Spikey Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I'm giving in and ordering one of these here Permagrit things but before I do, can somebody please tell me roughly what sandpaper grits the "fine" and the "coarse" equate to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben goodfellow 1 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 on the bars i think its 120 and 80 , the wallet sets are also worth investing in too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 Cheers Ben. You'd have thought they'd put some sort of guide on the website, but then again they're an American firm so perhaps not ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 If you go on the Traplet site they note the equivalent grit size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Merrett Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Spikey, My wallet set is fine grade and I have a 140mm "wedge" block, coarse one side and fine on the other. They meet all my needs on balsa and ply. The coarse is great for rough shaping/sanding blue foam too, but I actually use 3M Sandblaster P220 Flexible Sanding Pad - Very Fine, for finishing the blue foam and balsa, works great and follows any contour you want. So I guess its horses for courses really, but I don't think that you will be disappointed if you opted for the fine set as general use, - as I say, it works for me. Hope this helps. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Merrett Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Sorry, sanding sheet might be a more appropriate term. Very floppy they are too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 Many thanks, chaps. Gosh. Where would I be without all y'all (as they say in Texas) ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Bernard Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Actually they do have a FAQ page listing the equivalents here and it quotes the following ... UF Ultra Fine:- approximately equivalent 420 Grit sandpaper. F Fine:- approximately equivalent 320 Grit sandpaper. M Medium:- approximately equivalent 220 Grit sandpaper. C Coarse:- approximately equivalent 180 Grit sandpaper. XC Extra Coarse:- approximately equivalent 120 Grit sandpaper. XXC Extra, Extra Coarse:- approximately equivalent 80 Grit sandpaper (And I thought they were actually a UK company from Sleaford?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I'm confused now! I certainly can't see anything on the website to suggest otherwise - and the MD, Ian Richardson, didn't sound American when I've spoken to him at shows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 Posted by Martin Harris on 17/11/2013 12:17:12: I'm confused now! Me too! Sorry chaps, what's left of my brain must have been in a silly mood. I blame all those funny cigarettes everybody else used to smoke in the 70's .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanR Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Ben, Bob, the wallet sets are all a bit expensive! Which one in particular would you go for? Cheers, Ian. Edited By IanR on 17/11/2013 13:55:09 Edited By IanR on 17/11/2013 13:55:37 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben goodfellow 1 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 i have the fine set of 8 tools , and its one of the sets i would never be without , really , very well worth the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 They're only expensive when you're buying them - they're invaluable once you have them! Christmas isn't very far away - time to drop some hints? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I can't think that Permagrit is a very good business based on my experience, after all you buy one and keep using it and using it and never need a replacement The power tool bits are also very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Posted by Martin Harris on 17/11/2013 12:17:12: the MD, Ian Richardson, didn't sound American when I've spoken to him at shows... Ditto, he gave me a demo at Wings & Wheels and I bought various sizes on the spot. Deffo not a yank, and he did say they are a British company manufacturing in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben goodfellow 1 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 that would probaly be an /all americans trying to take the credit for a british invention............... again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 The coarse Swiss file set is brilliant too. I have the 11" sanding block. and that does 90% of my sanding. Tip. If it gets clogged I put it in a polythene bag with some acetone and leave it over night. Wire brush off all the crud, Turn it over and put it back in the bag and do the other side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 All you really need is the Wedge block which is coarse one side, fine the other side. Magic piece of kit - cuts ply down to exact size with little effort. So little effort is needed you can concentrate on holding the tool at right angles to material and get nice square edges. On balsa the dust seem larger than with glasspaper and does not seem to get down your throat so much.I reckon just the wdge block and perhaps the 3mm and 6mm coarse spar cutters would be a good buy or Christmas list item.Interestingly their website shows both British & USA grit eqivalents. USA seems one third the size of British!Usually Permagrit attend the Alexandra Palace show in mid January. Ian often has his very detailed Top Gun model on display on the BMFA stand there. Maybe his attendance at Top Gun and photos in RCME etc cause the USA confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Merrett Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Hi Ian, The ones that I use the most from my wallet set are the flat faced ones (F101 and R201F). I find that the 6mm square file (F204f) makes a good spar slot cutter and handy for notches to bury servo leads or the like in. KC has already mentioned how handy the wedge block is, and I too have the 3mm spar slotter. I think you'll find uses for all eventually. I questioned the price at first. My wallet set was a Christmas present from my wife seven years ago. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 Well, after various cockups on my part I've now got my sanding tackle, with which I'm impressed. And I'm just as impressed with the first class service I got from Mr Richardson, who is obviously a top bloke. Thanks chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison 2 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Late to this thread but very interested in these Permagrit tools, especially the Wedge Block - I've just been sanding down the edges of multiple balsa (+ ply) sections forming the upper & lower fuselage covering, and sandpaper wrapped around a bit of wood just doesn't offer enough precision... So where is the best/cheapest place to buy Permagrit products? Thanks, Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keiran Arnold Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Tony, at the risk of stating the obvious try the Perma-Grit website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison 2 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Posted by Keiran Arnold on 03/12/2014 10:36:42: Tony, at the risk of stating the obvious try the Perma-Grit website. Yes, I looked there, but couldn't discover their actual shipping costs without lots of complex logging-on etc. I can get the wedge coarse/fine on Ebay for £14.99 + £2.50 p&p but I was just wondering whether there was a particularly good source for this sort of thing - always looking for the best combo of pricing & service... rgds Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Normally Permagrit are at the major shows and I have always seen them at the Alexandra Palace show in mid January. Maybe they will also go to Sandown for the Model Engineer Exhibition next week. Prices seem just the same as the catalogue and no special deals but you get the chance to examine all the tools before buying and talk to Ian Richardson ( & Tracy.) And usually the BMFA stand at Alexandra Palace has one of Ian's magnificent models on display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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