Q for Till E: "Silica" Sandpaper


I've been studying your last word on Tung oil post and have a question that will immediately betray my utter lack of experience in this. You mention 320 "silica" sandpaper, which you describe as grey and grainy with lubricant in it. I've been looking through various woodworking catalogs trying to figure out what this is. The only dark sandpaper I see is wet/dry paper, but there's no mention in the descriptions of lubricant (although it described as "silicon carbide"). Is this it?

My compliments on your beautiful work and great site and thanks for your extremely helpful posts, even if I do prefer Strauss' operas to "Till Eulenspiegel"!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bob


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