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What grit paper do you use for thicknessing spruce tops? And what grit for thicknessing backs? Do you use the same grit for mahogany and Rosewood?

I just changed the paper on my Performax for the first time (haven't used it that much......bought it used) and put on 80g paper (a German made paper that I received with the sander). It was so simple. For some reason I thought it might be difficult.

Thanks!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I use 80 grit for most stuff, but will go with 60 if it's a real oily/cloggy wood or if there's a lot of thickness to remove. 120 works okay on spruce but it takes longer to take it down.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Ditto with "letseatpaste". These sanders do not work well with anything finer than
120 grit, especially with oily (think rosewoods or similar), or dense (maple) woods.
I do all my finish sanding with an ROS.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

I pretty much use 80 grit for everything.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

80 grit, period. It's just for thicknessing. Take lighter passes at a faster feed rate and it will go pretty quick.

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I have a Jet/performax 22-44 plus sander, and I have no problem at all finishing them off with 220 grit.

I use 60 grit to hog off the bulk and leave the last .010 for 220 grit. They come out wonderful with no need for orbital until final clean up.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

+ 1 with John but I haven't tried 220 ! The finest I have gone is 180 and most of the time I use 120 or 150 to finish things off. It is nice to get past all of the 60 or 80 grit scratches right off of the sander and be done with it.
L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

I've got a 10/20. For Spruce, and softwoods it's 80-120 grits. On softer hardwoods like Mahogany or Walnut I start with 80, then 120. On harder hardwoods like Honduran Rosewood, Osage Orange ect I start with 36 grit, then 80 to 120.

Instead of buying Jet/Performax abrasives I buy Alumina-Zirconia rolls from Klingspor Woodworking shop. It's available in 18 or 50 meter rolls.
http://www.woodworkingshop.com/cgi-bin/80B07115/mac/qryitems.mac/itemDisplay?qryType=STYLE&itemSt=PE41000&coreDsc=3%22X%2050%20METER%20ALUMINA%20ZIRCONIA%20BULK%20ROLLS

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Folks,
There is definitely cheaper paper out there. I have a 16-32 and have never bought paper from Jet. Klingspor and another one called Super Grit is who I use. Grizzly seems to have fairly good prices also. I have a Grizzly belt sander and sander/buffer and I buy those from Grizzly.
Mike R

For sandpaper the best price/quality for stuff is from Econ Abrasives.

econabrasives.com

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I use 120 on soft stuff like spruce and 80 followed by 120 and/or hard stuff. Occasionally I'll go to 60. I do real light passes at the end for whatever grit I'm using.

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Randy Muth
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