I ran out of this 3M sand paper and low and behold not all stores carries this exact stuff....this is not the dark purple like the package shows. Its this light kinda purple in the picture. Its a rubber backed product and for uneven surfaces it last longer than anything I have ever seen....The last time I was in Home Depot and Lowes, they did not stock it. Like it says on the package, untra flexible sanding sheets.  I use  220 grit for all the carving stuff I make and it just doesn't wear out like anything else I have ever used. I roll it around small dowels for those tight places and the grit stays on unlike the old garnet and others when bending or rolling the grit falls off too quick...The guys only sells and tells you about what the stores have on display and its not their fault so Kmealy don't start that crap about people who are not as smart as you think they should be.

  Its odd but this stuff is printed to read on the grit side.

 And did I say expensive....Yes , its very expensive....  When it first came out Sherwin Williams gave me a couple of packs to try and to come back and let them know if they should stock it since it sells for a bunch, I think each pack had 4 pieces sizes 3 2/3" x 9" but I didn't ask the price at that time and sure got a shock when I later ran out and went back to buy more.

  This is completely different than the dark purple sheets which is not flexible but does last like it says on the package and is cheaper than the flexible stuff.

Edited December 2, 20196 yr by Smallpatch

Amazon has them but, not in 220! 150,180 and 320 is all I saw.

Let us know how it works out.

21 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Amazon has them but, not in 220! 150,180 and 320 is all I saw.

I could live with 150-180

I use the 3m gold color paper Lowe's sells.  It works very well and has a non skid back that works well holding onto it for the lathe.  I might give the flex a try next time.

 

I like that 3M sandpaper, sold as "Sandblaster" and coded 216U.   I use it for between coat sanding of finishes, P400 grit.   I bought a box of 50 sheets that will last me a lifetime.   I can sand three coats of finish over a table or pair of linen cabinets inside and out  and not wear out a 1/4 sheet of it.

I use Norton Prosand and it too has gone up in the last few years