![\"3M](\"https:\/\/www.rpwoodwork.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/IMG_4795_edited-2.jpg\")
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Sanding<\/a> doesn’t get a lot of respect in the woodworking world, perhaps because it is a rather boring job, and hand planing seems, by contrast, so refined. Nonetheless, sanding is an important step in building many projects, so it pays to take advantage of technological advancements.<\/p>\n 3M’s Pro Grade Precision <\/em><\/strong>sanding sheets seem to cut faster than any others that I have tried.\u00a0I can really sense the sharpness of the “proprietary, precision-shaped ceramic mineral” abrasive<\/strong> biting the wood. Of course, this is not a controlled test, but it is enough to make me reach for these sheets first. 3M’s labeling<\/a> is a bit confusing \u2013 this product is an upgrade from their “Pro Grade” paper, which uses aluminum oxide abrasive.<\/p>\n I had reported earlier<\/a> that I didn’t find the grippy backing<\/strong> of 3M’s sanding sheets particularly helpful, but my experience since then has shown me different. The “No-Slip Grip” backing does grip rectangular cork blocks better than regular paper backing, and makes sanding easier. Even better, it holds very well in the slots of the shop-made, all-cork curved blocks<\/a> that have become a staple among my tools for curved work. This backing is also significantly more durable than paper backing.<\/p>\n I continue to find 3M’s remarkable Ultra Flexible Sanding Sheets<\/strong> (on the left in the photo above) to be wonderful for working detailed curves. The durability of the film backing<\/strong> and the grit itself far exceed that of paper-backed sanding sheets for this work. They are available in 100, 150, 220, and 320-grit, and in 4 1\/2″-wide, 7″-long sheets and 10 1\/2-foot rolls.<\/p>\n![\"3M](\"https:\/\/www.rpwoodwork.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/IMG_4814_edited-2.jpg\")
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