Different abrasive materials

There are several types of abrasive materials on the market for a wide range of uses. Whether you need to sand hard materials such as wood or metal, or remove material from painted surfaces, you can find the perfect equipment to suit your needs.

Choosing the right abrasive for your needs

Depending on your sanding needs, there are different types of abrasive. Best known in paper form, it also comes in other formats such as brushes, sponges and abrasive discs for manual or machine sanding.

Abrasive materials

There are different types of abrasive materials that can be used in a variety of ways, depending on your needs, such as hand sanding or finishing work. It is therefore important to choose the composition of the abrasive material according to the type of finish required.

• Zirconium is considered one of the most heat-resistant abrasive papers. It is mainly used on ferrous materials such as stainless steel and steel, which are more difficult to sand.
• Corundum: Composed of aluminum oxide, corundum paper is sold in different colors: pink, brown or white. Depending on its color, its effectiveness will vary.

White corundum is the most resistant because of its purer composition. Perfect for cutting metal and finishing stainless steel.

Pink corundum is perfect for sanding wood, especially parquet, while brown corundum is useful for adding texture to a surface or preparing it for painting.

• Silicon carbide is recommended for plastics, marble and glass. It can be used wet or dry and is perfect for removing lacquers or for obtaining a clean finish on the material. It’s a sharp abrasive, but as it deteriorates quickly, it’s mainly used on soft surfaces.
• Ceramic corundum is a brittle abrasive with low resistance to heat and pressure. Their microcrystalline constitution gives them a longer service life and makes them ideal for use on aluminium and mild steel materials.

Abrasive categories

There are different types of abrasive paper, as we have seen above, but they are also available in a range of formats to suit different needs.

Abrasives in sheet form are useful for manual work, or can be added to a sanding block for a better grip.

Sanding discs, on the other hand, are generally associated with eccentric sanders that fit perfectly with the machine. Their combination enables finishing or rough sanding on all types of surfaces, guaranteeing user comfort.

Abrasive belts are another model used only on belt sanders, enabling larger surfaces to be sanded more quickly and with greater power than with other machines. It can be used for stripping and rough sanding.

Which grit for which type of sanding?

The type of grit is a choice not to be neglected, because like the type of abrasive, the sanding results will vary according to the size of the grit.

If you choose an abrasive with a low grit value, it will be used for pure, hard sanding, as its properties will be more abrasive. Conversely, if the grit size is high, the paper will be less abrasive and will be used for finish sanding. Grain type is classified by numbering:

• If you wish to roughen, choose extra-coarse to medium grit, depending on the surface, with a powerful abrasive power. It is therefore advisable to opt for grain sizes 16 to 80. This is useful for very rough surfaces with visible defects. 
• For semi-finishing, medium grit is the perfect choice. With grit sizes ranging from 80 to 100, they are soft and abrasive enough to sand delicate surfaces and more discreet defects. 
• Finally, if the paper is used solely for finishing or high-finishing, you’ll need to opt for a fine or extra-fine abrasive material, depending on your needs, ranging from size 100 to over 600. These sanding papers are ideal for varnished surfaces, such as car bodies, or for gumming.

Choosing the right size of abrasive material is of the utmost importance, but it’s not the only criterion, since grain size will have a real impact on the use of the abrasive paper and the desired result.

‘Lineo is committed to answering all your questions concerning the choice of your abrasive material, which you can find in our catalog.