what grit sandpaper for polishing aluminum?

Release Date:2023-05-15 10:21
When polishing aluminum, sandpaper is an essential tool that can help you achieve a smooth and shiny finish. However, choosing the right grit sandpaper can make all the difference in the quality of the finish. In this article, we will discuss what grit sandpaper is best for polishing aluminum.

Before we dive into grit, let's first understand what polishing aluminum entails. Polishing aluminum involves removing any imperfections, such as scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation, from the surface of the metal. This is done by gradually smoothing out the surface through a series of grits until a mirror-like finish is achieved.

The first step in polishing aluminum is to remove any significant scratches or dents with coarser grit sandpaper. Typically, a grit between 80 to 120 should do the job. Once the surface is smooth, you can move on to a finer grit sandpaper to refine the finish.
 
For polishing aluminum, grit between 240 to 400 is recommended. This grit will remove any remaining scratches from the coarser grit sandpaper and prepare the surface for the final polishing stage. If you want a mirror-like finish, you can use even finer grit sandpaper between 600 to 800 to achieve the desired result.

It's important to note that when using sandpaper to polish aluminum, you should use a wet sanding technique to prevent the aluminum from becoming too hot and warping. Wet sanding also helps to keep the surface cool and prevent the sandpaper from clogging up with metal shavings.

In conclusion, using the right grit sandpaper is crucial to achieving a smooth and shiny finish when polishing aluminum. A grit between 240 to 400 is recommended for the polishing stage, with an even finer grit between 600 to 800 for a mirror-like finish. Remember to use the wet sanding technique to prevent the aluminum from becoming too hot and to keep the surface cool.
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