Quick answer: For most Australian hardwoods, use P36–P40 to strip old finish, P60 to remove deep scratches, P80 to smooth, and P100 as your final pass before coating. For softwood (pine), add P120 at the end. Never skip more than one grit.
Professional Floor Sanding Grit Sequence Guide for Australian Hardwoods
Complete grit progression guide for Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Ironbark, Brush Box & Tallowwood. Learn the professional approach to progressive sanding with Bona abrasive systems for optimal results.
Understanding Grit Progression Principles
Professional floor sanding follows a systematic approach where each grit removes the scratches from the previous grit while creating progressively finer scratches. This ensures optimal adhesion for primers and finishes while achieving the smoothest possible surface.
Key Principles:
- Never skip more than one grit size
- Each grit should remove 90% of previous scratches
- Sand with the grain direction for final passes
- Use appropriate pressure for timber hardness
- Vacuum thoroughly between grit changes