What grit sandpapers set to use?

[stillp]

Forgot to add...if you're into natural stuff, I've seen locals use sand paper leaves to buff wood carvings.

I'd never heard of those, but Wikipedia has: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_exasperata
Pete

[Tim Marlow]

People used to use shark skin as well I believe….

[Airborne01]

People used to use shark skin as well I believe….

It was called 'Shagreen' and was also used for sword hilts!
Steve

[minitnkr]

The finger nail blocks are my favorites, rarely use anything else unless access is an issue. They go from semi-coarse to polish. They can be used to polish canopies even. I have a bunch of other things/methods but these are my most used.

[outrunner]

I have nail blocks as well as a couple of the Flory sanding sponges which are very handy for sanding curved surfaces.

Andy.

[Ian M]

Just my views on the subject.;
I have never felt the need to sand a kit befor painting it. Seams and filler here and there yes. But the whole surface.. or have I misunderstood something?

As to which grit to buy. Fine, medium and coarse works for 99% of things. Then Extra fine then we are into polishing sticks.
I suggest that you find a set a bit like this:

https://flex-i-file.com/products/550...-finishing-set A good set for a start-up as it has just about much of the ones you need most.
or

https://www.amazon.com/Squadron-Products-Value-Sanding-Stick/dp/B000CDR5K8

A good way to find out what you need and don't need and what you like or don't like.
These two brands are my normal 'go to' sanding solutions. They last for ages and work well.

[Tim Marlow]

Not missed much there at all to my mind Ian. I agree that fine, medium, and coarse works for most things, especially those with a matt finish because those finishes are much more tolerant of surface blemishes. The finer ones I use on gloss and bare metal finishes, which can show every blemish, so I try to take more care. The really fine papers and polishes are used for polishing glass and canopies. Never had much luck with dipping them in Klear and find polishing is far superior, both in finish and in reliability.

[Ian M]

The finer ones I use on gloss and bare metal finishes

Yes, I have some Micro mesh cloth for the 'shinny stuff'.

Tip of the day.
Next time you chuck a pair of jeans out. As in propper DEMIN jeans, find a good bit and save it.
Makes for a good fine grade polisher...