Choosing the Right Grit

• 40-60: Heavy removal, flattening rough wood.
• 80-120: Removing planning marks, general prep.
• 180-220: Pre-stain / Pre-finish smoothing.
• 320-400: Sanding between coats of finish.
• 1000+: Polishing metals or plastics.

Rule: Never skip more than one grit level (e.g., go 80 -> 150 -> 220).