Where did all the good sandpaper go?

[jgourlay]

Typically I handplane/scrape then shellac or Laquer, so I haven't bought sandpaper in 5(?) years or so except for the 2k-12k stuff you use on pens.  Doing some boxes now and wanted to first time try Danish Oil.  LAST time I bought sandpaper I bought some of these 3M blue, red, yellow (60, 150, 320) sponges, and some other floppy purple net-sponge-clothlike stuff.  I really, really liked both but ran through the last of my stash pretty quick owing to wetsanding the Danish Oil.

Off to the store(s).  Lowes, Borg, and Ace:  all they had was paper sheet or the basically ungraded (coarse, med, fine) "sanding sponges".  What happened to the good stuff?  

I did find some grey 3M spongy stuff on Amazon but WOW was it expensive!

[cputnam]

Try Klingspor, Lee Valley, Rockler, Highland Springs, etc.

[meackerman]

why are you looking at the borg for good stuff?

[Kansas City Fireslayer]

3M sanding sponges are expensive. The sponge is the selling point in all reality. Cut your own paper and wrap it around the sponge. Change when needed. I buy Harbor Freight sponges. They are dirt cheap and they work well. They are no different than the ones sold individually at my Ben Moore store. For sanding disc, I mail order everything from 2sand.com. Rhynogrip paper, excellent quality and great prices. Buying anything sanding related from the BORG is expensive.

[Stwood_]

Mirka for my 6" disc sanders (Amazon), and Harbor Freight sponge blocks when hand sanding knocking down the finish between coats.