail sanding and polishing sticks, rarely do I dig out the papers.

DogTailRed2 wrote:

Hi, what are the best abrasive papers for general sanding and then polishing in preperation of painting. I'm finding general diy shop papers a tad too course. Thanks, Ted.

Why would you want to polish the plastic before painting? That would defeat the purpose of having some "tooth" for the paint to adhere to. 

What are you painting? I like a green Scotchbrite pad like you wash pots and pans with. 

It scuffs the plastic to provide better adhesion of the paint but is probably 600-800 grit equivelent in sand paper I would guess.