800 Grit or P800 Grit?

rdransman

Promoted Users
I've read quite a few posts in this forum, and a lot of them contain references to grit size. Using this thread's title as an example, when 800 grit is mentioned, are we talking about the old ANSI 800 designation or the European FEPA P800 designation? This is a really important question to me right now because I'm getting ready to dive into cut & buff on my 4000-1 UV Clear.
 
Out of my pay grade but remember when i was invited to visit a sandpaper manufacturer they showed me how the grits were filtered and was told there were two P grit ratings.
Personally I use the black ice P-rated 800 and at that grit not really sure if it matters as much as a say 320.
 
Thanks for the answer, Barry. Here's my problem (one of many): I'm older than a lot of you guys (but still only 70). In the '60s and '70s, all we had was ANSI paper. I still have some. I'm not even sure you can buy ANSI paper anymore. The new guys maybe never heard of it. I even saw a 3M packet the other day that had P800 in it and they called it 800 grit. Well, P800 is close to ANSI 400, so there's a BIG difference; P2500 is like 1100.

So Barry, if I read the tea leaves right, in your Clear Coat post of Sept. 22, 2010 ("For the Newer Painters"), 800 is P800, 1200 is P1200 and 1500 is P1500. I hope I'm not showing my stupidity...

NOTE: This chart references the CAMI standard (Coated Abrasives Manufacturers Institute), which I believe is the adopted ANSI (American National Standards Institute). Sorry for all this technical stuff.
 

Attachments

  • Sandpaper Grit Scales.pdf
    12.6 KB · Views: 279
Here's a good chart
 

Attachments

  • grading_systems_chart.jpg
    grading_systems_chart.jpg
    100.2 KB · Views: 662
I remember seeing both I think in the 80's, but couldn't remember specifics . Pretty sure anything I still own new or old in automotive use paper is all the p designation.
 
I remember seeing both I think in the 80's, but couldn't remember specifics . Pretty sure anything I still own new or old in automotive use paper is all the p designation.
That's about when the "P" started showing up. If I were to guess, the manufacturers adopted it because of the European Union required it to get the "CE" mark on their products. They weren't going to continue making both, so the CAMI standard just went away.
 
Yea I remember all my wood sandpaper back then being the old stuff, not the new. I'm fine with the new designation, still getting used to the newer designations for hardware finish.
BUT, I'm so damn glad I have to look around for a metric tape measure once in a while instead of pull it off my belt.;)
 
The good news is, the old "non-P" paper is about gone, as I've learned through this thread from REAL painters (as opposed to myself). When you order 400, you get P400. If you never knew the difference, you were happy until you read this post!

This is happening everywhere in our lives. I went to Walmart yesterday (which used to be Wal-Mart before Sam Walton died). All I wanted was regular Alka-Seltzer that I used to buy in the 1960s. The clerk directed me to what she thought was the stuff. I found Alka-Seltzer Gold, Alka-Seltzer Plus for Cold and Cough, Alka-Seltzer Plus for Cold only, Alka-Seltzer Plus for Severe Cold and Flu, Alka-Seltzer Power Max Gels, etc., and Walmart brand fizzies that are half the price but worked just the same. NO ALKA-SELTZER ORIGINAL. I found out 10 minutes later, Alka-Seltzer Original is in a different aisle. I rest my case.
 
AEE, I do get my supplies from two different body shop suppliers in town and they prob do give me the correct stuff. Just got a sleeve of 180 and 220 in the last few weeks, I haven't looked to see if they were P prefix but I'll bet so.
Alka Seltzer Plus was the last hold out for the good ingredients for cold. They changed about a year ago. Doxalamine I believe.
 
Back
Top