Benchmark Abrasives Provides The Perfect Finish With Resin Fiber Discs
If you’re looking for the perfect sanding tools to smooth and refine your metal projects, look no further than resin fiber discs. These versatile abrasives are a favorite among professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. Below is our comprehensive guide exploring what resin fiber discs are, their benefits, and how they can be used effectively in sanding applications.
Resin Fiber Discs, what are they?
Resin fiber discs are abrasive discs made of a stiff vulcanized fiber backing coated with a resin-bonded abrasive material. They are designed for heavy-duty applications and are used with a backing pad on a right-angle grinder. The abrasive layer is typically made of high-quality grains such as aluminum oxide, zirconia alumina, or ceramic, which ensures durability and efficiency.
What Are the Benefits of Resin Fiber Discs?
- DURABILITY – Resin fiber discs are known for their toughness and long lifespan, making them an economical choice for extensive projects.
- VERSATILITY – Suitable for use on various materials, including metal, wood and stone.
- CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE – Provides a smooth, even finish with minimal effort.
- HIGH CUT RATE – Efficiently removes materials, reducing the time needed to achieve the desired finish.
- HEAT RESISTANCE – Can withstand high temperatures, reducing the risk of burns or damage to the workpiece.
Choosing the Right Resin Fiber Disc Grain for Your Project
Metal:
- Aluminum Oxide: Ideal for general-purpose metal sanding, aluminum oxide resin fiber discs offer a balanced cut rate and durability.
- Zirconia Alumina: Perfect for tougher metals like stainless steel, zirconia discs provide a longer lifespan and faster cut rates.
- Ceramic: Best for high-pressure applications and hard metals, ceramic discs last the longest and cut the fastest.
Wood:
- Aluminum Oxide: This abrasive is also great for wood, providing a smooth finish without clogging.
- Zirconia Alumina: Good for hardwoods and heavy stock removal, zirconia ensures efficiency and durability.
Stone:
- Silicone Carbide: can be used on stone, concrete, glass deburring and some wood applications
Metalworking Applications
- Rust Removal: Easily remove rust from metal surfaces to prepare for painting or powder coating.
- Weld Cleaning: turn your ugly welds into smooth and clean weld beads on various metal parts.
- Surface Preparation: Prepare metal surfaces for coating, ensuring a clean and roughened surface for better adhesion.
Woodworking Applications
- Stock Removal: Quickly remove large amounts of wood to shape and smooth the surface.
- Paint Removal: Strip old paint or finishes from wooden surfaces effectively.
- Surface Smoothing: Achieve a fine finish on wooden projects, ready for staining or varnishing.
Choosing the Right Grit:
Resin Fiber discs come in various grit options, ranging from coarse to fine grits. Selecting the right grit for your sanding application is crucial for achieving the desired finish. Coarse grits are ideal for rapid material removal, while fine grits are best suited for finishing and polishing tasks.
- Coarse Grits: 40-60
- Medium/Coarse Grits: 80-100
- Medium Grits: 120-150
- Fine Grits: 180-220
- Very Fine Grits/Finishing: 240 and up
Resin Fiber Discs Tips
- Grit: Matters: Choose a coarser grit for initial sanding and finer grits for finishing touches.
- Find the Right Speed: Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the optimal speed setting on your grinder to avoid overheating and disc damage.
- Apply Adequate Pressure: Use moderate pressure to prevent the disc from wearing out too quickly or damaging the work surface.
- Maintain Safety: Always wear appropriate safety gear, including gloves, safety goggles, and a dust mask. We suggest picking up our N95 Respirator, Grinder Hoods and full can hearing protection.
What backing pad should use?
There are a few different options on backing pads but they all come down to one thing, how stiff do you want your backing pad?
Soft Rubber – the softest backing pad offered. These backing pads are favored by craftsmen sanding the inside radius of curves where the soft rubber can reshape itself and contour to the material better.
Hard Rubber – harder version of the soft rubber. The backers are stiffer than their “soft” relative, providing a firmer sanding surface but still allowing for minor curvatures.
Plastic – Hard plastic backers provide the firmest backing surface. These backers are very rigid and are great for use on non-curved surfaces for fast stock removal.
Resin Fiber Discs Available at Benchmark Abrasives
Resin Fiber Discs are made with a heavy-duty vulcanized fiber backing material to provide a sturdy griding surface. These tear-resistant discs work best with a resin fiber disc backing pad; Benchmark offers both the harder plastic style and softer rubber backers for different applications and working styles. These discs are resistant to heat, glazing, and loading, and are excellent on ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
- Sizes: 4”, 4-1/2”, 5”, 6”, 7”, 9-1/8”
- Grits: 16, 24, 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 120
- Grain Options: Aluminum Oxide, Zirconia, Ceramic, Silicon Carbide
Tool Compatibility: Angle Grinders
***Backing Pads sold separately
Machine Brands that are compatible with Benchmark Resin Fiber Discs
- Black & Decker®
- Bosch®
- Ridgid®
- Ryobi®
- Porter Cable®
- Mirka®
- Cobalt®
- Dewalt®
- Milwaukee®
- Makita®
- Craftsman®
- Norton®
For more information and to purchase high-quality resin fiber discs, visit Benchmark Abrasives and explore our wide range of sanding solutions today.
