{OX025N9CI2qu"^8&06zEb^g+oi>G9.Svr>M\A-, Below is a list of commonly used sandpaper backing weights. When used in coarser grits, from 80 to 180, with a medium pressure/tension, this grain works well for wood and metal stock removal, allowing the grains to break and re-sharpen, making the product last longer. There are many different factors that determine how effective an abrasive will be. Pink aluminum oxide is available in coarse through fine grit products on a variety of different backings and in a variety of formats. This alphabetical system indicates the stiffness and thickness of the backing. So, if its not actual sand, then what is it? Complete the form below to contact us with your questions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Premium abrasive products typically feature cloth or other synthetic backings. It also delivers even cutting for delicate processes and finer grits. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for your interest in Uneeda. However, they are not ideal for polishing. Most standard sized belts are cloth backed. This is popular in light metal finishing applications and knife handle work. Materials that require high temperatures for malleability fall under the aluminum oxide category, as the friction between the sandpaper and the material generates plenty of heat. If youre having trouble finding a solution for your application, you can speak with one of our abrasive technicians to arrive at the best product for your needs. Coated abrasive products are first produced as large rolls of abrasive-coated fabric or paper. wI"[L5;M+S.Tkv`_1tv5C/M13/N^BJS:T )w,)qQ,;mOmZ'x0,R%Z@n0%"3Q8Rp! E"=fNJ N:-{6Gof?w*@:,JBR~ =}O~}r Gf3(lp&:=6FU)_Cy FJ$iET2i_q'FL0xNpvT>r2x1!dr${[T{ However, paper alone does not provide the rugged durability of cloth or synthetic backings. Prepping materials for paints, stains, etc. Regular and heavy-duty aluminum oxides perform best in large projects, like sanding a non-skid floor or powder coating. Once the bauxite has suitably melted down, ground coke and iron borings enter the mixture.

Monday - Friday (excluding holidays), 9:00am - 5:00pm EST. Each varies in longevity, coarseness/aggressiveness, amount of friction required, friability, cost, ideal application, available grit sizes and coating and what formats of products they are available on, such as disks, sheets, or belts. Zirconia is the middle ground abrasive between aluminum oxide and ceramic in terms of price and longevity. You can view a breakdown of grit ranges in the table below. Ceramic abrasives come with a premium price, but also have the longest lifespan over any other type of abrasive material. Ceramic alumina is a long-lasting synthetic grain produced directly as a grain through an aqueous dispersion of fine aluminum oxide powder. The backing is covered 50%-70%, allowing more room for material buildup to expel from the grain. The lower the number is the more coarse the grit is. We are proud to offer these products direct to consumers with our Red Label Line. Zirconia was the most aggressive and durable abrasive grain until ceramic came along. You should choose the proper type of aluminum oxide for your desired end product. But, what to pick? For specific products, aluminum oxide alone works wet and dry (as mentioned earlier), but it is recommended to use zirconia or ceramic belts for wet sanding. Handheld belt sanders usually require the use of two hands with more effort needed than an orbital sander. Choosing The Right Abrasive For Your Needs, Cloth (Cotton, Polyester, Poly/Cotton Blend).

Silicon carbide is a specialty abrasive and works well for specific applications. A/O is a tough durable grain that works reasonably well on most materials. An abrasive is a material used to finish (the act of polishing or making a surface smooth) or shape a workpiece through friction. 7125 Whites Bridge Rd | Belding, MI 48809. You can use coarse grit abrasives to shape your blade and scales. If there is too much water in the bauxite, the aluminum oxide will be of poor quality and will likely not end up in the final product. [u|7Zx,$!J:tYFs$&B|L8Y/'^0rRsbYp4vZ8B&^,eIs&E]c'U gU cA SX~"r].p)![,J,DM%]h#U\"2DZ_v4`S)-kxm8hAC1C~%1uR5tDGC\R"o;%Z[*e*+:3hEa[|zKY&pGz7g.N Uqvh/G>QuZ$"DxX {:Kt~Xs`\,y`>8"Vt:G#O=&6bx "C\k~p"^A~5ZW@&CCy&>0veY3e&dE5XM/Cd{#Mi-U{#,,1D_5@XobQ} YUq|BKTVB Zln=vl}A.8_x{sm3N]5N*Chu2 2XbT"nvG\4vEEB,K4OW>||'ZQb/\5c[DkOhVlCYl[C-`O%0@e"l[XbNh9!. 1k2bl(K.l . Please try again. Cloth is a popular backing due to its cost effectiveness and strength. You can learn more sandpaper and sanding applications with a wide variety of sanding topics. While we tend to recommend open coat aluminum oxide abrasives for wood, the wood used for handles or scales is usually either exotic wood that is naturally hard or wood that is stabilized to become harder. Sanding sheets allow for a lighter touch for woodworking and finishing. They are typically used for hand sanding applications. For instance, if you are someone that frequently works with jagged wood, bringing it all the way to a finish, or if you work with reclaimed metal parts for cars, it may make sense to mix, therefore, choosing different grains for coarser applications verses finishing and polishing. These Hi-Performance grains have the ability to constantly resharpen as they wear, providing fast cutting action through their usable life. The lack of iron results in an anti-rust material, making it ideal to use on many metal grinding tools. Closed coat aluminum oxide is great for snagging, weld removal, and grinding of metals. The low price point comes at a cost as aluminum oxide often has the least longevity.

Factors include: There are many different types of abrasives and each type of abrasive has its own manufacturing process. While it can often be more expensive, it lasts longer and provides a cooler sanding experience than aluminum oxide. Furthermore, the friability, or the characteristic that allows grains to break to form new, sharp edges (self-sharpening), allows you to go longer before the sandpaper wears out. While aluminum oxide is the most common, and generally most affordable of our products, choosing another material, or combination of materials and grits, might ultimately be more cost effective, longer lasting and even more effective at the job, even if you only work with one base material. Paper backed abrasives typically include aluminum oxide and silicon carbide belts, discs, and shop rolls. However, Red Label Abrasives is a global abrasive manufacturer and relies on the scale provided by the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA). Other than making it merely tolerable with some headphones and great music, we can often speed up the process by using the proper type of abrasive product for our application with proper technique, which will save time and resources. Sheets are also able to reach small surfaces and crevices that electric equipment cant. Each of these steps clearly requires different sandpaper grits to get the best results, but the grain type will also impact your overall results and believe it or not, it may even be best to change types depending on the material youre working with and the stage youre at. 2022 Red Label Abrasives. Zirconium is firmer than aluminum oxide, can endure astonishingly heavy loads, and usually lasts longer than aluminum oxide products as well. You can view our metalworking products below: If youre working on auto body repair, we actually have an in-depth guide on abrasives for auto body repair that you can use for reference. These materials form fit contours and are an excellent choice when flexibility is required. Paper backing is used when uniform consistency is needed. The sanding belts come in a variety of sizes for different belt sander tools from handheld to stationary. They typically utilize longer sanding belts. White aluminum oxide is the most friable of the colors. Abrasive grains help shape rugged materials like concrete, rock, gems, and metal. Aluminum oxide naturally comes from bauxite. It is the hardest common abrasive grain, other than diamond, and measures at a 9.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Join our mailing list to receive exclusive offers & coupons. Ceramic abrasives are ideal for aggressive cutting of metals and hard woods. The most common abrasive products are sanding belts, sanding discs, sanding sheets, and sanding rolls. Aluminum oxide abrasives are highly customizable to specific applications. . Other commonly used abrasive grain types are silicon carbide, ceramic alumina, and synthetic diamond. However, sandpaper is the most widely used material made from aluminum oxide. Semi-open or semi-closed coat falls between closed and open coat. This technique works best on sanders larger than 1 x 30 due to guard constraints. For the best results, only use J weight belts with a rotary platen or when slack grinding. Weve broken down abrasive needs for a few popular applications below. C/A ceramic abrasives are the newest innovation in grain technology. Sanding discs are great for sanding large surfaces if you dont have a wide belt sander. Often simply referred to as ceramic, this grain works best on metal, stainless steel in particular, and requires a hard surface/pressure in order to activate the friability. type flap disc vs discs pack grinding wheels grit density oxide grinder zirconia selling angle aluminum If youre working with harder woods like African Blackwood, cocobolo, oak, or hickory, then closed coat aluminum oxide would be the better choice. Read on for more information comparing aluminum oxide vs zirconia abrasives, when to use each material, and abrasive grains in general. alumina zirconia fused abrasives larger that you can use for reference. When used in finer grits, around 600-800, this material is great for finishing and polishing metal. J wgt material is the lightest and most flexible. How to select the best abrasive for your needs, Best practices for abrasive storage and use. When the proper abrasive product is used, youll be left with a finished piece that meets or exceeds expectations. S/C has a long sharp needle-like grain structure which permits fast stock removal, but generally has a short life. Typically used in non-woodworking applications. Keep in touch with us! Different sanding applications call for the use of different tools. Drum sanders are good for efficiently putting a fine finish on materials. It generally works well for softer substrates, such as wood, for aggressive sanding.

High quality aluminum oxide is highly friable, meaning the tips of the abrasive grains fragment as it wears, continually providing sharp cutting surfaces, and increasing working life. emery You can also directly ask our abrasive technicians sandpaper questions directly. Aluminum oxide is also much more readily available in different types of abrasive products and is a much more affordable abrasive grain, making it the go-to choice for most consumers. Significant projects with heavy-duty materials call for zirconia, but smaller-scale operations work fine with aluminum oxide. They represent the ultimate in performance, providing an aggressive, consistent cut under moderate to high pressure. Other materials that mesh well with zirconia alumina are: Steel fabrication shops use zirconia alumina for high-intensity construction and grinding.

Sanding belts are often used for stock removal in knife making, sanding hardwood floors, removing paint from flat surfaces, and sharpening tools. Everyday products like household cleaners, jewelry cleaners, and sanding belts are customary abrasive grain-derived derivatives. 2022 Empire Abrasives | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. If you do, let us know!! Both grains have advantages on certain materials. Abrasive grains diminish unwanted material like an exfoliant getting rid of dead skin. Therefore, closed coat aluminum oxide, zirconia, or ceramic abrasives should be used for knife making. They are ideal for coarse to medium grit applications on metal (best choice for abusive applications). How To Create a No.4 Stainless Steel Finish, How to Measure the Length of a Sanding Belt. The drum spins with a conveyor belt below it. Finally, consider your budget. And, if youre more of a visual learner, skip to the bottom of this article and download the infographic with all this information. If youre interested in cutting your own drum sanding strips from a sanding roll, weve covered how to do that in our blog post on cutting your own drum sanding strips. Or, is it a smaller chunk of wood or metal that you plan to use for decor? Often employed for sandblasting and sanding discs, zirconia alumina, is the crystallized result of aluminum oxide and zirconium dioxide. Paper backed materials are used in hand sanding applications such as polishing and fine wood finishing. We often use common everyday products like abrasives without putting much thought into them. The FEPA scale is superior to CAMI due to the strict tolerance system manufacturers must adhere to in order to earn grit ratings. Is it something substantial, like sanding drywall or shaping stainless steel? Other weights (S,T,M) are seldom used, only for specific applications and products.

How To Select The Best Abrasive For Your Needs, We know we havent covered every possible abrasive application in existence. For over 35 years, Finishing Technologies has been manufacturing premium sandpaper products from world class materials. You can call us at (844) 824-1956 or fill out a, If youre working on auto body repair, we actually have an in-depth guide on. We would highly recommend using ceramic abrasives to get the best value for your money spent. The most versatile of the synthetic abrasive grains, Aluminum Oxide commonly comes in three types: pink, white and brown, or semi-friable. C & D wgt are the most popular for general use sandpaper products. Since it is so effective at aggressive grinding on harder metals, youll often find them on products like flap discs, spiral bands, grinding belts, and zirconia resin fiber sanding discs. It is also non-contaminating which makes it popular in aerospace applications especially on titanium. For most applications, a good ratio of weight, flexibility and flatness are crucial for sandpaper product performance. Bladesmiths will often switch to hand sanding after 220 grit (using a waterproof aluminum oxide sanding sheet) to have more precision during the finishing process. For abrasive wheels, the grains are then bonded to a wheel using one of six types of bonds: For coated abrasive products, the grains are bonded to a backing using resins, glues, and/or varnish. Aluminum oxide is one of the most popular abrasive grains for durability and ease of use. Some abrasive grain products are sanding belts, grinding wheels, and flap wheels. Whether formed in a block structure, classic sheet formation, or a grinding wheel, aluminum oxide is a tried-and-true abrasive grain. mcmaster mount This type of aluminum oxide suits projects that require quick cutting and relatively cool temperatures. Silicon carbide is more expensive than aluminum oxide, but silicon carbide abrasives deliver a level of consistency that aluminum oxide abrasives cannot, which offsets the higher cost.

The rotating abrasive grains cut the surface the disc sander is applied to. Plastic film backing is excellent when users require an extremely uniform finish. The Mohs scale places common minerals on a scale of one through ten, starting with Talc at the bottom and Diamond at ten. However, recommended storage and use guidelines can be quickly summarized. You can use a rotary platen to avoid this issue, but in the absence of one, use closed coat aluminum oxide with an X weight backing. Using the FEPA scale, the grit number is preceded by the letter P. Its blocky shape does not allow it to fracture easily, so it does not stay sharp through its usable life. It is the most common & least expensive. Controlling humidity is crucial to ensure good abrasive health as high humidity can damage the joint adhesive on sanding belts causing them to snap. One of the most popular abrasive materials, aluminum oxide is the industry standard for common applications and is the least expensive option on the market. Aluminum oxide and zirconia alumina (zirc) are two of the most popular sanding materials for durability, versatility, and overall result. This form of aluminum oxide works well on difficult-to-work-with substances like fiberglass and drywall. Brown aluminum oxide sandpaper is durable and rugged, and most likely what you imagine when you hear the word sandpaper. Our technicians are here to serve you. Extra coarse sandpaper in the P8 to P36 range are very tough. This type of coating reduces loading in coarser grits. If youre looking to create the best version of your woodworking or metal projects, no doubt sanding will be a key part of that process, whether youre rough sanding to remove jagged edges, de-burr, in preparation for gluing, or if you are in the finishing and polishing stages. The relative hardness of an abrasive compared to the material being worked on (harder abrasives will cut deeper faster), Adhesion between grains (determines how quickly grains are lost), Loading (worn abrasives can reduce cutting efficiency), Contact force (greater force will result in faster abrasion), Use of lubricant, coolant, or metalworking fluid (can help to carry away sanding debri to prevent friction and reduce heat). It generally works well for harder substrates, such as metal (particularly softer metals), fiberglass, drywall, painted/primed surfaces and wood. Other applications include marble, garnet, glass and other solid surfaces. Y wgt is typically used for heavy duty applications. The guide includes how to select grits, what abrasive material is recommended and more. As previously mentioned, abrasives, or sandpaper, relies on friction to remove material and smoothen out workpieces. Abrasives are manufactured with varying grain materials, backings, coating types, weights, and grits. (Note that most of these products are fairly versatile, designed in a lab for particular conditions and you may have other factors to consider, such as budget, time and versatility of materials/projects, type of sanding process/machine, product format requirements, so use this only as a guide dont take it as gospel.). A few common uses for aluminum oxide abrasives are: Depending on the type of product and the backing material, it is possible to use aluminum oxide abrasives on wet or dry materials and through relatively high pressure. In general, closed coats provide an even finish on solid materials and open coats provide better finishes on woods. Extra coarse sandpaper should only be used on the toughest jobs to avoid removing too much material or damaging a workpiece. The rolls are then manufactured into a finished product. If youre having trouble finding a solution for your application, you can speak with one of our abrasive technicians to arrive at the best product for your needs. AO is a good starting point for most metal and wood applications. These days, there are several types of abrasive materials used on sandpaper products, including a few natural rocks/minerals and a handful of synthetic substances, manufactured in labs, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The materials used on abrasives to create friction are often minerals. Before we discuss each of these grains, its important to consider why these characteristics matter. The most common natural minerals used in abrasives are emery and garnet, while four common manmade types are silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, ceramic alumina and alumina- zirconia. Some knife makers have had success layering a surface conditioning belt under a J weight belt to absorb the bump against a flat platen. To turn it into an abrasive grain, manufacturers boil it down at almost 1000 degrees Celsius to remove any remaining water. Ultimately, theres no one-size-fits-all solution for abrasives. They work well for paint adhesion and create a smooth finish on walls. It is harder and sharper than aluminum oxide, so the cut rate remains the same through the entire life of the belt. For most woodworking applications, open coat aluminum oxide will usually get the job done. A friable aluminum oxide continuously forms sharp edges during use, so you never have a dull grit. Ultra fine grits (P1000 - P5000) can provide a final round of sharpening and finishing for an ultra smooth finish. The natural durability of zirconia (also called zirc) makes it ideal for manufacturing operations and grinding down rough exteriors. Fine grits (P180 - P800) can be used for honing or blade sharpening. It delivers a longer life and finer finish. Workers love aluminum oxide as an abrasive grain because of its low-iron content. ), Both grains are considered Hi-Performance. One way this happens is thanks to using products that create less friction, and therefore less heat, which causes the abrasives to cut more effectively, not burn your material and clog up less. Being a pretty versatile, and relatively forgiving, abrasive grain, silicon carbide is available on belts, disks, sheets, sponges and for use in power sanding and hand sanding applications. Red Label is one of the only manufacturers to offer ceramic up to 400 grit, however, our ceramic abrasives in 180, 240, 320, and 400 grit are only available in a J weight backing. Zirconia alumina requires a decent amount of pressure to perform well. Friable aluminum oxide is the softest grain, while heavy-duty has more density. White and pink wear out faster than brown sandpaper but are less aggressive and do not produce as much heat, making them best suited for painted surfaces or delicate wood. Aluminum oxide-based coated abrasives can be used in belt sanding, power sanding or for hand sanding applications, and are available on a range of backing materials with both open and closed coatings. They are good for preparing surfaces, finishing wood, or derusting metal. Youll find them in various shades of green and blue.

Silicon carbide is frequently used in wet sanding applications, such as polishing stone and marble, as well as automotive polishing applications. Ceramic grains feature very small fracture planes which allow each granule to constantly resharpen and provide extremely consistent stock removal through its usable life. The conveyor belt moves a workpiece, so that it passes under the drum and is sanded. The FEPA scale ensures abrasives are consistent, which enhances the quality of the finished products. Ceramic is friable, continuously delivering a sharp cutting surface, increasing the already impressive longevity of the product. If you have a material like metal, you will need an abrasive with plenty of rigidity and grit. Used primarily on metal applications. Abrasive grains are solid, hard materials that rub away surface material using pressurized contact. Here is a sample of a great infographic, designed to help make all this information much simpler, and easier to understand. Zirconia abrasives are stronger than aluminum oxide and less expensive than ceramic, but you really do get the best bang for your buck with ceramic abrasives. Brown, or semi-friable, aluminum oxide is the most common type of aluminum oxide, because of its versatility. Some industrial and professional users require paper wide belts for specific woodworking, stone, granite, plastics and metal finishing applications. Coated abrasive products are categorized by the weight (wgt) of the backing material used. tj@E /Rttm%fH~ 0Dw).TQPfK7_jN"jqp- \0%am=Un0}#4kaF iP"O': :kw8+l=;v[Mnzs5 Nb37yF031imJ^q}lxFP1k(x`jJNez!T'6um!H;R;O:abr/)LUV rCl`N^XHG$XVkPP8X&2OkaV`1=8,1||>B>.oz=eqB}yr(Vgv'x)",(eY~t\^JM\|@;v]o4Zn/RD*Y=mSIhF ;R;I,+$[033Z So, clearly, choosing the right type of abrasive will be critical, and could mean the difference between a high-quality finished product and an amateurish-looking piece, in addition to increasing the life of your sandpaper, getting the best results for your sanding/polishing/finishing stage, having a faster, cleaner and cooler (reduced heat/friction) sanding job. Aluminum oxide is a chemical compound of aluminum and oxygen formed by fusion and then broken down and sorted by grit size through a series of mesh screens (see this video for an example). It is so aggressive, caution must be used to prevent scorching of the working material if youre working with wood. Most of the time, the type of aluminum oxide will not be mentioned on our website, however each type is more suitable for different types of sanding. And, what are the differences between the various abrasive materials? You can view our knife making products below: There are two types of abrasives we generally recommend for metalworking. Polyester is a waterproof, synthetic backing that offers superior strength and longevity. The result is a coarse abrasive grain that works well for grinding down medium-to-coarse materials. Abrasives can be used for cutting, grinding, polishing, drilling, sharpening, lapping, buffing, honing, and sanding among many other things. It can certainly be overwhelming to choose, once you start to look into all the types of coated abrasives on the market (not to mention just on our website! The finish may not be as smooth, but brown sandpaper is comprehensively easier to find and lasts longer than its colorful counterparts. While it is long-lasting, durable, and a time-saver, you will have to shell out more money for zirconia alumina. It's ability to remove material without excessive heat buildup makes it perfect for finishing stabilized wood, resins, epoxy, and other heat sensitive applications. After being treated, the minerals are crushed and sifted by size. Orbital sanders don't remove as much material as some of the other sanding tools and are better for finishing work. Next, look at your materials. We recommend that customers buy sanding rolls and cut their own drum sanding strips to save money. The backing on a J weight belt is thinner than the tape joint, so if its used against a flat platen, the seam may bump with each rotation. Both will remove metal faster and last longer than all aluminum oxide or silicon carbide products. The smaller a grain is, the finer the finish is. Ceramic is considered a premium abrasive grain, as it is extremely hard and sharp. If you still have questions about whether to choose aluminum oxide or zirc, we have abrasive specialists here to help by email, chat on the website, or by phone during regular business hours. There are many different variations of abrasive products outside of just the type of abrasive. Additionally, using the proper abrasive grain / project material combination, as well as proper technique and pressure, can also help to reduce sanding costs by allowing your products to last longer. Despite the high price tag, many people find it worth the investment because of its longevity and time-saving ability. Zirconia alumina is a premier choice for sanding belts and discs, as their grains sharpen over prolonged use and do not require replacement until the grit fades. They can work well for leveling and smoothing rough wood boards. Not all aluminum oxide sandpapers are created equal. Sanding sheets require more manual labor and are usually only used when absolutely needed. The wide range of uses has given birth to many different types of abrasive products. Only a portion of the backing is covered with an abrasive grain. This could lead to a very uneven scratch pattern which will result in a poor finish. Abrasive grains, or sandpaper grains, (also called grit) have rough edges and when the grains come into contact with a material while in motion, the grains break away fragments of the workpiece.