Abralon Discs
Abralon Discs
I'm going to be ordering a few of these shortly. What grits are suggested and are the grits for Abralon equivalent to typical abrasives? E.G. can I expect a 180 grit Abralon disc to operate the same as a 180 grit sanding disc?
- KurtHuhn
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5326
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
- Location: United States/Rhode Island
Abralon discs have abrasives that are the same mesh size as their 'regular' sandpaper counterparts, but the fact that they're so flexible and that the grit is silicon carbide, an abrasive that makes smoother cuts than aluminum oxide (what a lot of sandpaper uses).
After rough shaping, I typically hit the stummel with a 220 grit disc on a soft foam backing to smooth out the rough marks from 120-grit shaping, then use a 180-grit Abralon to refine the shape. It wouldn't be good for rough shaping, but it's great for fine tuning.
I've found that 180 grit abrolon cuts as smoothly as 220-240 grit paper discs, 360 grit abralon is about as good as 400+ grit paper. and 500 grit abralon is superior to 600 grit paper. The mesh size of the abrasive is the same, but a lot of factors lead to much better finish.
After rough shaping, I typically hit the stummel with a 220 grit disc on a soft foam backing to smooth out the rough marks from 120-grit shaping, then use a 180-grit Abralon to refine the shape. It wouldn't be good for rough shaping, but it's great for fine tuning.
I've found that 180 grit abrolon cuts as smoothly as 220-240 grit paper discs, 360 grit abralon is about as good as 400+ grit paper. and 500 grit abralon is superior to 600 grit paper. The mesh size of the abrasive is the same, but a lot of factors lead to much better finish.
- LexKY_Pipe
- Posts: 875
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
- Location: Lexington, Kentucky USA
You can get them at :
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com
or
http://www.woodcraft.com
Or if you have a Woodcraft handy to you, they can be puchased at the store. Note that they're not cheap. IIRC, about $60 for the set with some discs and extra discs are about $3.50 +/- for a pack of 5, I believe it is. However, the sanding kit pays for itself in the first couple of uses. They're great items to have.
Oh.. look for "wave sanding system" at these sites.
Matt
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com
or
http://www.woodcraft.com
Or if you have a Woodcraft handy to you, they can be puchased at the store. Note that they're not cheap. IIRC, about $60 for the set with some discs and extra discs are about $3.50 +/- for a pack of 5, I believe it is. However, the sanding kit pays for itself in the first couple of uses. They're great items to have.
Oh.. look for "wave sanding system" at these sites.
Matt