A powered sander uses two types of sandpaper or discs to attach: PSA, or pressure-sensitive adhesive, and hook-and-loop, often referred to as Velcro. This article is all about attaching a hook and loop sanding discs to a powered sander. Let’s begin by defining both the terms for better understanding.
PSA sandpaper, often known as pressure-sensitive adhesive sandpaper, is particularly popular in sanding discs. The PSA sanding disc is utilized by peeling off the adhesive-coated back. After peeling, simply apply hard pressure to the sandpaper and it will adhere to the disc.
On the other hand, the hook and loop sanding disc has a Velcro-like base. It contains hooks and loops for attaching sandpaper to a machine like a random orbital sander or a disc sander. Tiny hooks wrap around tiny loops to build a tight connection, which holds the sandpaper firmly to the power tool's surface. The hooks grasp the loops and bind them together when the two are pressed together. This makes changing the sandpaper incredibly simple.
Let's take a closer look at the process now that we've covered the sandpaper. There are pads and sandpaper. There are hooks on one and loops on the other. A Velcro tab on your sneakers works the same way. Loops on the sandpaper allow it to be attached to hooks on the pads of a random orbit sander, for example.
The sandpaper loops are smooth, and the hooks on the sander pads are rough; when squeezed together, the hooks latch around the loops, and the sandpaper is kept securely in place. Place the sandpaper (with the tiny loops) on the sander backing pad (with the tiny hooks), apply a little pressure, and connect the two. Simply peel the sandpaper off like a Velcro belt or shoelace to remove it.