Abrasive Comparison Chart

 
NOTES: It is impossible to make exact comparisons between all the different abrasives because different standards are used for minimum and maximum size, the percentage allowed outside those limits, and the distribution of sizes within those limits. Sizes of 220 grit (60 micron) and larger (macrogrits) are determined by sieving, while sizes of 230 grit and smaller (microgrits) are determined by sedimentation. European "P" sizes are for coated abrasives; "F" sizes are for bonded abrasives.

 

Relative grit sizes of belts, wheels, stones and hones used in
knifemaking, sharpening and woodworking.

Description

Belts and wheels

Waterstones

Average grit size in microns

CAMI (USA)

FEPA (Europe)

JIS
(Japan)

 

12

 

 

1842

 

 

P12

 

1764

*American National Standards Institute

12*

 

 

1600

 

16

P16

 

1322

 

16*

 

 

1092

 

 

P20

 

984

 

20*

 

 

940

 

20

 

 

905

 

24*

 

 

686

 

 

P24

 

740

 

24

 

 

715

 

30

 

 

638

 

 

P30

 

622

 

30*

 

 

559

 

36

 

 

535

 

 

P36

 

524

 

40

 

 

428

 

 

P40

 

412

 

50

 

 

351

 

 

P50

  

326

 

60

 

 

268

 

 

P60

 

260

 

 

P80

 

195

 

80

 

 

192

 

 

P100

 

156

Coarse Crystolon

100

 

150

141

 

 

P120

 

127

 

120

 

 

116

100 micron belt

 

 

  

100

 

 

P150

 

97

Medium Crystolon, coarse India

150

 

 

93

80 Micron belt

 

 

 

80

 

180

P180

 

78

3M 74 micron diamond stone

 

 

 

74

 

 

P220

 

65

60 Micron belt, extra coarse diamond hone

220

 

 

60

 

 

P240

240

58

 

240

 

 

53.5

Medium India, fine Crystolon

 

F230

 

53

 

 

P280

 

52.5

 

 

 

280

50

 

 

P320

 

46

Coarse Diamond

325

F240

 

45

Fine India

280

 

320

43

 

 

P360

 

40.5

3M 40 micron diamond stone & belt

"400"

 

 

40

 

 

F280

 

36.5

Medium diamond

320

 

360

36

35 Micron belt

 

P400

 

35

 

 

 

400

32

30 Micron belt

 

P500

 

30

Washita

360

F320

 

29

 

 

P600

 

25.8

Fine Diamond

600

 

 

25

 

400

F360

 

23

22 Micron belt

 

 

600

22

 

 

P800

 

21.8

Soft Arkansas, 20 Micron belt

 

 

 

20

3M 20 micron stone

"800"

 

 

20

 

500

 

 

19.5

18 Micron belt

 

P1000

 

18.3

 

  

F400

 

17

 

600

 

800

16

 

 

P1200

 

15.3

15 Micron belt, 15 micron SiC paper

 

 

 

15

Hard white Arkansas, extra fine diamond, and medium ceramic

700

 

1000

14

 

 

P1500

 

12.6

12 micron belt

800

 

 

12

 

 

 

1200

11

Queer Creek Blue Ohio Sandstone

600 - 1000

 

 

9-16

 

 

P2000

 

10.3

3M 10 micron diamond stone

"1800"

 

 

10

 

1000

F600

1500

9.2

Extra-fine diamond hone

"1200"

 

 

9

Hard black Arkansas, 9 micron belt

1000

 

 

9

 

 

P2500

 

8.4

 

 

 

2000

7.5

 

1200

F800

 

6.5

6 Micron belt

 

 

 

6

5 micron SiC paper

 

F1000

 

5

Extra fine white Ceramic, green chrome rouge, 3 Micron belt, Tormek compound*

1500

F1200

4000

3

 

 

F1500

6000

2

Japanese Waterstone

 

F2000

8000

1.2

1 Micron belt, Linde C compound

2000

 

 

1

Chromium oxide polishing compound, 0.5 micron Chromium oxide paper

 

 

 

0.5

  • There is another chart of fine abrasive equivalents at http://www.gemsociety.org/info/chmesh.htm

  • Crystolon is Norton Abrasives tm for Silicon Carbide stones
  • India is Norton Abrasives tm for Aluminum Oxide stones
  • Raybrite and Linde compounds are aluminum oxide powders
  • Tormek compound contains a variety of grains of various size, the smallest down to 0.7 micron. The average effective size is 3 micron.

Scotch-Brite Abrasive Belt Equivalent Grits

Grade

Equivalent abrasive grit

Color

Abrasive Material

Finish (micro-inches)

Aluminum

Stainless Steel

Coarse

80 - 150

Brown

Aluminum Oxide

130 - 150

62 - 72

Medium

150 - 180

Maroon

Aluminum Oxide

80 - 100

32 - 40

Fine

180 - 220

Green?

Aluminum Oxide

50 - 70*

15 - 25*

Very fine

220 - 320

Blue

Aluminum Oxide

16 - 35

6 - 12

Super fine

320 - 600

Gray

Silicon Carbide

8 - 12

4 - 6

  • 3M is not consistant in their use of color for a particular grit. This chart is based on Scotch-Brite surface finishing belt data. *Estimated. Scotch-Brite is a ™ of 3M Corp.

Scotch-Brite Hand Pads

Grit Designation

Color

Equivalent Grit

Abrasive

Extra Coarse

Brown

 

Aluminum Oxide

Coarse

Tan

 

Aluminum Oxide

Medium

White, Gray or Maroon

 

Aluminum Oxide

Fine

Light Gray or Green

150 - 180

Aluminum Oxide

Very Fine

Maroon

220 - 280

Aluminum Oxide

Extra Fine

Gray

320 - 400

Silicon Carbide

Ultra Fine

White

600 - 800

Talc

BearTex (Norton) Hand Pads in Order of Agressiveness

Grit Designation

Color

Abrasive

Product code

Very Fine

Maroon

Aluminum Oxide

777

Very Fine

Maroon

Aluminum Oxide

747

Very Fine

Green

Aluminum Oxide

796

Very Fine

Gray

Silicon Carbide

851

Ultra Fine

Gray

Silicon Carbide

635

Micro Fine

Gray

Silicon Carbide

748

Non-abrasive

White

None

456

3M Trizact Abrasives

Trizact Abrasive Grade

International Mesh (ANSI)

A5

1200

A6

1000

A10

800

A16

700

A20

500

A25

450

A30

400

A35

380

A45

320

A65

240

A90

220

A130

140

A160

110

A300

80

3M Trizact material is a microreplication technology providing consistent cut rates and uniform finishes throughout the life of the belt. Combining aluminum oxide with a waterproof backing, Trizact is ideal for wet-finishing operations on all types of metal. Great for spru removal, cast clean-up, parting line removal and all around finishing. Try the A16 and receive a pre-polish which will reduce your polishing time. Trizact belts work extremely well on inlay as it interacts with stone and metal to perfection. Belts are made in all sizes, allowing flexiblity on metal and stone applications.

This abrasive is arranged in pyramids.  They produce finer finishes and last MANY times longer than conventional abrasives...Jeff Herman.  Great place to buy.

Copied with permission from Steve Bottorff
Updated August 24, 2004

 

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