15 products

Sandpaper for Metal

Published June 2026 by FastPlus Abrasives USA — fastplus.us — Last reviewed: June 2026

📋 At a Glance
Topic Sandpaper for metal — rust removal, surface prep, weld cleanup, and paint finishing on steel and aluminum
Audience Auto body techs, fabricators, welders, DIY metal workers, collision repair shops
Grit Range P40 – P2000 (discs); P60 – P800 (rolls & strips); P60 – P2000 (wet/dry sheets)
Abrasive Types Blue Ceramic (F65), PuroFilm Ceramic (FT77/FF78), Gold AO (F25), Silicon Carbide (BN38), Scuff Pads (SiC + AO)
Compatible Sanders Festool ETS 150 / RO 150, Mirka DEROS, DeWalt DWAS150, Bosch, Makita, most 5" & 6" DA sanders
Source fastplus.us/collections/sandpaper-for-metal
⚡ Key Takeaways
  • Aluminum loads standard abrasives fast — the Blue Ceramic F65 semi-open coat and the PuroFilm FT77 anti-clog coating are the two disc types that actually hold up on aluminum without glazing over.
  • For wet sanding clear coat, primer, or bare metal: the BN38 Silicon Carbide 9x11" waterproof sheets are the only product in this lineup rated for wet use — everything else is dry only.
  • The FF78 47-hole universal disc fits every 6" DA sander on the market — one SKU, no hole pattern guesswork across mixed-brand shops.
  • Scuff pads (SiC + AO, 20-pack) are the right tool for between-coat scuffing, paint degloss, and pre-weld metal prep by hand — reusable, no sander needed.
  • PSA roll for PSA-backed longboard blocks; Velcro roll for hook-and-loop blocks — same ceramic abrasive, different backing. Match to your block, not your preference.
  • P40–P80 for rust and paint removal, P120–P180 for bare metal prep, P220–P320 for primer, P400+ for finishing. The FT77 film disc goes all the way to P2000 for wet-sand-level clear coat work dry.

Metal sanding fails for two reasons: wrong abrasive mineral for the metal type, and heat. Aluminum gums up ceramic and AO discs if the coat is too closed. Steel work-hardens the abrasive surface faster than wood or paint. The products in this collection are selected specifically for metal — open coats, anti-clog treatments, and SiC for wet work where ceramic doesn't belong.

FastPlus sandpaper for metal — discs, sheets and rolls for steel and aluminum

Which Abrasive for Which Metal Job?

Task Right Product Grit
Rust removal, paint stripping on steel Blue Ceramic F65 or Gold AO F25 P40–P80
Bare metal prep, weld seam cleanup Blue Ceramic F65 or FF78 P80–P180
Aluminum panel sanding (clog-prone) PuroFilm FT77 (anti-clog film) P120–P320
Primer sanding — most common use FF78 Universal or FT77 Film P220–P320
Wet sanding clear coat or bare metal BN38 SiC Wet/Dry Sheets P400–P2000
Between-coat scuffing, paint degloss Scuff Pads SiC + AO (by hand) Ultra Fine / Very Fine
Longboard panel leveling on body panels PSA Roll or Velcro Roll (F737) P80–P320

The Full Lineup

🔵 Sanding Discs — DA Sander

Product Abrasive Size / Holes Best For on Metal
Blue Ceramic F65 – 6" 49H – 50pcs Blue Ceramic 6" / 49 holes Festool ETS 150 / RO 150, steel rust removal and bare metal prep
Blue Ceramic F65 – 5" 8H – 50pcs Blue Ceramic 5" / 8 holes 5" DA sanders, tight panel areas, door jambs
FF78 Universal – 6" 47H – 50pcs Blue Ceramic Film 6" / 47 holes (universal) Any 6" sander, filler shaping, primer sanding — no hole pattern issues
PuroFilm FT77 – 6" 119H – 50pcs PuroFilm Ceramic Film 6" / 119 holes Aluminum, primer, clear coat — film backing resists loading
Gold AO F25 – 6" 15H – 50pcs Gold Aluminum Oxide 6" / 15 holes Economy option for general metal prep and primer sanding
Gold AO F25 – 5" 8H – 50pcs Gold Aluminum Oxide 5" / 8 holes Budget-friendly 5" option for general metal and primer work

Note: all discs above are for dry sanding only. For wet sanding, use the BN38 SiC sheets below.

🟡 Wet/Dry Sheets — Silicon Carbide

Product Size Wet/Dry Best For
BN38 SiC Wet/Dry Sheets – 10pcs 9" × 11" Wet & Dry Wet sanding clear coat, bare metal, primer; cut to any size for blocks

Silicon carbide cuts cooler than ceramic on metal and works with water or oil lubricant. Available P60–P2000. The only wet-rated product in this collection.

🟠 Rolls — Longboard & Hand Block Sanding

Product Size Backing Best For
PURO Ceramic Velcro Multi-Hole Roll F737 2.75" × 13yd Velcro / Chevron holes Hook-and-loop longboard blocks, panel leveling, primer sanding
Ceramic PSA Film Roll F737 2.75" × 13yd PSA peel-and-stick PSA longboard blocks (Durablock, 3M Stikit), fast strip changes

Match backing to your block: PSA roll for smooth PSA pads, Velcro roll for hook-and-loop pads. Same ceramic abrasive either way.

🟢 Sanding Strips — Pre-cut for Hand Blocks

Product Size Holes Best For
PuroFilm Strips FT77 – 25 Pack 2.75" × 16.5" 14 holes Longboard block, panel leveling, long edges on body panels
PuroFilm Strips FT77 – 25 Pack 2.75" × 7.8" 8 holes Short block, door jambs, spot repairs, tight areas

⚪ Scuff Pads — Hand Abrasive

Type Qty Use on Metal
Silicon Carbide (Ultra Fine) 10 pads Metal scuffing, paint degloss, stainless prep, pre-weld cleanup
Aluminum Oxide (Very Fine) 10 pads Primer scuffing, plastic adhesion prep, light metal denibbing

Reusable — rinse or blow out with compressed air. Size: 6" × 9". No sander needed.

From a Customer

"I used the SiC Wet Dry Sandpaper and the Blue Ceramic discs to sand my aluminum panels at home. The sanding was smooth, the discs stayed in place, and even the multi-hole sheets kept dust to a minimum. Really impressed with how professional my finish looks!"

— Michael M., DIY Metalworker

FastPlus metal sanding customer result

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Why do my sanding discs clog so fast on aluminum?
Aluminum is soft and gummy — it smears into the abrasive surface instead of breaking away cleanly. Closed-coat discs load up in seconds. The PuroFilm FT77 film disc has an anti-clog stearate coating specifically for this: it prevents aluminum particles from bonding to the abrasive surface. The Blue Ceramic F65 semi-open coat also handles aluminum better than standard AO. Avoid closed-coat discs on aluminum entirely.
02 When should I use wet sanding vs dry sanding on metal?
Use wet sanding (BN38 SiC sheets with water) for clear coat leveling, final paint prep at P800–P2000, and anywhere heat buildup would damage the surface or the finish. Use dry sanding for rust removal, bare metal prep, filler shaping, and primer sanding — all the ceramic and AO discs in this collection are dry-rated only. Mixing wet abrasives into dry sanding stages or vice versa shortens abrasive life and can contaminate the surface.
03 What is the difference between the FF78 47-hole and the FT77 119-hole disc?
The FF78 47-hole uses a universal hole pattern that fits every 6" DA sander on the market — no alignment issues across mixed-brand shops. It is an open-coat disc best for filler, primer, and bare metal at P40–P800. The FT77 119-hole uses a film backing with anti-clog coating and goes up to P2000 — it is the better choice for aluminum, fine finishing, and high-grit work where disc longevity matters more than aggressive cut.
04 What grit sequence should I use for bare steel before painting?
Start with P80 to remove rust, mill scale, and old paint. Move to P120–P150 to level the surface and remove P80 scratches. Sand to P180–P220 before applying primer — primer needs tooth to bond, so do not go finer than P220 on bare metal before priming. After primer, sand to P320–P400 before base coat. Use the Blue Ceramic F65 or FF78 for the coarser stages, and the FT77 film disc for P220 and above.
05 Can I use the ceramic discs on stainless steel?
Yes, but with care. Stainless work-hardens quickly under heat — use light pressure and keep the disc moving to avoid heat buildup. The Blue Ceramic F65 is the better choice over AO on stainless because ceramic self-sharpens under heat rather than glazing. For surface finishing on stainless (brushed finish, weld cleanup), the SiC scuff pads are the right tool for hand work — they cut stainless without embedding iron particles that cause rust spots.
06 Are the scuff pads reusable on metal?
Yes. The non-woven SiC scuff pads rinse clean with water or blow out with compressed air. On metal, use the SiC pads (ultra fine) for deglossing paint before adhesion, scuffing between primer coats, and pre-weld surface prep. The AO pads (very fine) work for lighter scuffing on primer and plastic. Each pad handles multiple uses before losing effectiveness.
07 PSA roll or Velcro roll for longboard sanding on body panels?
Match the roll to your block backing. PSA roll (peel-and-stick) for smooth PSA-backed longboard blocks like Durablock or 3M Stikit blocks. Velcro roll for hook-and-loop longboard blocks like the FastPlus FB2. The ceramic abrasive is the same on both — the only difference is how the strip attaches. PSA changes faster in production; Velcro repositions without losing grip.
08 Do these discs fit Mirka DEROS and DeWalt DWAS150?
Yes. All 6" Hook and Loop discs in this collection fit the Mirka DEROS 650CV and DeWalt DWAS150 directly. The FF78 47-hole universal disc is specifically designed to align with any 6" backing pad hole configuration, including Mirka and DeWalt pads. The FT77 119-hole and F65 49-hole discs also fit both sanders. All 5" discs fit the Mirka DEROS 5650CV and DeWalt DWE6421/DWE6423.

Source: FastPlus Abrasives USA — fastplus.us. All specs reflect FastPlus Abrasives USA product testing as of June 2026.

View all