Kurt - I had the same experience that Don had with the HF sand paper (made in India). I was looking for something cheap when I stripped the original primer off my Brookville body. That paper loaded up in about 5 strokes. I went to Home Depot and bought a large pack of Norton 3X 80grit and I just ran out sanding a wall in my home for paint. The paper for my long board was Dutch and bought at a swap meet and it was cheap plus being good. I still have a couple full packs of 80 and a lot of partials in finer grits. As far as finising paper, I found that of the two, I like the Norton better then 3m. It's a wee bit cheaper, is more consistent as far as grit and seems to last longer wet plus wont split through when folding it like some of the 3m. If you want what I think is the best, Mirka sand paper, but no one locally handles it any longer. I'll echo Don on the costs of supplies. Body shop quality masking tape - 6 to 8 bucks a roll (here I prefer 3m, the green tape). "Cheap" thinner to clean a gun. A gallon went from $8/gallon to $12 just while doing my car and is more now. The paint on my car - went from just about $100/quart to over $150 now, etc, etc, etc, etc (gooberment regs is what my supplier says)

Ah yes, duct tape - I bought a couple of rolls of the 200 mph tape from a racer's supply. Good brand name but expensive and junk as far as sticking