Dry Paper #400 O9E

Mineshima Dry Paper, grit 400

Abrasive paper from the Japanese brand Mineshima for dry sanding. A grit of 400 is a medium to fine grade, that is, the stage where material is no longer removed but the marks of a coarser paper are smoothed out and the surface is prepared for the primer coat.

When to reach for it. After filler has been worked in and after coarser sanding, for smoothing mold parting lines and the places left by sprue gates, for unifying the surface before the primer and for lightly roughening glossy plastic. After the primer has been sprayed you can also use it to knock down grain or small specks in the dried layer.

How to work with it

• Sand without much pressure and rather for longer. A finer grit works more slowly but with more control.
• Knock the paper out as you go; clogged abrasive only polishes and heats the plastic instead of sanding.
• On flat surfaces put a flat board behind the paper; on rounded parts guide it with your finger carefully so that you do not wipe away the edges and detail.
• Move smoothly from coarser grits to finer ones and do not skip steps, or the scratches from the coarser paper will not be smoothed out.
• Before spraying, dust the surface off and if needed degrease it, so that dust is not trapped under the coat.

Dry sanding. The line is intended for dry work, so do not expect to soak it in water. It produces more dust, so work in a ventilated space, do not inhale the dust and always protect your airways with resin parts.

Who it is for

For modelers who want a whole range of grits put together and to finish a surface in controlled steps. A grit of 400 is a typical intermediate step between coarse leveling and final polishing.

The dimensions of the sheet, the number of pieces in the package and the backing material are stated on the box.