Different sandpaper types for graphite

I've got a couple graphite shafts that I want to install and I think I want to go the sandpaper method vs the razor blade method, so I was wondering if anybody has any experience with the different types of sandpaper. At harbor freight they've got: aluminum oxide, Silicon carbide, garnet, and Emory cloth. I've done a fair amount of steel shafts using aluminum oxide and Emory cloth and they both work well, but does one of those 4 work better on graphite or doesn't it matter much? (Btw I was planning on getting 220 from previous forums, should I get a different grit?) Thanks for any help, it's much appreciated.

Are you doing this by hand or using a belt sander?

> @Socrates said:

> Are you doing this by hand or using a belt sander?

By hand

> @Socrates said:

> Are you doing this by hand or using a belt sander?

I think I accidentally hit that little "no" button that says "did this answer your question" Sorry about that

> @judahaderhold said:

> I've got a couple graphite shafts that I want to install and I think I want to go the sandpaper method vs the razor blade method, so I was wondering if anybody has any experience with the different types of sandpaper. At harbor freight they've got: aluminum oxide, Silicon carbide, garnet, and Emory cloth. I've done a fair amount of steel shafts using aluminum oxide and Emory cloth and they both work well, but does one of those 4 work better on graphite or doesn't it matter much? (Btw I was planning on getting 220 from previous forums, should I get a different grit?) Thanks for any help, it's much appreciated.

I haven't noticed any difference - you don't really have to worry about the paper loading like you might with some other material. Although if doing by hand, I'd recommend 120-150 grit. A backing board/block helps as well to make the pressure (and cut) more even.

BTW personally I find a flat file works better than sand-paper or razor - but everyone has to find what they are more comfortable with.

> @Stuart_G said:

> > @judahaderhold said:

> > I've got a couple graphite shafts that I want to install and I think I want to go the sandpaper method vs the razor blade method, so I was wondering if anybody has any experience with the different types of sandpaper. At harbor freight they've got: aluminum oxide, Silicon carbide, garnet, and Emory cloth. I've done a fair amount of steel shafts using aluminum oxide and Emory cloth and they both work well, but does one of those 4 work better on graphite or doesn't it matter much? (Btw I was planning on getting 220 from previous forums, should I get a different grit?) Thanks for any help, it's much appreciated.

>

> I haven't noticed any difference - you don't really have to worry about the paper loading like you might with some other material. Although if doing by hand, I'd recommend 120-150 grit. A backing board/block helps as well to make the pressure (and cut) more even.

>

> BTW personally I find a flat file works better than sand-paper or razor - but everyone has to find what they are more comfortable with.

>

Ok, I'll probably get 150 then. Ok, thanks for the tip, I'll have to try a file at some point probably and see how that works for me. Thanks again.

On my sanding belt I use Ziconia because it lasts a long time. Unless you are doing many shafts, I would stick to the knife method. I've tried using sandpaper by hand and it just takes me longer and I don't do as good a job. YMMV.

> @Socrates said:

> On my sanding belt I use Ziconia because it lasts a long time. Unless you are doing many shafts, I would stick to the knife method. I've tried using sandpaper by hand and it just takes me longer and I don't do as good a job. YMMV.

Ok, thanks. I'm sure I'll try the knife at some point but I think I want to start with snadpaper

I know it can work well for some -so this is just my personal opinion - but my wood working prejudices wouldn't let me use a knife edge. Scraping a round surface with a flat tool isn't my idea of a proper way to get a job done. Getting an even cut is harder and it's slower for me than either a file or sandpaper. Not to mention being horrible for the edge of the knife blade - which I'd rather keep sharp to do what it's designed to do. Now if I did want to resort to scraping - I'd use an actual scraper with a properly formed burr - preferably one with at least a partially curved surface.

I don't do it a lot (since I'm rarely in any rush to get the job done), but I've found a shoe-shine action with a thin strip of sand paper is actually the quickest hand method - probably even go to 100 grit if speed was any kind of issue.

Well, harbor freight ended up having 15 sheets of Silicon carbide for $.99 so we'll see how well that works. The highest grit included is 120, but that should work from what you said Stuart_G. Ok, yeah I'll probably start with this and resort to a razor if I want to see if it'll work better for me.

Don’t use a knife or blade. Tape at the depth point and take a pair of fiskars or any scissors and scrape the paint off. Slick as all get out. It won’t dig or scratch or cut the fibers. Takes no time at all. Light little buff with 220 and your ready. Been doing it this way for 20 years. Never found a safer method. It leaves the tip clean and perfect. It’s impossible to mess it up too.

> @mogc60 said:

> Don’t use a knife or blade. Tape at the depth point and take a pair of fiskars or any scissors and scrape the paint off. Slick as all get out. It won’t dig or scratch or cut the fibers. Takes no time at all. Light little buff with 220 and your ready. Been doing it this way for 20 years. Never found a safer method. It leaves the tip clean and perfect. It’s impossible to mess it up too.

That sounds like a good method, I'll have to try that as well. Thank you!

I didn’t have a knife way back when and tried scissors...it worked so good I never quit doing it. The angle of the scissor blades are perfect. You can be as aggressive as you want and it doesn’t cut into the fibers of the shaft

> @mogc60 said:

> I didn’t have a knife way back when and tried scissors...it worked so good I never quit doing it. The angle of the scissor blades are perfect. You can be as aggressive as you want and it doesn’t cut into the fibers of the shaft

I don't know about perfect :-) but yes the scissor blade would be much closer to a more traditional scraper than a knife blade would.

Haha...ok perfect from my view.

I've had good success prepping with the back of a utility knife blade- peels the clear and paint but none of the graphite fibers.

Tape off above the area to be prepped, cut a strip a bout a half inch wide and do the "shoe shine" on it. Rotate as you go. Piece of cake. Not everything to club building is rocket science.

Good luck.

Thanks for all of the comments guys, looks like there's more than one way to skin a cat and I'm sure one of these will work just fine for me. Thanks again.