I have a project where I need to weigh the amount of wood sanded. I need to get the most wood sanded off with the least amount of effort. My teacher said that balsa might work but that he wasn’t sure because there might be something better. He said that some soft woods just turn to “mush” when you try to sand them.
Does anyone know the best type of wood that’s not too expensive, does not require too much effort to sand, and loses the most wood shavings?
Also, what grain of sandpaper should be used with it?
ANDY
Comments
balsa wood might be good. too much force might crush it though. use a coarse paper.
Balsa wood would work…it weighs next to nothing.
Pine would be my next choice,it’s not as soft as balsa but still a little soft.
and you can use 60 grit or 80 grit and you can use a woodplane to take shavings off.
You need something in between. I suggest a grain of 80. Balsa is good, so is pine. What I suggest is that you get a plug in sander or a power tool with a sanding disk attach. You might also think about trying various types before you commit to one.
Balsa is the softest wood. But you can go to a lumber yard and buy a eight foot by two foot “Board” of expanded polystyrene, in one inch or two inch thickness. Expanded polystyrene is often called “Styrofoam” but that’s a trademark for the Dow Chemical brand.
Expanded polystyrene is sold as insulation, but myself and others have used it instead of balsa wood because it costs less.
Ask your teacher if you can use polystyrene foam board.
As for sandpaper, #80 grit should take off the most material with the least effort. #120 grit is finer and will leave a smoother surface, it will work too.
