Sanding paper sources

General Composites Discussions Equipment Talk
#1

We should have a sticky on “where to get XYZ parts cheap”!

I’ve been buying my wetdry sandpaper at Home Depot. $5 for 5-pack of 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. There used to be a contractor pack with like 25 sheets, maybe it was Lowes.

Anyway, there’s gotta be a cheaper source. Not like 50 cents cheaper at Walmart but like 1/2 price for 1/2 mile of paper. I go through this stuff fast! I haven’t been to my local paint place in a while but I don’t see how they can compete with the big chain-stores.

I guess I need to hone my skills so I’m not sanding as much???

#2

http://www.tcpglobal.com/3m/3m160.aspx

a box of 50 sheets of 3M Imperial paper is $33. plus shipping. It is probably worth paying the extra for shipping only if your ordering more than one item from them. They sell those tyvec paint suits, paint masks, dust masks, stir sticks, and a whole bunch of other stuff there.

#3

Holy crap there’s a lot of info there! I was trying to figure “per sheet costs” and “per square inch costs” when I suddenly became very sleepy.

I guess it’s worth it instead of going to store ever couple of months to refill my supply. I always get the 3M or Norton stuff, not that crappy paper at Harbor Freight which is meant for wood.

Thanks again

#4

Find someone that works at napa…you can get the 3M stuff for alot cheaper that way.

There is another company called KLINGSPORE that will ship to you if they dont have a rep. I used to use them but hated the shipping times.

Always buy in as much bulk as you can.

#5

I’ve never been good at making friends “over the counter” at least not the female ones:D

I’ll do a cost analysis and determine where to source the stuff from. I prefer the wet 220grit paper but none of the home improvement stores carry them any more, at least in my area.

#6

Maybe MSC or Master-Carr?

#7

Different grades of wet and dry paper are easily available from car body shop supply places. Using the cheap products from home improvement places is never really that good an idea, as the paper is very poor quality, and doesnt last anywhere near as long as the proper stuff.

#8

If youre willing to buy stuff in reams (100 sheets) at a time I can probably get it for you.

Thats how I buy it all. I usually get 3 reams of every grit I work with at at time. Spendy but I only do it every 6 months minus my insane use of 3M Hook-it2 pads. I go thru boxes of that crap constantly.

#9

A lot of times I hate dealing with people “over the counter”. why…because many of them are jerks. Hey, i mean i’m just there to shop and buy stuff…what’s wrong with that if i’m being polite and paying cash? So now i have no loyalties to local business. If they can’t be polite and kind i’ll take my business to another State via the internet :smiley: If i make a nice business connection in Phoenix and they want to be nice, then i’ll do business with them.

Sorry, i’m having a bad afternoon, but at least i spoke the truth.

#10

Watch out for bargain basement off-brand sandpapers, they don’t work well and clog up easy.

Hybridracers… you mean the velcro stick on round pads 5"? I love those sanders and discs. although we use Nortons brand because it’s what my boss buys from HomeDepot. It works well on aluminum metal finishing. I gotta get me one of those dual orbiting sanders, that and a new Dremel cordless.

On the subject of Dremel since i kinda took us there. If you buy a dremel get the cordless lithium ion battery one…it’s grey color and the battery kicks butt, lasts a long time on one charge. Only takes an hour or two to recharge the battery.

#11

hybridracers, thanks for the offer. I’ll look around and if I can’t find anything good I’ll hit you up. Actually…can you PM me a price for say 100 sheets for 220G wet? That’ll help me compare.

Fastrr, I know what you’re talking about over the counter stuff…for me it’s more like, they are less help than if I went behind the counter and found stuff myself.

As it happends, I’m contemplating a dremel right now. Is the cordless really worth the extra cost and waiting for batteries?

#12

I love my two cordless Dremels i work with at my job. They are very handy because there is no cord to get in the way of your work, you can take them anywhere without electricity. Great tool, i’ve got one on my list of tools to buy. I think their like $100 or so at HomeDepot? You may even hit up some pawn shops or ebay for a new or used one.

#13

Ill call my guy with the hookup.

as far as dremel…anything battery powered is going to have less power than its same unit using a plug.

Ive blown up at least 4 dremel units already.

#14

Rez, there is CTI (?) in Santa Ana near the 55 freeway and Dyer. Great place and everything you can imagine in sanding, grinding and polishing supplies.

Also look for Mac Fadden Dale hardware, Rutland tools and MacMaster Carr.

You get what you pay for. Cheap and use more of them…

#15

Thanks guys, I ended up ordering from Mcmaster, prices weren’t too bad but they didn’t have the higher grit numbers in the 9x11 sheets.

Werks, thanks for the info, you keep mentioning that Mcfadden place, I’ll have to check it out.