Why we only carry Norton Prosand
We've chosen to only stock Prosand from Norton. It's a premium abrasive sheet that has outperformed any and all of the competition we have sampled. It cuts faster, lasts longer, and clogs/loads less. We recommend for use on Wood/Paint/Plastic, Drywall/Plaster, Metal/Rust, and even Primers/Sealers/Top Coats.
Prosand vs 3X
Many of you professionals will remember Norton's 3X product which was manufactured up until ~2017. 3X was, without a doubt, the strongest product in the market, by our estimate it outperformed competitors by at least 25%. We've now been selling Prosand for over 8 years, and while originally there was a lot of reservation from customers about the change, that has completely subsided. In our testing(and Norton's) we're seeing Prosand outperform 3X by 20-40%. (judged by weight of material removed). See Norton's testing info
Prosand features
- Heat-treated abrasive outlasts competitors, and even the old 3X product. Heat treating the grain helping it to stay sharper longer.
- Heavy backing weight allows you to fold/unfold with less tearing.
- "No-Fil" design. Prevents clogging and loading especially under high pressure.
- No color dyes used, meaning you don't risk color transfer to your work piece like some competitors
Grit guide
- 60: Heavy removal
- 80: Moderate removal
- 100: Moderate to light removal
- 120: Surface leveling
- 150: Fine surface prep
- 180: Final surface smoothing
- 220: Sanding initial coats
- 320: Use between coats
- 400: Final finish
Which grit should I choose?
Use this quick guide to pick the right grit for your job. Start coarse to remove material, then move up through finer grits to remove scratches and prep for finishing.
Common jobs
- Strip thick paint or varnish (wood/metal): 60-80 → 120 → 150
- Level uneven joints or repairs (wood, filler, putty): 80-120 → 150-180
- General prep on raw wood (furniture, trim): 120-150 → 180-220
- Between coats of paint or clear finish (scuff sanding): 320-400 with light pressure
- Final pre-finish on smooth wood/primer: 220-320 (stop at 220 for stain, 320 for paint/clear)
- Drywall & plaster (hand sanding): 100-120 on first coat → 150–180 second coat → 220 final coat
- Rust removal & metal shaping: 60-80 → 120-180 → 220 for paint adhesion
- Plastic and fiberglass fairing: 120-180 → 220-320 (finish 400 if polishing)
Typical sequences
- Raw wood to paint: 80 → 120 → 180 → 220 → 320 (optional)
- Raw wood to stain + clear: 80 → 120 → 180 → stop at 180-220 before stain
- Recoat scuff on trim/cabinets: 220 → 320 → 400 (light scuff, don’t cut through)
- Metal prep before primer: 80/120 → 180 → 220–320
Tip: If you see deep scratches after moving up, drop back one grit to remove them, then continue finer.
ProSand vs. SandWet vs. Adalox
Not sure which Norton line to use? This table compares our three most popular sheet options for hand sanding.
| Feature | ProSand | SandWet | Adalox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain / Use | Premium aluminum oxide for fast cut and long life (dry use) | Silicon carbide for fine finishes and wet or dry sanding | Aluminum oxide for reliable, general-purpose value sanding (dry use) |
| Best for | Wood, paint, plastic; heavy to light stock removal with low loading | Between coats, final finishing, automotive surfaces, plastics—especially when used wet | Everyday prep, drywall touch-ups, budget-conscious projects |
| Clog resistance | High (open coat with anti-loading) | High when used wet; good dry | Moderate |
| Finish quality | Very good across 60-400 grit | Excellent in fine grits (220-400+) and polishing steps | Good for general prep |
| Durability | High (long life, tear-resistant backing) | High when wet; moderate dry on coarse work | Moderate |
| Wet sanding | No (use dry) | Yes (designed for wet or dry) | No (use dry) |
| Typical grit range | 60–400 (on this page) | 220-2000+ (we stock common fines; check availability) | 80-320 (varies by stock) |
| Relative price | $$ (pro performance) | $$–$$$ (finishing/wet capability) | $ (best value) |
| Choose this if… | You want the fastest cut with long life for most dry sanding | You need ultra-smooth finishes or plan to sand wet | You want solid results at the lowest cost |
Quick summary: Pick ProSand for most dry sanding on wood and paint, SandWet for between-coat or wet finishing, and Adalox when you need economical sheets for general prep.
Hand sanding product selection guide
| What material are you hand sanding? | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL Wood, Paint, Plastic, etc. | Drywall & Plaster | Metal & Rust | Primer, Sealer, Top Coats | ||||
| Grit | Application | Grit | Application | Grit | Application | Grit | Application |
| Coarse | Stripping | Coarse | First Coat | Coarse | Stripping | Fine | Initial Coats |
| Medium | Smoothing | Medium | Second Coat | Medium | Smoothing | Super Fine | Between Coats |
| Fine | Finishing | Fine | Final Coat | Fine | Polishing | Ultra Fine | Final Finish |
| How large is the project? | |||||||
| Small to Medium Jobs with One Sanding Step: Sanding Sponge | Small Touch-Up Jobs: Sanding Sponge | Small to General Purpose Jobs: Sanding Sponge | Small to General Purpose Jobs: Sanding Sponge | ||||
| Medium to Larger Jobs with Multiple Sanding Steps: Sandpaper | Small to Medium DIY Jobs: Sanding Screen | Light Deburring and Cleaning: Non-Woven Pad | Large Jobs With Focus on High-End Finish (i.e. Automotive Refinishing): Sandpaper | ||||
| Do you want high performance and productivity or lowest initial cost? | |||||||
| Performance: Norton ProSand Sheets & Sponges | Performance: WallSand Screen | Performance: MetalSand Cloth Sheets, Metal Finishing Non-Woven | Performance: SandWet Sheets | ||||
| Opening Price Point: MultiSand Sheets & Sponges | Opening Price Point: WallSand Paper, WallSand Sponges | Opening Price Point: MultiSand Sponges | Opening Price Point: SandWet Sponges | ||||
ProSand Sandpaper FAQ
- What size are the sheets?
- Standard 9×11 inch sheets. Packs contain 20 sheets.
- Which grit for stripping old paint or varnish?
- Start at 60–80, then move to 120–150 to remove scratch marks.
- Which grit between coats of paint or clear finish?
- 320–400 for scuff sanding between coats; finish with light pressure.
- Can I use ProSand for wet sanding?
- Use it dry. For wet sanding, choose Norton SandWet.
- What surfaces is ProSand best for?
- Wood, painted surfaces, plastics, and general-purpose metal prep.
