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What are the different types of abrasive grain?

THE 3 MOST COMMON GRAINS

  1. Ceramic Alumina – Ceramic abrasives provide the longest life & fastest cut rate of all coated abrasives. They are the newest grain innovation and represent the ultimate in performance, providing an aggressive, consistent cut under moderate to high pressure. Ceramic is usually red or orange in color, but can be blue or purple as well, and is used primarily on metal applications.  Ceramic is available in grits 24-220 (depending on the product).  Our newest form of ceramic grain is called Actirox (see next). 
  2. Actirox Ceramic Grain – Actirox, produced by VSM, is a geometrically shaped ceramic grain ideal for maximum stock removal, it achieves very aggressive, quick grinding for maximum removal rates and perform well against competitive products referred to as “PSG” or Precision Shaped Grains.  Currently, it is the fastest cutting grain on the market. Actirox ceramic grain belts and discs provide an aggressive cut that requires low contact pressure, resulting in less noise and vibration, thereby reducing the strain on the machine and the operator. Actirox ceramic grain also wears evenly, continually creating new, sharp edges to increase its lifespan and usability. Actirox Ceramic belts are available in grit 36 at this time. Actirox Ceramic Fiber Discs are available in 36, 60, and 80 grit at this time.
  3. Zirconia Alumina – Zirconia Alumina is commonly referred to as Zirc or Zirconium.  Zirc is ideal for coarse to medium grit applications on metal (best choice for abusive applications).  Zirc is usually green or blue in color.  Works best under high pressure (which is required for the grain to fracture exposing new sharp edges).  It has large fracture planes and it self-sharpens as it cuts.  Zirc is available in grits 24-180.
  4. Aluminum Oxide – Aluminum Oxide is the most common & least expensive. Good starting point for most metal and wood applications.  Aluminum Oxide is usually brown or reddish in color, but can be blue, green or yellow (which usually indicates the presence of a grinding aid/lubricant). It is durable with tough cutting edges, but it dulls during use.  Aluminum Oxide is available in grits 24-600.

 

LESS COMMON GRAINS

  1. Silicon Carbide – Silicon Carbide is good for grinding glass, plastic, rubber, paint, wood products, titanium alloys and cast iron.  Silicon Carbide is black in color. It is a sharp, hard synthetic abrasive. Its friable grains fracture to continually expose new cutting edges and permit fast stock removal.
  2. Crocus – Crocus is reddish brown in color. It is a soft material made from iron oxide. It is the finest natural grain produced. Its applications include cleaning and extremely fine polishing of soft materials such as gold.
  3. Emery – Emery is a dark gray round-shaped natural grain. It is better used as a polishing grain than a cutting grain. It is used for cleaning and polishing metals.
  4. Garnet – Garnet is a reddish brown natural grain. It is relatively sharp and has a medium hardness. Its durability cannot be compared to that of synthetic abrasives (aluminum oxide) and thus is not used much any longer. It is used for finishing applications in soft woods such as fir or pine.

Silicon Carbide vs. Aluminum Oxide

  1. Both grains have advantages on certain materials.
  2. S/C has a long sharp needle-like grain structure which permits fast stock removal, but generally has a short life.  Aluminum oxide has a “blocky” grain structure that is more durable and will generally will last longer than S/C.
  3. S/C is generally the best choice for glass, plastic and rubber.  It is also non-contaminating which makes it popular in aerospace applications – especially on titanium.
  4. S/C is available in grits 16 – 600.
  5. A/O is a tough durable grain that works reasonably well on most materials.  It is the most common & least expensive. It’s “blocky” shape does not allow it to fracture easily, so it does not stay sharp through it’s usable life.
  6. AO is a good starting point for most metal and wood applications. (Note:  Zirc and Ceramic are better choices on most metal applications.)
  7. AO is available in grits 24 – 600

Zirc vs. Ceramic

  1. Both grains are considered “Hi-Performance”.  Both will remove metal faster and last longer than all aluminum oxide or silicon carbide products. These Hi-Performance grains have the ability to constantly resharpen as they wear, providing fast cutting action through their usable life. Used primarily on metal applications
  2. Z/A – commonly referred to as Zirc or Zirconium.  They are ideal for coarse to medium grit applications on metal (best choice for abusive applications).
  3. Works best under high pressure (which is required for the grain to fracture exposing new sharp edges).
  4. Zirc was the first innovation in self-sharpening grain technology.  Zirc grain has “large fracture planes”, which means a large portion of the grains flakes away as they resharpen, limiting the number of times the grain can resharpen itself.
  5. Zirc is available in grits 24 -180.
  6. C/A – ceramic abrasives are the newest innovation in grain technology.  They provide the longest life & fastest cut rate of all coated abrasives. They represent the ultimate in performance, providing an aggressive, consistent cut under moderate to high pressure.  Ceramic grains feature very small fracture planes which allow each granule to constantly resharpen and provide extremely consistent stock removal through its usable life.
  7. Ceramic is available in grits 24-220.

What are the different types of backings used in coated abrasives?

  1. Cloth backings come in various weights, from Stiffest to the most Flexible – (Y, X, J, J-Flex)
    • “Y” Weight – This extremely heavy duty cloth is used for tough applications. It is usually made of Polyester for added strength & tear resistance.
    • “X” Weight – This medium/heavy cloth, also called drills, is recommended for all ordinary machine sanding operations. Considered general purpose.
    • “J” Weight – This flexible, lightweight cloth, also called jeans, is used where more flexibility is needed, such as with contour sanding.
    • “J-Flex” Weight – This highly flexible, lightweight jeans cloth is used when extreme flexibility is desired.
  1. Paper – Paper backings come in different paper weights, designated by letters, are available for different applications.
    • “A” Weight – This light weight paper is primarily used in finishing operations where fine grits are required.
    • “C” Weight – This medium weight paper is used when some pliability and strength are required. It can be used in folded or flat areas and is ideal for cabinetwork. This backing is available in fine to medium grits.
    • “D” Weight – This medium heavy paper is available in medium and coarse grits.
    • “F” Weight – This heavy paper is used for narrow or wide belts, and coarse grit DA discs. Typically used in both cabinet and furniture industries.
  2. Fiber – Fiber is a hard, durable material with great mechanical strength. It is used exclusively to make resin fiber discs.
  3. Film – Used most often for DA sanding discs for orbital sanders. The film backing is more durable than paper & can be used wet or dry.

What is the best way to store coated abrasives?

The best way to have abrasive products retain maximum performance and work life is to store them properly. The bonding and backing materials used in abrasives are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Abrasives are best stored at temperature levels of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a 35 to 50 percent relative humidity. Products should be kept in their cartons until you are ready to use them. Cartons should be kept away from heat sources, cold walls, and off of damp floors.

How much longer will Zirc or Ceramic last compared to Aluminum Oxide?

Zirc & Ceramic are both considered High Performance grains. Both will last several times longer than aluminum oxide (3-5 times longer is quite common, while some customers have reported as much as 15 times the life). Longer life however, is only part of the advantage. These premium grains will “self-sharpen” during use, which allows them to continue cutting effectively until the grain is worn out.

Ceramic grains are the newest technology; their micro grain structure allows for smaller pieces to break away during the grinding process which makes them last longer than Zirc.

Aluminum oxide on the other hand gets dull as it wears; the stock removal rate drops dramatically as the grains dull. As they continue to dull, more pressure is required to continue removing material, which leads to excessive heat & operator fatigue.

What is the best abrasive to use?

The answer depends on how much pressure is being used and even then, the recommendations need to be considered only as a “general guideline”:

Sanded Material Best Better Good
Carbon Steel & Cast Iron
Moderate to Heavy Pressure Ceramic Plus Zirc Plus / Zirc AO
Light Pressure AO
Stainless Steel & Exotic Metal
Moderate to Heavy Pressure Ceramic Plus Zirc Plus AO
Light Pressure Zirc PC AO Plus AO
Aluminum**
Moderate to Heavy Pressure Ceramic Plus Zirc Plus AO
Light Pressure AO Plus AO SC
Non-Ferrous (Titanium, Copper, Brass)
Moderate to Heavy Pressure Ceramic Plus Zirc Plus / Zirc AO
Light Pressure AO Plus AO SC
Wood
Pressure does not affect performance AO Open Coat AO

** Due to the inherent clogging involved when sanding most Aluminum, we recommend either using products with Grinding Aids or using a Grease Stick to lubricate the abrasive to help prevent loading.

Legend:
Ceramic Plus: Ceramic Alumina with a grinding aid on a heavy Y-wt. polyester backing
Ceramic OC: Ceramic Alumina Open Coat on a heavy duty backing
Zirc Plus: Zirconia Alumina with a grind aid on a heavy Y-wt. polyester backing
Zirc: Zirconia Alumina on a heavy Y-wt. polyester backing
Zirc PC: Zirconia Alumina on a X-wt poly/cotton backing
AO Plus: Aluminum Oxide with a grinding aid (available on Y-wt. or J-Flex backing)
AO: Aluminum Oxide (available on Y, X or J-wt. backing)
SC: Silicon Carbide on a heavy Y-wt. polyester backing

What does “PLUS” mean in your material descriptions?

  1. We use the term Plus on several of our materials. The term refers to the product having a Grinding Aid.  Grinding Aids are an additional coating (top size coat) on top of the abrasive grains.  Depending on their type, they can:
    1. Reduce grinding heat & prevent discoloration of the metal
    2. Reduce loading/clogging

Note:  Abrasives with Grinding Aids should be used dry

How do you Calculate Belt Speed?

The formula to calculate SFPM (Surface feet per minute), which is the same as Belt Speed, is as follows:

The higher the RPM or the larger the drive wheel, the faster the belt speed.

When I sand Aluminum, my belts get clogged prematurely. Is there anything I can do?

Yes, we offer a couple of options:

  1. Use our Firestorm Ceramic or Zirc Plus belts, both have a grinding aid that helps prevent loading.
  2. We sell a grease stick that acts as a lubricant. A small amount applied to the belt while running, prevents the aluminum from adhering.
  3. DO NOT use a belt cleaning stick, they are designed for cleaning belts that have been used on wood, they will not remove aluminum that is stuck on the belt.

Can you make special size belts?

We make special size belts every day. They are not any more expensive than similar sized standard belts. Just call us with the size you need and we will promptly quote your price & delivery. If you are not sure how to measure your belt, we can easily walk you through the process.

I like the belt I’m using from another supplier, but I don’t see that material listed on your website, do you offer other materials?

Yes, in fact, we offer over 20 different belt materials, many of which can be found in our Belt Material Descriptions.  The 3 materials that can be purchased on our website are our most popular, however we can usually supply belts made from the other materials in 5-7 work days.  If the belt you prefer is not listed, please call our customer service department and they can recommend the best crossover to that material.

What are Non-Woven Abrasives?

These products are often referred to as “Scotch Bright®” or three dimensional abrasives.  Abrasive grains are bonded to flexible nylon fibers, which provide a controlled, consistent finish.  The “open weave” construction provides a continuous supply of new grain when fiber and old grain wear away. The flexible “spring-like” design reduces the chance of undercutting or gouging the work piece.

Nonwoven abrasives can be divided into six categories: 

  1. Flex-N-Finish– Non-Woven clean & finish products are generally hand-operated. They are not as strong in nature as other non-woven products because less grain, fiber and resin are used in their production. Clean & finish products generally include hand pads, sheets and rolls.
  1. Heavy Duty & Hi-Strength Flex-N-Finish– HD & HS Non-Woven clean & finish products are designed for machine use and can handle higher RPM’s.  They are made with stronger nylon fibers and additional resin.  They are not as strong as surface conditioning products, but they can be ganged together is disc form to remove burs, particularly on threaded parts.  They are also great for applying a consistent satin finish on irregular shaped parts.  The finish will be consistent on part-after-part.
  1. Surface Conditioning– Surface conditioning refers to the changing of a product’s surface, without removing or damaging the base material. These products are used in mechanical operations and include discs and belts.
  1. Flex-N-Strip Products – Extra coarse silicon carbide grain is bonded to stiff extruded nylon fibers with a flexible resin. They are excellent for removing coatings from wood, metal and plastic.  Also effective at paint & rust removal.
  1. Convolute Wheels – Formed by wrapping and bonding web material impregnated with abrasive grain and resin around a center core. Because they are “wrapped”, they must be run in the direction of the arrow printed on them.  Very effective on a variety of deburring & polishing applications.
  1. Unitized Wheels – Formed by pressing web material impregnated with abrasive grain and resin into a slab. Wheels are then cut from the slab.  These products can be run in either direction, so they do not have directional arrows printed on them like convolute wheels.

What materials can non-woven abrasives be used on?

  • Stainless Steel
  • Titanium
  • Aluminum
  • Zinc
  • Brass
  • Ceramics
  • Chrome Plate
  • Copper
  • Fiberglass
  • Nickel
  • Wood/Plywood

In what applications are non-woven abrasives used?

  • Blending
  • Cleaning
  • Deburring
  • Decorative finishing
  • Defuzzing of wood
  • Flash removal from plastic parts
  • Polishing
  • Removing oxides and rusts
  • Scrubbing
  • Scuffing

Where are your products shipped from?

All of our products are shipped from our facility in Troy, OH. Orders for stock items that are received by 4:30 PM Eastern Time, will ship the same day. If your order contains both Stock and Made-To-Order items, we will contact you to determine if you would like the stock items shipped immediately (separate freight charges may apply), or hold to ship complete. Most made-to-order items ship in 7 work days or less.

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