I’ve got some interior painting to do. Normal walls and trim . . . bedrooms, living room etc., nothing exotic.
Did I mention I hate to paint? Anyway, a friend offered to help who has done lots of painting, in fact he made a living doing it for a few years although he doesn’t anymore.
Since he’s offered to help out, I wanted to have all his favorite supplies and materials beforehand so that 1) It’ll show that I really appreciate his help, and 2) We can get down to business and get it done efficiently without running all over the place for supplies.
When I last talked to him and asked what I should get beforehand, he mentioned sandpaper sheets to go on a pole mounted sanding pad. I’ve always used those sanding screens like you use for drywall in a medium or fine grit but he said “no, get the sandpaper sheets”
What’s the difference? I would think the screens have less of a tendency to clog up.
Replies
The screens can leave parallel lines if you don't slightly twirl them.
Remember, surface prep is nine-tenths of painting!
Forrest
What are you sanding? If you're sanding joint compound, then yes, the screens tend to clog less. I know drywallers who don't care for them because it's too easy to leave swirl marks, especially with new sanding screens. If you're sanding a painted wall to knock off the painted fuzzies*, then sandpaper works better. I usually use full size sheets of tri-folded 100 grit sandpaper. 100 grit may seem a little course, but I've never had scratch marks telegraph through.
*painted fuzzies: I don't know what they're really called or if they even have a name, but sometimes cheap rollers will leave a little lint behind and after each coat of paint they get bigger and bigger until you can feel them as large hard spots.
Screens are find for new drywall, not that great for already painted surfaces.
And evidently it's what he's comfortable with, and I agree with him :)
Thanks now I know. Not that I really want to do much painting