DIY Sanded Paper and Board

Sanded paper is kind of a misnomer. The "sand" is actually pumice or aluminum oxide. They are both used in sand blasting and tumble polishing. Pumice powder is used in hand soap and body scrub. The difference between pumice and aluminum oxide is that pumice is a soft volcanic rock with an irregular surface and aluminum oxide is a hard metal with a smooth, round surface.

Acrylic Gesso for $27.85 per quart from Blick Art. Can be tinted with acrylic paint. Must be applied to watercolor board or masonite.

Apply clear gesso with a paste brush available from Blick Art for $2.39.

Apply acrylic gesso with a mini foam paint roller available in the home improvement section of Walmart.

100% Cotton paper, homemade or commercial.

Self Adhesive Mounting Board available as white or black for $2.09-21.25 from Blick Art.

Ampersand Hardbord (Masonite) 1/8" for $5.34-18.26 from Blick Art.

Abrasives

Coarse Pumice powder (120 mesh) $4.20/lb from Bulk Apothecary. Tan color.

Medium pumice powder (240 mesh) $1.95/lb from Crafter's Choice. Cream color.

Fine pumice powder (360 mesh) $1.95/lb from Crafter's Choice. Off White color.

Black pumice powder (360 mesh) $12.99/2.5 lbs on Amazon. Black-Gray Color.

Red pumice powder is almost impossible to find. It's only available as a powder in India and I have yet to find a retail source for it. Horticultural pumice is sold as 1/4" stones for planting bonsai and African violets or cactus. You might be able to grind some of the small pebbles into a powder.

Black aluminum oxide (150 grit) for $10.99/8 oz on eBay.

Brown aluminum oxide (600 grit) for $27.25/5 lbs on eBay.

Fine Aluminum oxide (800 grit) is also known as emery powder. It is used in pin cushions to sharpen straight pins and for tumble polishing stones. Use it for bright white sanded paper.

Very fine Aluminum oxide (1200 grit) is used in the final stage of tumble polishing stones. Colored pencil artists use it to help blend colored pencil without a wax based blender pencil or solvent. It is sprinkled onto the paper before coloring and can be used over coloring with a sponge applicator. Get it on eBay for $7.99/4 oz. Use it for the finest sanded paper.

Titanium Dioxide is a pure white pigment that is water soluble. TKB sells 4oz for $8.00. Use it for bright white paper.

Buff Titanium is used for a beige color. It is available from Kremer Pigments for $8.00/100 grams.

Mix pigment with glue and brush on one or two foundation coats to tint the paper or board before gluing on the abrasive. Any pigment will work for this.

DIY Sanded Paper and Board

6 oz. Acrylic gesso

6 oz. Distilled water

6 oz. Abrasive powder

100% cotton paper or masonite board

Combine all ingredients in a wide mouth jar. The pumice is prone to settling, so it must be stirred each time you dip the brush.

Mist board or paper with water. Apply sand medium with a 4" foam brush in broad, heavy vertical strokes from the top left corner to the right bottom corner. Repeat in the opposite direction. Pull the brush across horizontally with hardly any pressure to even the strokes. Re-mist with water if the mixture begins to set before it is evenly coated. Allow to dry thoroughly before use.