The 5 Best Sandpaper For Removing Paint From Wood

The proverb goes, “Time is Money”. It’s true that, while you are in a job, choosing the right materials and using them properly can save you time and money. There is no exception when removing paint from wood; Yes, sandpaper is the right tool to do the job. Wait..wait!! You might get confused thinking about the best sandpaper for removing paint from wood. Let’s ease the job.

Let’s Review Some of the Best Sandpaper For Removing paint From Wood.

1. Fandeli Multipurpose Professional Sandpaper for Wood

Removing paint from wood wouldn’t be a hassle if you have the right Sandpaper in your hand. Right Sandpaper? What do you mean? Umm…Actually, I’m talking about Fandeli Sandpaper.

I’m glad to inform you that Fandeli declares this a professional grade and multipurpose sandpaper ideal for automotive, wood refinishing, and hardware products.

I will discuss this item’s features and user experiences in the following sections.

Fandeli sandpaper review (Why Do I choose it in my list)

Let’s break down the banks to find the coins. Actually, if you asked me to brief this item regarding why I think it could be a go-to-go option for removing paint from wood, then I should mention the following points:

Manufacturing specialty (super heavy paper):

The performance of sandpaper will depend on the quality of the paper it is made from. Fortunately, the Sandpaper by Fandeli ensures super heavy paper in its manufacturing process.

It doesn’t matter if you need to remove paint from hardwood or softwood; you will find this paper working well.

Note: Since 1987, they have been on the market as one of the leading sandpaper by Fandeli. It is made in Texas, a state in the South Central region of the USA.

High-quality aluminum oxide:

Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) is known as the most commonly used oxide ceramic material. Fandeli sandpaper used this oxide ceramic material (Al2O3) in its formulation, giving it the following features.

1. High compression strength
2. High hardness
3. Highly abrasive
4. Less clogging
5. Less waste and longer lasting.

Range of grit sizes:

Fandelisandpaper is produced in a range of grit sizes: 80, 120, and 220. If you want durable sandpaper for a smooth finish (for wood or paint), you can try different ranges of grit sizes by Fandeli.

• With its 80 grit sandpaper, you can strip and remove paints from an extensive amount of wood.
• 120-grit sandpaper is designed to prepare wood surfaces for further application.
• 220 grit sandpaper is applicable for finishing or polishing the surfaces. 

Application facility:

Fandeli sandpaper sheets can be used manually or with the help of power sanders. You may need to cut the sandpaper into small pieces to ease the application process.

Suppose you need to remove paint or lumps from small pieces of wood, then don’t worry; you can cut it into different sizes.

Usually, Fandeli Sandpaper features a 25 Sheet Pack which can be cut into the following sizes.

• 1/2
• 1/3
• 1/4

Note: If you think about a power sander, then you need to ensure that you have a small power sander that can hold a 1/4 sheet. I suggest you choose DEWALT Palm Sander.

Pros

• Quality sandpaper ensures good thickness, durability, and long-lasting use.
• Since 1927, Fandeli sandpaper has been renowned as the quality abrasive for all surfaces, including Plastic, Metal, Wood, and Paint. 
• It ensures fast cuts and exceptional sanding performance to get the job done.
• This 9-Inch by 11-Inch paper by Fandeli is also ideal for general filing purposes.
• It works well for minor sanding work around the household. You can use it on walls before repainting as well. (finished after repaint turned out well)
• You can use it through Makita Sheet Finishing Sander (it holds up excellent).

Cons:

• It is applicable for hand sanding, but not ideal for orbital sanding. You wouldn’t bend it to fit under the loops.
• It is not as good as their wet n dry sheets. (Fandeli makes wet n dry sandpaper).  But you might not get good results on wet sanding.
• It doesn’t have any adhesive back, so you cant stick it to the board.

2. 120 To 3000 Miady Assorted Grit Sandpaper

If you asked me what type of Sandpaper would be best for removing paint from my wood Furniture, then my first reply is to tell me your wood types.

If you have a block of painted carved wood, I suggest choosing Miady Grit Sandpaper. Let’s take a look at some of its special features and facts.

Manufacturing specialty (Grit Material):

If u asked me to compare this paper to the previous one, then I suggest comparing the grit materials for both.

The grit material of Fandeli sandpaper is Aluminium Oxide (Alumina), whereas the Miady Grit Sandpaper uses Silicon Carbide.

Silicon Carbide and its crystal shape make Miady Grit Sandpaper sharper than Fandeli sandpaper.

Note: The package says Miady Grit Sandpaper is made in China (it Appears of good quality).

Range of grit sizes:

Miady Sandpaper for removing paint from wood comes with 12 different grits: 120 to 3000 (120/220/320/400/600/800/1000/1200/1500/2000/2500/3000).

            Each grit features =3 sheets

            12 grit features    =3X12=36 Sheets.

Compared to Fandeli sandpaper, you will find 11 extra sheets in the Miady Grit Sandpaper pack. (Fandeli sandpaper=25 sheets; Miady Grit Sandpaper =36 sheets)

I believe removing paint from wood or preparing wood surfaces would be enjoyable with their range of grit sheets.

Use tips:

• 120 – 220 grit: Ideal for removing paint/scratches from rough wooden surfaces.
• 320 -400 grit: Perfect for those who need light sanding between coats of finish or to sand hard surfaces like metal.
• 400 -800 grit: Works excellent for those who need final finishing before painting.
• 1000 -1500 grit: It is recommended for sanding between coats.
• 2000 -3000 grit: Designed for buffing.

Application process:

Like any other sandpaper, you can use this manual to remove paint from wood.  Besides this, an ABS plastic-made hand sander or sandpaper handle could greatly make sanding easier.

Note: You can easily install the sandpaper into a hand sander. (clips found on both sides of the hand sander make the job easier).

Pros:

• Ideal for wood furniture finishing, Automotive Polishing, and Metal Sanding. (multi-functional)
• They are thin, durable, and easy to apply to small projects (bang for your buck).
• Waterproof silicon carbide and electro-coating ensure the grit distribution homogeneously, ideal for Dry and Wet Sanding.
• You can easily identify this sandpaper because the backside of this paper is printed.

Cons:

• Not as durable as 3M sandpaper, but you can use the grits too often.
• Though it claims that it is good for wet sanding, you might not get a better result.

3. LANNEY 120 to 3000 Sand Paper  for Wood  Polishing + Block Sander

LANNEY 120 to 3000 Sand Paper could be a great selection for small crafts or tasks. It helps you to clean up small painting areas on wood surfaces and gives you a smooth finish. Most significantly, you will find it fantastic for the price because it comes with paper + Block Sander.

Manufacturing specialty (Grit Material):

Like Miady Grit Sandpaper, LANNEY uses premium-grade silicon carbide (SiC) to formulate its sandpaper grit. It is known as a hard chemical compound containing carbon and silicon.  The use of SiC in its manufacturing process makes it abrasive and highly efficient.

Electro-coated technology:

LANNEY 120 to 3000 Sand Paper features Electro coated technology (derived from rust prevention technology) like the Miady Grit Sandpaper.

With this technology, the abrasive is distributed homogeneously on sandpaper.

Besides, this technology helps the abrasive stick to the sandpaper firmly so that it wouldn’t fall while sanding or removing paint from the wood.

Range of grit sizes:

LANNEY Sand Paper comes with 14 grits; in each grit, you will find 3 sheets. Total LANNEY Sand Paper contains 45 sheets in its package.

It offers a wide selection of coarse to fine grits: [120/150/180/240/320/400/600/800/1000/1200/1500/2000/2500/3000 grit].

When it comes to identifying the grits of the sandpaper, you can mark them easily because the backside of this paper is printed with grit numbers.

Sandpaper sheets quality:

When it comes to sanding wet surfaces, I feel relaxed because these sandpaper sheets are made from waterproof components.

Thanks to the tensile-resistant technology of this sandpaper make it apart from the above two sandpaper brands: Fandeli and Miady.

The tensile-resistant technology makes this sandpaper sheet highly flexible and sturdy.

Note: The best part of this sandpaper (wet and dry) is that it will not crumble off, tear, or fall apart while sanding or removing paint from wood.

Sandpaper sizes +hand sander :

The LANNEY Sand Paper comes in a standard size of 9x 3.6 inches. The LANNEY and Miady sandpaper has the same size. In that sense, Fandeli wins because it belongs to 9X11 inches.

Note: However, the LANNEY Sand Paper is still perfect for removing a good amount of surface paint.  Due to its standard sizes, you don’t need to cut the pieces all the time.

Another cool feature of this paper is that it comes with a sanding block sander that makes the whole job much easier. It allows the sandpaper to stick very well and keeps it in position.

The one-handed operation and lightweight and comfortable grip of this hand sander are a plus for my paint-removing job from wood.

Pros:

• LANNEY offers a wide variety of sandpaper grits (120 to 3000)+ Sanding Block Sander, which is ideal for small DIY projects.  Although the Sanding Block Sander seems decent, but it may loosen up with time.
• With this Wet Dry Sandpaper Assortment Abrasive pack, you can perform sanding jobs on different surfaces:  wood, metal, and Plastic. 
• Its fine and coarse grit is ideal for stone, jewelry, cars, walls, porcelain, leather, and glass.
• Waterproof silicon carbide makes it best for wet and dry sanding.
• This sandpaper is sturdy and flexible, which makes it superior to removing paint from wood.

Cons:

• The LANNEY sandpaper isn’t as premium as 3M’s paper, but you will not find any problem dealing with wet surfaces with this paper.
• Although the Sandpaper is good, but the block seems to be of poor quality. The block sander doesn’t work well on wet sanding.

4. VERONES 90 Pcs 400 to 3000 Grit Wet Dry Sandpaper

VERONES, the manufacturer of US standard sandpaper assortment, could be a great choice for rough sanding. Also, you will find this set perfect for light sanding.

Manufacturing specialty (Grit Material):

Like the above-mentioned sandpaper brand LANNEY and Miady, the VERONES sandpaper uses electrocoating and waterproof Silicon carbide technology in its manufacturing process.

Due to the use of modern technology, this sandpaper ensures high efficiency, smooth polishing, and longer service life.

Sandpaper sheets quality:

It is mentioned earlier that the VERONES Sandpaper Set ensures modern technology and abrasive feature in its formulation, which makes it ideal for dry and wet sanding.

It will not tear, fall apart or crumble off during sanding or removing paint from wood due to high-quality sheets. 

Sandpaper sheet and grit sizes:

If you talk about the total of Sandpaper sheets in a package, then VERONSE Sandpaper beats all above from the list. Yes, it contains 90 pieces of assorted abrasive sheets in grit 400 to 3000 (1 grit=10 sheet).

The available size of VERONSE Sandpaper is ‎9×3.6 inches. You can cut this sheet into any size you need for your project.

Different grit sizes of sheets and their use:

• 400-800 grit Sandpaper: It is ideal for ultimate finishing (before painting)
• 1000-1200 Grit Sandpaper: Perfect for light sanding between metal and other hard areas.
• 1200-1500 Grit Sandpaper: Good for sanding between coats.
• 2000 -3000 Grit Sandpaper: You will find it suitable for buffing

Pros:

• Multiple grits high-quality sandpaper sheets (90 pieces)
• You can easily identify this sandpaper because the back part of this paper is printed.
• It does excellent for both dry and wet sanding.
• With this sandpaper, you can easily deal small to medium wood projects.
• Highly applicable for wood furniture, metal finishing, wood turning, and automotive sanding. Besides these, this sandpaper is ideal for wet sanding blemishes, lawn furniture and refinishing handrails.
• Works well at a decent price. These are well fit into a 1/4 sheet palm sander.

Cons:

• It is not adhesive-backed.
• It isn’t designed for big commercial wood paint-removing projects.

5. HSYMQ 24PCS Variety Pack Sandpaper for Wood (12 Grits)

Here’s the final one in this sandpaper review list, and among the above, it seems less pricey except for the Miady Sandpaper pack.

According to the maximum verified users’ reviews on Amazon, HSYMQ 24PCS Variety Sandpaper Pack has become the best choice among customers due to its reasonable price.

Manufacturing specialty (Grit Material):

Umm….yes, it’s a fine grit, but the manufacturing specialty of this sandpaper is the same as the average one on the market.

Like VERONES, Miady, and LANNEY, the HSYMQ uses Silicon Carbide as its grit material.

But the one downside is it doesn’t feature electro-coated technology like the three brands above.

Sandpaper sheets quality:

The HSYMQ Sandpaper Pack is made in china. The quality of this paper is like the average one, which is ideal for sanding metal and wood sanding. In that sense, I think it will work fine in your favor to remove paint from the wood.

Sandpaper sheet and grit sizes:

The HSYMQ Sandpaper Pack comes with 12 grit and each grit features 2 sheets. Overall, you will find 12X2=24 sheets. It offers the lowest number of sheets among the 4 listed above.

The grit size is 9×3.6 inches which are easy to use, especially for small sanding/paint removal jobs.

Pros:

• The different grit of this paper gives it excellent value for small sanding jobs (even you will get the benefit of restoring the headlight of your car)
• It doesn’t fall apart while sanding on wet wood surfaces.
• The grit seems to stick to the paper perfectly and you will not face any trouble with sand crumbling off the paper.
• Some users at Amazon claimed that they used this paper to clean up the aluminum forks on their motorcycles.
• Durable, long-lasting, easy to use, and hold to perform the sanding job.

Cons:

• The HSYMQ Sandpaper Pack is only manufactured for light use, not for heavy-duty tasks.
• Old model wet and dry sandpaper

How Do I Use Sandpaper For Removing Paint From Wood?

The best sandpaper for removing paint from wood will ensure the following characteristics.

• Highly abrasive, durable, and long-lasting.
• Easy to use and hold.
• High-quality grit material (waterproof silicon carbide and electro-coated technology and oxide ceramic material)
• A variety of grit ranges ideal for small jobs (80 grit is best recommended)

Once you get the right tool, it’s time to know how you use it to remove the paint from wood surfaces. Don’t worry!! Here, I will answer you all in my rest talking sections and recommend you a list of the best sandpapers. Let’s start, my dear fellow.

How Do I Use Sandpaper for Removing Paint From Wood?

People use various methods to use sandpaper to remove paint from wood. But I have seen that not every process works well. That’s why after a lot of trial and error, I have come up with the best way to use sandpaper to remove paint from wood.

I am excited to share this efficient method with you. But before I explain the process, let me tell you the things you will need to remove paint from wood:

• 40 to 180 grit sandpaper
• Sandpaper block or piece of wood
• Water

After you have these items ready, get the wooden furniture or other items from where you want to remove paint and start working by following the steps below:

Step 1: Clean the wooden surface

First, clean the wooden surface to prepare it for work. You can use soapy water for the best results. But you also can proceed with wiping the surface with a dry towel or cloth.

Step 2: Cut sandpaper

Now, if the wooden item is small, then I will recommend you cut the sandpaper into small pieces. It is much more convenient to use and reduces wastage.

But if you are working with a large piece of wood, then you can proceed without cutting the sandpaper.

Step 3: Roll the sandpaper

Whether you are working with small or large pieces of wood, you will need to roll the sandpaper into a rectangular-shaped wooden piece.

Although many people purchase sandpaper blocks, I don’t particularly appreciate spending excess money.

A small piece of wood is a great alternative and works perfectly for me. You can dampen the sandpaper in water and roll it on a piece of wood.

Step 4: Sand the wood with various grit sandpaper

After preparing the sandpaper with the wooden pieces, start rubbing it on the paint on the wood. Start with the 40-grit sandpaper. At first, you may need to put a little bit more pressure on taking out the paint.

When you start seeing the paint coming off, switch to higher-grit sandpaper such as 80-grit. Continue rubbing and gradually switch to a higher grit.

Usually, 40 to 180-grit sandpaper works best for removing paint from wood. You may also try a little bit higher grit if you want.

Step 5: Finishing

Continue rubbing the wooden surface with the highest grit sandpaper you have until all the paints come off. After that, wash off all the residues with soapy water. Then, wipe the whole wooden material with a towel and let it dry.

This is my favorite method to remove paint from wood, and I think you will love it too after trying it. However, you can wear goggles and gloves for safety.

Also, try doing this in a well-ventilated area, as the paint you remove may contain harmful chemicals.

Final verdict: (Which one to choose)

We come to the end of our journey and it’s time to share my opinion. So guys, what do you think; who will win the golden cup?

Umm…If you asked me, then my opinion would be like that: Miady 120 To 3000 Assorted Grit Sandpaper could be best for those who want something better within ten dollars.  Also, HSYMQ 24PCS Variety Pack Sandpaper wouldn’t be the wrong choice for budget-friendly people.

However, my favorite is Fandel sandpaper because it uses oxide ceramic material (Al2O3) in its formulation, which makes it highly abrasive, hard, less clogging, and long-lasting. The rest of this list has special features: silicon carbide and electro-coated technology.