The Item in My Kit
I bought 3M Wetordry 320-Grit Sandpaper as part of my camper van equipment.
The heater opening needed sanding after cutting, followed by primer and white paint. My purchased abrasives include fine Wetordry sheets as well as the coarser materials used elsewhere in the build.
Keeping Fine Sheets Separate from the Rough-Cutting Stage
- I made the heater opening with the drill, saw and grinder.
- I sanded the cut area and drilled the mounting holes.
- I applied primer and white paint before continuing the heater fitting.
Camper Van Project Applications
Fine abrasive is a separate stage from coarse removal of filler or a damaged coating. The surface being prepared and the next coating's instructions determine the finish needed. Sheet format also makes it possible to compare hand use with attachment to a suitable block.
For a wider view of the build kit, see my van conversion tool checklist and budget versus professional tool comparisons.
Manufacturer Specifications And Instructions
| Specification | Manufacturer Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Family | Wetordry |
| Reviewed Grit | 320 |
| Abrasive | Silicon carbide |
| Backing | Waterproof paper |
| Format | Hand use or sanding-block use |
3M lists wet or dry use for this abrasive family, including work on primers, paints and metal preparation. The published backing and abrasive type explain the product format without changing my account of using it for fine exterior preparation.
My Experience with This Tool
By Steven Smith
I used this fine sandpaper to prepare Bondo and the van exterior before applying bedliner or paint. It worked well either by itself or wrapped around a sanding block.
Watch My 3M Wetordry 320-Grit Sandpaper Review
My fine-preparation sandpaper, hand and block use, actual heater-opening context and two alternatives.
Read the Video Transcript
Hey, I'm Steve Smith with Camper Van Freedom. I used this three M Wetordry fine sandpaper to prepare filler and the van exterior before bedliner or paint. It worked well on its own or wrapped around a sanding block. These are the three-hundred-twenty-grit sheets in my abrasive supplies.
The sheet format gives me a different way to hold the abrasive. I can fold a piece for hand use, or wrap it around a suitable support. The abrasive sheet and the block are separate parts, so changing the paper does not mean replacing the whole support.
Three M describes Wetordry as a wet-or-dry abrasive family with waterproof paper backing. My review separates that product format from the grit number. Three-hundred-twenty grit identifies this finer paper; it is not the same preparation stage as a coarse abrasive used for heavier removal.
The heater-opening photographs show one part of the wider finishing work. I made the opening, sanded the cut area, drilled the mounting holes, and applied primer and white paint before continuing assembly. These are my actual preparation pictures. They give context for keeping fine abrasive among the build supplies.
My practical point is the choice of support. Using paper by itself lets me fold it to reach a small area. A block gives the sheet a supported working face. I used both approaches, and the paper worked well for the preparation I described in my review.
For comparison, the page shows Dura-Gold three-hundred-twenty-grit sheets and three M Wetordry two-hundred-twenty-grit paper. Dura-Gold is another sheet-format option at the same stated grit. The two-hundred-twenty-grit three M pack is a different abrasive grade, rather than an identical finishing step.
Thanks for watching. I'm Steve Smith with Camper Van Freedom. These Wetordry sheets worked well for my fine preparation, by hand or with a block. Read the full review for the matching product, the preparation photographs and the two alternatives. See you on the next project.
My Takeaway from This Job
My photographs show three different stages: marked metal, the cut opening and the painted mounting area. The 320-grit sheets are part of my purchased abrasive selection; comparing the grade separately from the sheet format makes their place in the finishing kit clearer.
