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Problem

PLA gets soft while sanding

PLA plastic can soften, smear, or lose detail during sanding.

plastic wet sanding dry sanding clogging
Answer

PLA needs light pressure. Use 220 or 320 for shaping, then 400 or 600 for finer prep.

Why it happens
Heat from pressure and friction can soften PLA, especially with clogged paper.
Recommended grit
Use 220 or 320 with light pressure, then 400 or 600 for finer prep.
Wet or dry
Dry for shaping; wet sanding can help at fine stages when the print can handle moisture.
Success check
The print sands cleanly without smearing or losing detail.

What to do

  1. Stop and let the part cool.
  2. Clean the sandpaper and printed surface.
  3. Resume with lighter pressure.
  4. Move to 400 or 600 once the surface is level.
Avoid: Do not sand PLA aggressively in one spot.

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