Sandpaper use expectancy?

Aaarghh....

Buying hobby branded sandpaper is like throwing money away.

Go to a hardware store or an auto parts store (eg. Super Cheap) and buy several grades of wet and dry paper. I use 400, 800, 1200 and 2000. These will cost you around $2.00(AUD) per sheet, each sheet being about 4x the size of the Tamiya sheets. You would be paying about $7.00(AUD) for a packet of 3 sheets of Tamiya sandpaper?

Wet and dry paper, as the name implies, can be used wet. When sanding plastic models or model parts, it should always be used wet. The water lubricates the paper and prevents overheating and melting when sanding, and prevents the dust from clogging the paper. Used wet, it will give you a smoother finish than when used dry.

Phil_H wrote:

Aaarghh.... Buying hobby branded sandpaper is like throwing money away. Go to a hardware store or an auto parts store (eg. Super Cheap) and buy several grades of wet and dry paper. I use 400, 800, 1200 and 2000. These will cost you around $2.00(AUD) per sheet, each sheet being about 4x the size of the Tamiya sheets. You would be paying about $7.00(AUD) for a packet of 3 sheets of Tamiya sandpaper? Wet and dry paper, as the name implies, can be used wet. When sanding plastic models or model parts, it should always be used wet. The water lubricates the paper and prevents overheating and melting when sanding, and prevents the dust from clogging the paper. Used wet, it will give you a smoother finish than when used dry.

Absolute !!

In the US, a pack of each at an auto supply store might cost you $5 apiece, but used wet, cut into appropriate sizes and used with a rubber backing pad, it will last you for years. 

Does the term "emory cloth" ring a bell? Sandpaper is just that...paper with sand glued to it. Emery cloth is a fiber/cloth with the media bonded to it to facilitate longer life and use with liquids including mild detergents.

Machinists love the stuff because you can cut it into long narrow pieces for use on metal spinning on a lathe or for the woodworker it works great as well on wood.

Get yourself one of those "erasers" that are for cleaning belt and disc sanders. Clean your "sandpaper" after each use to remove the load it picked up. If you wet sand, lay it flat and allow it to dry before replacing it back into your storage spot. 

I've found Tamiya's sandpaper to wear away quickly too.  I like using Mylar backed sandpaper like Testors or K&S brand.  K&S seems to last the longest for me.

Jesse

Phil_H wrote:

...Go to a hardware store or an auto parts store...and buy several grades of wet and dry paper. I use 400, 800, 1200 and 2000....

I agree.  That's the only way to fly.  I use 220, 360, 400 and 600.  I rarely have of a need for the super fine grits (800, 1200, etc).  The super fine essentially polishes more than it sands.

 The finer grits will wear faster than the course.  Used wet, 220 almost lasts forever while 600 will be gone in a shorter time.