What is the best choice of sandpaper for sanding a young softwood?

Selecting the best choice of sandpaper for sanding young softwood involves considering the characteristics of the wood and the intended finish. Semi-coarse open-coat sandpaper is specifically designed to balance effective material removal and surface refinement. It has a grit that is coarser than fine sandpaper but not as abrasive as coarse sandpaper, making it ideal for softwoods which can be more sensitive to heavy sanding.

This type of sandpaper helps in efficiently smoothing out the surface and reducing any roughness without excessively damaging the softwood fibers. Additionally, the open-coat design means that the grit is less likely to clog with resin, a common issue when working with softer, sap-rich woods. This ensures a more even and smooth finish without unwanted scratches or indents in the wood.

In contrast, coarse open-coat sandpaper tends to be more aggressive and could damage the tender surface of young softwoods, while fine and semi-fine sandpapers are more suited for finishing work rather than initial sanding, where more material needs to be removed. Therefore, the semi-coarse open-coat sandpaper emerges as the most suitable option for this purpose.