Thread: The finest sandpaper in all the land

I am now the proud owner of two sheets of the finest sandpaper in all of the land...or at least in all of the places I travel in the course of my duties. Sandpaper isn't really sold by the local populace, since there's not a lot of wood.

The only problem is that the paper isn't really that....fine. It's 280 grit. I'm trying to find something to lap my norton with. But I have two sheets, and my MSgt, who also happens to be a master carpenter, suggesting sanding one sheet with the other to reduce the grit and then lapping with that. What do you think? Good idea or good way to ruin 80 bucks of sharpening stone?

Also, the only glass that I can find is a window. I figured I'd duct tape the paper (either this paper or 600 grit when I get it) to the window and lap sideways. Shouldn't be any problems with this aside from how odd it will look, right?

I don't understand what will happen when you work the two sheets together... but for lapping I use more water, which would run down the window and stain whatever.

Another thing - I am not sure you'll ruin the hone (what is it, anyway?) Even if it's rough, the grit would not change and some passes over the hone would probably smooth it back (I would not do these passes with my best shaver, of course)

Good luck
Ivo

I don't care about the outside of the building. It's covered in dirt, like most things here :P

The MSgt implied that by sanding one piece of 280 with another, they would eventually become higher grit, like two sheets of 400 or something. If grit is a measure of particles per square inch or something this makes sense. If it's a size of the particulate matter on the paper, it wouldn't. The paper I have is silicon carbide.

I guess you're right, it's not like I couldn't lap it once I got the actual 600 grit if this doesn't work. I only have one shaver at the moment and I've dulled it slightly so I am trying to get it sharp enough again to do against the grain comfortably

Your Master Sargent is both right and wrong. Sandpaper is graded by the size of the particles glued to the paper, thats where he is wrong your paper won't become a higher grit. Those particles are supposed to be sharp and be sanding sandpaper you will dull the particles causing them not to be able to cut as deeply or as swiftly, that where he is right the duller particles will cut more like a higher grit paper but they won't smooth quite as well as the finer paper would.

Maybe you could find some fine wet/dry paper at an autobody shop... I assume Iraq has shops that repair/paint cars? Or a furniture refinisher, perhaps. Or a military motor pool if they have the ability to repaint vehicles? Just some thoughts

The motor pool is an excellent suggestion. It is the source of said paper, hehe.

They don't repair cars in the sense that we do or paint them. Maybe in Baghdad, but out here in Al Anbar everyone except the sheiks are dirt-farmer poor. The sheiks roll in armored suburbans, which I think you'd be hard-pressed to dent, lol.

I suppose I will be better off just waiting till I can get my hands on some via the mail, but it's infuriating...I am sure folks outside the USA can probably share that woe.

We're doin' just fine here in Canada

Hopefully your not missing the comment about wet/dry sandpaper. Ordinary sandpaper will clog up a Norton.

At the risk of sounding even more stupid than usual, I've never really understood the references to glass when lapping. Anything flat and hard should suffice.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Hopefully your not missing the comment about wet/dry sandpaper. Ordinary sandpaper will clog up a Norton.

At the risk of sounding even more stupid than usual, I've never really understood the references to glass when lapping. Anything flat and hard should suffice.

Float glass is flat due to the way it is produced, whereas other things that people assume will be flat are not always as flat as they think. A surface plate or float glass can be used as readily available reference point for flatness.

If you want some sandpaper send me your address and I will mail you some. My email is randydance@comcast.net