320 Grit Sanding Belts (5 pieces)

Excel abrasive belts, 320 grit

Replaceable abrasive belts in 320 grit; there are five pieces in the package. 320 no longer removes so much material as it blends the mark left by the previous coarser step. That is the phase just before spraying, where it is decided how the sprayed surface will look.

Preparation for primer

Primer hides nothing, quite the opposite. Scratches that are barely visible on bare plastic appear in full glory under a matte primer, because a matte surface scatters light in all directions. Sanding with 320 grit before spraying is therefore less work than respraying a finished model. And the other way round: when primer reveals a place that is not right, it can be put right with the same grit without touching the shape of the part.

Between coats of finish

The second common use is lightly between coats. A speck of dust always settles on a painted surface, or orange peel appears, and a fine grit levels these faults without going through to the paint. The pressure there is held by the fingers, not the shoulder, and the belt is led in short strokes.

Use

• Before spraying, light the model from the side, so irregularities cast a shadow and nothing is overlooked.
• After sanding, degrease the surface and free it of dust, otherwise a map appears under the paint.
• Between coats of finish sand with your fingertips alone, otherwise you will go through to the paint beneath.
• On a shaped surface lead the belt in short strokes and keep changing direction so that no flat spot arises.
• Do not hurry a finish that has not dried, as a soft coat packs into the abrasive and clogs the belt.

Who they are for

For modelers who spray with an airbrush or from a can and want a genuinely prepared surface under the paint. They complete the coarser belts into a sequence that is worked through step by step.

Do not inhale the sanding dust from finish and paint, work in a ventilated room and wipe the surface after work rather than blowing it into the air.