SPONGE P400 GRIT (6 UNITS)

P400 sanding sponge (6 pcs) — AK Interactive

A flexible sanding sponge from the manufacturer AK Interactive in P400 grit, in a package of 6 pieces. The manufacturer describes it as a highly durable flexible abrasive that bends easily and can be cut with scissors or a knife — so you can trim the sponge to whatever size you happen to need.

Where it sits in the sequence: this is the FIRST step

A simple rule applies: the higher the number, the finer the grain. Sanding always goes step by step from a coarser grain to a finer one, and each further step removes the scratches left by the previous one. P400 is the coarser of these grits — the start of the sequence. A finer grain has to follow it, otherwise coarse scratches stay on the surface and they show through under the paint. Under a gloss color, and above all under a metallic one, every single one is visible, because a gloss surface hides nothing. Typically P800 to 1000 follows and then P1200 to 1500; anyone who wants to polish the surface goes further still, to P2000 and P3000 — AK makes those as well.

Use

• removing sprue gate remnants and burrs left after nipping a part off the sprue,
• leveling dried filler in seams and on fuselage joints,
• coarse leveling of unevenness, flash and steps on the mold parting line,
• rounding and shaping edges before the final sanding.

Why a sponge and not abrasive paper

• It is flexible and pliable — it conforms to rounded and complex shapes such as an aircraft fuselage or an engine cover. Flat paper does not sit evenly on such a shape and sands only the high spots.
• It does not crease or crack when bent as paper does; according to the manufacturer it is highly durable and easy to bend.
• It sands evenly, because the flexible layer spreads the pressure of your finger over the area. The risk of wearing through an engraved line or sanding a dip is therefore smaller.
• It can be trimmed with scissors or a knife into a strip or a wedge for hard-to-reach places.

Sanding dust

Plastic and filler dust from sanding is harmful to health and should not be inhaled. The simplest protection is to sand with water: the water binds the dust, nothing flies about, the abrasive clogs less and the surface comes out smoother. If you sand dry, use a respirator and ventilate, do not blow the dust away with your mouth and wipe the area down with a damp cloth instead.

Who the sanding sponge is for

For anyone who builds plastic kits, resin or 3D prints and needs to rid parts of sprue gates and level filler. It is a tool and a consumable, not a kit and not a paint.

When sanding, protect your airways and eyes. Keep out of the reach of children.