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Grit profile

80 grit sandpaper

Coarse

The first real pass on hardwood. Where most projects begin.

What 80 grit is for

80-grit is the first real working grit on most projects. Cabinet shops start here on hardwood. Auto-body shops start here on filler. It cuts hard but leaves a pattern smooth enough that 120 or 150 erases it cleanly.

Projects at 80 grit

  • · First pass on hardwood furniture
  • · Sanding auto-body filler (Bondo)
  • · Removing brush marks from old paint
  • · Smoothing edge banding
  • · Initial pass on a deck or fence before staining

Abrasive materials

  • · aluminum oxide (most common)
  • · ceramic (premium)
  • · zirconia (belts)
  • · silicon carbide (wet/dry)

Common mistake

Don’t skip ahead more than two grits from 80. 80 → 220 leaves swirl marks that telegraph through stain.

Top pick at 80

3M Pro Grade Precision Assorted Pack

Five grits. One box. Everything you need to finish what you started.

Catalog fit

35

Current SKU matches in this grit lane.

Common forms

5

Forms represented here, led by discs.

Head to head

4

Comparison pages currently touching this stage of the sanding climb.

Use this grit when

The surface still needs this stage.

  • · The first real pass on hardwood. Where most projects begin.
  • · This is a cutting stage, not a finish stage. Use it to remove material, not to fake smoothness.
  • · On this site, 80 grit shows up most around fine furniture, paint prep, weld prep, and metal fabrication.

Skip this grit when

The job is earlier or later than this.

  • · Skip this grit for between-coat work, final finish prep, or anything already close to smooth.
  • · Skip the urge to jump straight here from a very coarse grit; the scratch pattern underneath will usually survive the shortcut.

Recommended at this grit.

Head to head

Comparisons in this lane.

Questions people ask

The practical part.

What is 80 grit actually for?

80 grit is for the first real pass on hardwood. where most projects begin. This is a cutting stage, not a finish stage. Use it to remove material, not to fake smoothness.

What should come before and after 80 grit?

The safe lane is usually 60 -> 80 -> 100. You can stretch that a little on easy material, but large jumps usually leave scratches behind.

Which forms make the most sense at 80 grit?

On UltraRough, this grit shows up most in discs, sheets, and rolls. That reflects where shoppers usually need this cut level in the real world.

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