Following along with the woodworking materials theme…tell me about your favorite brands of sandpaper!
I’ve become a huge fan of sanding mesh. I used Abranet for quite a while (still do) but I’ve moved over to the Woodturner’s Wonders Wonder Weave product. I think it’s works just as well as the Abranet, lasts damn near as long, buts it’s much much less expensive. Plus I like supporting a small business. I use the strips for hand sanding on the lathe, and the discs for the inertial sander.
I bought some 3M Xtract 6” discs for the ROS and really like those too. Unfortunately, I’ve got whole stacks of cheapy Diablo 5” and 6” discs for the ROS to burn up before I go whole hog with the Xtract.
For the FlatMaster sander (look it up, great tool) I use Klingspor hook and loop rolls exclusively. The way that sander works, the paper lasts a long long time. 👍🏼
On the little belt/spindle sander I use some cheap 4”x24” belts I got on Amazon. I’d like to find something better since I use that sander a fair amount…
For hand sanding, I’ve just been using cheap sheets cut up. Since I mostly only hand sand really small parts, or finish sand by hand with 320g, it doesn’t get burned up too quickly and seems to be ok. I wouldn’t be against finding a better product but, for this use, cheap seems to work!
On the metal side of the shop, on the 2”x72” belt grinder I buy mostly Kingspor belts, but everything I get comes from Combat Abrasives. They do mostly metal working stuff, flap discs and belts and the like, but they’ve got solid products and they’re a veteran owned company 👍🏼👍🏼
So, what do you like?? What last longest?
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
I have the diablo mesh and the only good thing about them they came with the backer pad. I tried Maverick abrasives. The mesh is pretty good but I won't order from them again.
I use Klingspor Gold paper for flat sanding and on the lathe I buy their 2" wide roll of the Gold paper. it last longer any anything else I've used. I used to buy Abranet 6" discs ( used with an adapter) for my orbital sander and they worked pretty good until I caught an edge and then they folded a bit and that was the end of them. Now I buy the blue 6" discs from Klingspor and they are great.
Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day
I use mainly Klingspor gold disks as they cut well and last long. I also use their 1" rolls both the gold and regular. Klingspor has reasonable shipping costs and ships quickly.
Awhile back, I bought the Klingspor box of abrasives. The sandpaper was about 10" wide and grit from 40 to 220. I mount pieces on 1/4" MDF that are 12 x 18" and use it for flattening things.
I bought a variety pack (80-220) of Diablo mesh for my ROS and I am pretty happy with the results. I hate having to line up the holes on standard sanding disks for dust extraction and the mesh doesn't clog as easily or at least is easily cleared with a flick with a finger making it last longer. It came with a couple foam sanding pads which help prevent overheating and ruining the hooks. I just used the mesh to refinish a large live edge table for a friend and it performed beautifully.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
I've amassed a huge collection of 5" ROS discs from buying into the specials. None of it is what I consider good stuff. For a long time I was sold on the Festool "Granat", last a long time. Then this video made me switch to the 3M "Xtract" and "Cubitron" discs.
Awesome products. The Cubitron is my favorite as the discs are more "rugged" but the Xtract does better with the dust collection. I really need to get a buffer pad for my sander which would help with the DC on the Cubitron.
Always blow the dust off of the pad and the back of the disc before installing as either of these have minimal "fuzz" to get a grip with the hooks on the pad.
Usually I'd be in the same camp. Try the new stuff then burn the old stock first. Last count I have close to 400 discs of mystery stock. I just hide it in the back of the cabinet so I don't feel so bad 😔
I think all of my sandpaper has gone bad. It's all got bumps all over it, makes it all kinda scratchy. :-0
I think my path is a lot like Bruce's. I have a pile of what used to work, or at least what I bought, and I too saw the videos and now have a shit-ton of Cubitron. I'd have bought way less if I had known Extract was coming right behind it, because it is clearly even better per the testing, but if you could buy Cubitron for a LOT less, it still kicks major Buttocks over ALL of the others before it.
My only beef with either of them is edge sanding, on an edge you want to keep sharp. If you slightly catch the corner of those sharp edges it just shreds the disc you are using. All discs will kinda do that, but not as completely, or as easily as Cubitron, and Extract. Thin and all those holes that make it a super sandpaper, also make it kinda whimpy.
I actually like the Cubitron a bit better vs. the Xtract. The Xtract is sensitive to having a clean back and sander pad to get a grip and not go flying off, The Cube has that thin stiff plastic core which can really saw into anything that it touches (even fingers).
I've only bought the sampler packs because at the time (2 years?) they were the cheapest/disc.
Any future purchases will probably be the Cubitron for Moi.
Interesting. As I said the issue I've had I did with either, Is ripping up if you skate it over a sharp corner. I think having used what I bought Cubitron, and the samples I have been given Extract I kinda prefer the extract.
My understanding is Cubitron was initially made for the metals, welding market, so the plastic backie thing may be for longer life against harder materials?
It lasts forever and doesn't clog at all. You can roll and even fold it without damaging it so it is great for any hand sanding, especially in hard to reach or odd shape pieces. I initially tried it because a free sample came in another pack of 3M paper. It is particularly good for sanding on the lathe but I also use it when shaping plane totes and nobs. The reason I hesitated mentioning how great it is is because they have apparently discontinued it and I do not want you guys to buy up the remaining supply -- at least without letting me know if you find someone selling fine grits. ;-) You can still find the odd pack of it on Amazon or eBay but it has gotten really expensive and only in the coarser grits. A couple of years ago I bought as many packages of it I could find on eBay at the time. Only a few packs of 150 grit left so I tend to hoard it now. Good thing it lasts so long.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
No, the back is some sort of rubberized sheet. Here is a well worn piece that will soon be retired. It has probably been used dozens of times and still cuts well enough to not be thrown away just yet.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Have to admit I'm an Abranet addict... In the past, with "traditional discs", no matter how hard I tried, I never managed to align the holes, especially with the cheapo discs, even the Fe$tool discs proved challenging, at least on my Mirka.
Abranet is just slapped on, the problem with it is that it catches easily on sharp edges and tears far too easily... the consoling factor is that it can be repurposed on these blocks, even with the ragged edges.... unfortunately they (sanding blocks), are not the best for "normal holey" paper, Condolences to the disc that sacrificed itself for the demo.
I bought and tried some Mirka Galaxy, as I was informed that it was more robust than Abranet. In my opinion, just marginally as it still managed to catch an edge, but not rip as easily... however, lining up the holes is a PITA and I had to turn and balance my Mirka upside down... and when you forget to switch it off, owners will attest to that bloody touchy paddle.
On LJ, I read a very good comparisson/review about 3M Cubitron and bought a box of each of the more common grits, No hole alignment... Unfortunately I haven't put it through it's paces as I want to exhaust my stockpile of Abranet first.
Talk about stockpiling, I have a bad habit of that and prior to discovering Abranet, I built up a collection of sanding discs, Unfortunately they all have holes so I don't know whether I can repurpose them.
Further to hand sanding, I am a fan of these soft foam centered blocks, they are ideal for profile hand sanding.
I got together with a number of local woodies and order a swag of these blocks (250 of each) from the states to be split between four of us, unfortunately when it came to settle, they all pulled out... and people often wonder why I have an attitude towards cheap.
While talking "sandpaper", I've found these flappers mounted on a slow speed grinder invaluable for profiles sanding, Had to resort to my 3D printer to mount them properly. Also thees profiles on a multi-tool will get in spots that even I couldn't scratch, (just garden variety sandpaper).
If you use your hook backed sander a lot, I suggest using a backer to minimise heat/friction damage to the hooks, (proped up as I didn't want to remove it and then realign those holes), have them on all my hook sanders.
And to leave with a suggestion, hook glued to your dusty (my shopbuilt DD cradle), is a great was to keep the recycle disc handy.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Duck reading through your post I am shaking my head in a yeah I do that too manner. It takes a LOT of different discs, hand held, and different machine types to get to all of the profiles, stages of smoothing, and other assorted challenges in getting a smooth surface. And at each one there are so many different offerings, and types it's just a matter of finding what gets it done for you.
Nathan I agree with that rubber backed stuff. Not sure where I got it, but I had some finer grits that I use to hand touch up, and seems like it's been around a LONG time. Bummer if they discontinued it.
