Sanding Guide
Know your grit.
The sandpaper and sanding disc guide woodworkers use to get it right the first time: match your sander, pick your grit, choose your abrasive. About a minute, no guesswork.
Match your sander
Start with what's already in your workshop. Disc size and hole pattern need to match your sander's pad and dust port — every woodworker's setup is a little different, and everything else in this guide assumes you've got this part right.
The standard size for compact random-orbital sanders — the sander most woodworkers reach for first.
A larger pad for faster coverage — the size woodworkers reach for on tabletops, cabinet doors, floors, and other big, flat panels.
Pick your grit
Grit is a ladder, not a single choice — it's the sequence woodworkers use to take a surface from rough lumber to finish-ready. Start at the stage that matches how rough your surface is, then work down the gauge — skipping more than two stages at once leaves scratches the next grit can't clear.
Choose your abrasive
Orca's lines are color-coded so woodworkers can grab the right one at a glance — from raw lumber to a finished tabletop.
Purple Film
The go-to for woodworkers who want one disc line that goes from rough stock to a polished finish. Ceramic grain fractures into fresh cutting edges as it wears, so it keeps cutting instead of glazing over — and it handles metal, primer, and composites when a project calls for it.
Green Disc
The everyday workhorse for woodworkers — self-sharpening aluminum oxide that holds up sanding corners and edges without tearing, built for raw wood, paint, and clear coats.
Quick-reference cheat sheet
Already know the woodworking job you're tackling? Find your grit and disc below.
| Task | Disc | Grit | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripping old paint or finish | Purple Film | P40–P60 | 5" or 6" |
| Leveling a rough glue-up | Green Disc | P60–P100 | 6" |
| General wood smoothing | Green Disc | P120–P150 | 5" or 6" |
| Pre-stain / pre-paint prep | Purple Film or Green Disc | P180–P220 | 5" or 6" |
| Scuff-sanding between poly coats | Purple Film | P320–P400 | 5" |
| Metal, primer, or gelcoat prep | Purple Film | P80–P220 | 5" or 6" |
| Wet-sanding & polishing clearcoat | Purple Film | P800–P2000 | 5" |
| Applying or buffing hard wax oil | Non-Woven Pad | — | 5" or 6" |
A few things worth knowing
What grit should woodworkers use before staining wood?
Stop at P180–P220 for most stains. Sanding past P220 closes the wood's pores too much for stain to absorb evenly, which is a common cause of blotchy results — especially on softer woods like pine. Sand the same grit across the whole piece so the stain takes evenly everywhere.
Wet or dry — what's the difference?
Purple Film's polyester film backing is rated for both. Wet sanding (with water as a lubricant) is mainly used at high grits — think polishing clearcoat or leveling primer — because it clears dust and keeps the disc from loading up. Dry sanding is the default for raw wood and general woodworking.
Why hook & loop instead of adhesive-back?
Every Orca disc uses a hook & loop backing, so discs press on and peel off without adhesive residue — swap grits mid-project in seconds.
Do I need to hit every grit stage?
No — start at whichever stage matches your surface. A pre-sanded board might only need Pre-Finish and up; a stripped door might start at Strip & Shape. The stages exist so you, as a woodworker, know how far you can skip without leaving visible scratches.
Six answers to the questions we get asked most
Everything above is the short version. These go deeper, one problem at a time.
Grit by Project Stage
The order of operations for a furniture flip on a 5 inch or 6 inch random orbital, from stripped carcass to finished top.
Pad Color Code
Four colors, four jobs. What each Orca abrasive is for, when to reach for it, and which grits and sizes actually exist.
Veneer Sand Through Guide
Most thrifted furniture is veneer, and it is thinner than people think. How to spot it and sand it without going through.
Purple Film vs. Green Disc vs. Ceramic Net
Three abrasives, three different jobs. Which one belongs on your sander for the work in front of you.
5" vs 6" Sander: Which One Do You Need?
Pad size changes how fast you cut and how well you reach detail. Which diameter suits the work you actually do.
Wet Sanding vs. Dry Sanding
When water helps and when it just makes a mess. Where each method belongs in the grit range.
Grab the right disc for your next woodworking project.