# 4.3.2.1 Mechanical Cleaning by Hand

> From: LOCTITE®X Digital Manual for Bonding (https://www.loctitex.com/en/manuals/bonding/4.3.2.1-mechanical-cleaning-by-hand/)

##### 4.3.2.1 Mechanical Cleaning by Hand

Mechanical cleaning by hand involves small-scale abrasion with a wire brush, sandpaper or other handheld abrasive media, all available in a range of roughnesses for everything from the removal of bulk material to polishing. Mechanical cleaning by hand requires no extra tools. The operator must control dimensional and roughness tolerances. As a rule of thumb, 120 to 180 grit sandpaper for metals and fine-to-medium abrasive fleece for plastics are recommended to prepare a surface for adhesive bonding.

_Figure 85 Mechanical cleaning by hand_

![Figure 85 Mechanical cleaning by hand](/en/manuals/bonding/assets/img/cleaning-mechanical-surface-preparation-hand.jpg)