Cubitron abrasives

[robo hippy]

I have been on a quest to find hook and loop discs. Still not sure if they can be found or not. In chatting with AAAbrasives who wholesale 3M abrasives, it appears that 3M does not want to sell sheets of hook and loop. They will sell the PSA/sticky backed abrasive, and I guess the more open pattern which I call a "chevron" type of pattern, and this can be seen on just about any You Tube video that promotes this product.

One question, does anyone out there use the PSA discs? What type of interface pads do you use?

Are there any sources for the hook and loop discs?

I have personally become very attached to the over sized discs from VinceswoodNwonders. Since my bowls have no details and just plain smooth sides, they work fine for me. The biggest problem I have with the disc being the exact same size as the interface pad, it seems that no matter how careful I am, part of the hooks is always exposed, and that seems to leave 80 grit scratches which is a pain to remove, and makes for more work rather than less. The frugal side of me can not buy a bunch of 5 inch discs and punch a 3 3/8 inch circle out of the middle. I do like them for sanding my flat work, and it does seem to greatly reduce the amount of sanding time required on each piece, as well as on my bowls.

I guess one last question would be is 3M just totally clueless about how many discs they could sell to all the turners, and not just in the US, but world wide?

robo hippy

 

[Doug Rasmussen]

guess one last question would be is 3M just totally clueless about how many discs they could sell to all the turners, and not just in the US, but world wide?

Along these lines my question would be what percentage of turnings made worldwide need sanding? Automated, production turnings need almost no sanding, maybe only a quick hit with a flap type wheel.

High production factory turners solved the sanding issue years ago by design of tooling that left a near perfect finish.

My answer to your question is they may not be clueless, the market just may not be there.

 

[Brian Gustin]

I get most of my 5 inch disks from Taytools.com you can get rolls of sheet abrasive often from Amazon as well (I'm sure theres other sources..) Cubitron was developed towards the auto body trade, I believe so you may also likely find it at auto body supply houses maybe? Those rolls of Hookit (775L) could likely be used if you had a decent die stamp to cut your own disks in whatever size you need ..

 

[Kevin Jenness]

70mm Cubitron rolls

 

[Gord Cameron]

If the discs have to be 3-3/8", the 70mm rolls will be a bit too narrow. And you probably won't be able to get many grits in the next widest (4-1/2") roll. But see if you can get an auto parts supplier to get you the "file sheets", which are in various lengths and widths (including 3-3/4"). They are marketed to body shops, where the panel beaters put them on longish sanding planes. They are usually available in all grits (or at least, 80-320). With a die, they could be cut into 3-3/8" discs.

Here is the part name / number and a link to the 3M site:
3M Cubitron II Hookit File Sheet 737U

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40071923/

Edit: I see someone on eBay selling the file sheets, so there might be accessible online sources (the listing I saw was for 10 of the 4-1/2" x 30" sheets for $60, so maybe about 60 cents a disc, which isn't bad.)

 

[John Torchick]

I use 5 and 6 inch PSA disks on a DIY lathe setup and a disk in the drill press for quick jobs.

 

[Sam Force]

I buy from industrial abrasives and get the grits by the yard. You can cut to any size you want and it is very good quality