Auto body sanding is a system. When your supplies don’t match the step—prep, filler shaping, primer sanding, or finish refinement—you lose time and surface quality. The goal is consistency: predictable scratch patterns and fewer redo passes.
This guide gives you a practical checklist of sanding supplies for auto body shops, plus the ideal grit ranges and which formats fit each workflow stage.
Shop categories:
Paint & Body Equipment:
Adhesive Discs (PSA):
Sandpaper Sheets:
Hand Pads & Sponges:
The auto body sanding workflow (what you're actually doing)
Most sanding falls into these steps:
Surface prep: 80–120 grit for initial cleaning or roughing
Filler shaping: 80–180 grit for leveling and feathering
Primer sanding: 320–600 grit to flatten primer without cutting through
Finish refinement: 800–1500 grit for final prep before paint or polishing
Each step benefits from a specific format depending on speed, control, and surface shape.
Sanding supplies checklist (what a shop needs)
1) Sanding discs (for speed and consistency)
Best for flat panels, quick removal, and repeatable patterns.
Ideal for prep, leveling, and primer smoothing.
PSA adhesive discs → consistent workflow
Shop: PSA adhesive discs
For spot work and fast transitions:
Quick Change Discs
2) Sandpaper sheets (for wet/dry detail work)
Used in tight areas, hand-controlled refinement, and wet sanding.
Best for:
primer finishing
final prep before paint
edges and transitions
Shop: Sandpaper Sheet
3) Hand pads & sponges (contours + controlled pressure)
Perfect for curves, blending, and preventing flat-spotting.
Use when:
sanding bumpers or curved panels.
blending filler into OEM paint.
avoiding hard-edge marks.
Shop: Sanding Pads & Sponges
H3: 4) Supporting supplies (keep the workflow moving)
Shops run best when:
core grits are always stocked
formats match each stage
no job stops because “we ran out”
Consider ordering by quantity or setting a recurring restock.
Grit progression (practical approach)
Prep & leveling (80–180 grit)
Enough cut to shape filler or remove defects without deep scratches.
Primer sanding (320–600 grit)
Even sanding matters most here—uneven texture shows through paint.
Finish prep (800–1500 grit)
Refines the scratch pattern before paint or polishing.
Best practice: Don’t skip grits. Predictability comes from small steps, not big jumps.
Which collection should this keyword point to?
The keyword is “sanding supplies for auto body shops.”
Best internal target page:
Primary: Paint & Body Equipment
Support pages:
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Adhesive Discs
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Sandpaper Sheets
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Hand Pads & Sponges
Buying for a shop (bulk restock)
Body shops benefit from consistent replenishment:
keep core grits ready (80, 120, 180, 320, 600, 800, 1500).
standardize formats (discs for panels, sheets for wet sanding, pads for curves).
restock ahead of workflow, not after.
For quantity orders: Contact Us
FAQs
What sanding supplies does an auto body shop need?
Discs, sandpaper sheets, hand pads/sponges, and a reliable grit progression for prep, filler shaping, primer sanding, and finish refinement.
Are PSA adhesive discs good for auto body work?
Yes—PSA discs are widely used for controlled, repeatable sanding especially during prep and primer sanding.
Do I still need sandpaper sheets if I already use discs?
Yes—sheets offer hand control, precision, and wet-sanding capability that discs can’t replace.
How do I avoid sanding rework?
Follow a consistent grit progression, avoid skipping steps, and use the right format for the surface (pads for curves, discs for flats, sheets for detail).