What grit of sandpaper is ideal for quickly removing paint down to bare metal?

The ideal grit of sandpaper for quickly removing paint down to bare metal is 36 grit. This coarse grit is specifically designed for aggressive material removal, which makes it effective for stripping away multiple layers of paint and exposing the underlying metal surface. The larger size of the abrasive particles means that it can rapidly abrade the material, allowing for efficient paint removal in a shorter amount of time.

Using a finer grit would take much longer and may not achieve the same level of removal in a single pass. For example, 80 grit is still relatively coarse but is better suited for smoothing surfaces rather than for aggressive removal. Grits like 150 or 220 are intended for finishing work and would not provide the necessary cutting power required for removing paint effectively down to bare metal. Thus, when speed and efficiency are the main goals for removing paint, 36 grit sandpaper is the best choice.