Harbor Freight (at least the one about 40 miles down the road from me) has 1000grit and 1200grit wet-dry paper in packs of five (8-1/2x11) for some ridiculously low price depending on whether it's on special that day. Low price even when it's not.

You can't find this stuff at your normal Lowes, HD, or most of the other similar stores. The only other place I know where you can get it is at the local body shops. Some of them will share - some of them won't.

This is not the same quality as is used in military repair shops, which is to say that the grit is correct but the density and flexibility of the paper is not quite a match. But it's good stuff and has uses throughout our craft.

Also - there are several 3M products made for very fine scratch removal in auto paint. But they can also be used - very sparingly - to remove scratches and blemishes in metal parts on such things as reel-seat hoods, ferrules, etc.

Hope that helps - - -

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Hi Russ.

Woodcraft stores carry paper down to 12000 grit. I put a polished rock look on a piece of deer antler today using the same paper (antler is being used on a flyrod handle).

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

I get my wet/dry fine grit papers from Pep Boys., but it can also be found at Kragen, Napa, and even WallyWorld.

I have to stay away from Harbor Freight........I am worse than a fat kid in a candy store at that place.

And I can say that cause I used to BE that at kid.........and am not in much better shape now...............lol

Derek L. McMaster
Rohnert Park, CA

Born to Fish, FORCED to Work

The Harbor Freight stuff is good on metal, but not on wood and especially white or light wood, it will leave a black residue on light woods. I have been there, done that and won't do it again!!!!!!!!!!!!

For my wood and cork work, I use "wood" sandpaper down to 150 or so. I usually buy it at Wal-mart. For 220 to 2000 grit, I simply walk a few aisles over to the automotive section of Wal-Mart and buy the auto wed/dry paper. It works great for wood. As Tim mentioned, it's always important to be really careful with blond woods (i.e. maple gives me the biggest fits), as they'll burn easily. As soon as the paper starts heating up at all, get it away from your piece. But, I think this is just a peculiarity of this type of wood, not necessarily an idictment of auto wet/dry paper.

Sometimes, I have trouble finding a specific grit at Wal-Mart (e.g. 600 is really hard to get). So, I just drive a mile to Auto Zone, and buy it there. In the case that I can't find it at Wal-Mart or Auto Zone, I can often find it at the local hardware store.

I've never seen anything finer than 2000 grit at these local stores. I think you'd have to go to Woodcraft to get something finer.

Thanks for the info, because we can't find anything like that at the local WallyWorld. But I have two choices round here - the auto places or Harbor freight. Either one gets me in a lot of trouble.

The folks at Trucker's Toy Store put me onto the pro-series of liquid scratch removers. But then, they used several of my trucks as demos showpieces in their shop and in their print ads, before my wife started calling there to remind me to come home for dinner.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods