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We often use common everyday products like abrasives without putting much thought into them. While abrasives are fairly simple in concept and ubiquitous in use, the multitude of different products and the definitions of various product attributes can make understanding and selecting the proper abrasives complex. The goal of this guide is to introduce you to the world of abrasives and help you select the best abrasive for your needs. When the proper abrasive product is used, you’ll be left with a finished piece that meets or exceeds expectations.
An abrasive is a material used to finish (the act of polishing or making a surface smooth) or shape a workpiece through friction. The materials used on abrasives to create friction are often minerals.
Abrasives are used for many different industrial, consumer, and technological applications. Abrasives can be used for cutting, grinding, polishing, drilling, sharpening, lapping, buffing, honing, and sanding among many other things. The wide range of uses has given birth to many different types of abrasive products.
Abrasives VS. SandpaperAbrasives are commonly mislabeled as sandpaper by the general public, but that is a misnomer because neither sand nor glass is used to manufacture abrasive products anymore.
As previously mentioned, abrasives, or sandpaper, relies on friction to remove material and smoothen out workpieces. While any two solid materials will wear each other away when repeatedly rubbed together over time, abrasive materials work well and last longer because they tend to be harder than the material that is being worked on.
Abrasive grains, or sandpaper grains, (also called grit) have rough edges and when the grains come into contact with a material while in motion, the grains break away fragments of the workpiece. There are many different factors that determine how effective an abrasive will be. Factors include:
There are many different types of abrasives and each type of abrasive has its own manufacturing process. Abrasive grains are produced by heating or chemically treating minerals to produce hard materials good for abrading. After being treated, the minerals are crushed and sifted by size. The smaller a grain is, the finer the finish is. Once crushed, the grains may be washed in classifiers to remove slimes and passed through magnetic separators to remove iron-bearing material.
For abrasive wheels, the grains are then bonded to a wheel using one of six types of bonds:
For coated abrasive products, the grains are bonded to a backing using resins, glues, and/or varnish. Coated abrasive products are first produced as large rolls of abrasive-coated fabric or paper. The rolls are then manufactured into a finished product.
Different jobs call for different types of abrasives. The most common abrasive products are sanding belts, sanding discs, sanding sheets, and sanding rolls.
Sanding belts are great for jobs that require a lot of material to be removed quickly. Sanding belts are often used for stock removal in knife making, sanding hardwood floors, removing paint from flat surfaces, and sharpening tools.
Sanding discs are great for sanding large surfaces if you don’t have a wide belt sander. They are good for preparing surfaces, finishing wood, or derusting metal.
Sanding sheets require more manual labor and are usually only used when absolutely needed. Sanding sheets allow for a lighter touch for woodworking and finishing. Sheets are also able to reach small surfaces and crevices that electric equipment can’t. Bladesmiths will often switch to hand sanding after 220 grit (using a waterproof aluminum oxide sanding sheet) to have more precision during the finishing process.
Sanding rolls can be cut into sanding sheets or wound around drum sanders. Drum sanders are good for efficiently putting a fine finish on materials. They are often used on wood products, but can be used to finish plastic and metal workpieces as well. If you’re interested in cutting your own drum sanding strips from a sanding roll, we’ve covered how to do that in our blog post on cutting your own drum sanding strips.
Different sanding applications call for the use of different tools. The tools you use will ultimately guide what type of abrasive you need to buy. We've included descriptions of common sanders and the types of abrasives they use below.
Orbital sanders:orbital sanders use sanding discs and spin the discs in a circle. The rotating abrasive grains cut the surface the disc sander is applied to. Orbital sanders don't remove as much material as some of the other sanding tools and are better for finishing work.
Handheld belt sanders: Handheld belt sanders are smaller belt sanders that use sanding belts. Handheld belt sanders usually require the use of two hands with more effort needed than an orbital sander. They can work well for leveling and smoothing rough wood boards.
Benchtop belt sanders: Benchtop belt sanders are often larger and more powerful than handheld belt sanders. Benchtop belt sanders are better at removing stock material from larger workpieces. They typically utilize longer sanding belts.
Drum sanders: Drum sanders use an abrasive strip that is wrapped around a drum. The drum spins with a conveyor belt below it. The conveyor belt moves a workpiece, so that it passes under the drum and is sanded. We recommend that customers buy sanding rolls and cut their own drum sanding strips to save money. Drum sanders are commonly used for wood finishing.
There are many different variations of abrasive products outside of just the type of abrasive. Abrasives are manufactured with varying grain materials, backings, coating types, weights, and grits.
Characteristics
Silicon Carbide
Aluminum Oxide
Zirconia
Ceramic
Friability
Highly friable
Highly friable
Moderately friable
The least friable material
Strength
Moderately strong
The weakest material
Moderately strong
The strongest material
Price
Moderately expensive
Cheapest material option
Moderately expensive
Premium price point
Lifespan
Moderate longevity
The least longevity
Moderate longevity
The most longevity
One of the most popular abrasive materials, aluminum oxide is the industry standard for common applications and is the least expensive option on the market. The low price point comes at a cost as aluminum oxide often has the least longevity. Open coat aluminum oxide is excellent for planing, stripping, roughing, and finishing on all wood types. Closed coat aluminum oxide is great for snagging, weld removal, and grinding of metals. High quality aluminum oxide is highly friable, meaning the tips of the abrasive grains fragment as it wears, continually providing sharp cutting surfaces, and increasing working life. Aluminum oxide abrasives are highly customizable to specific applications.
Silicon carbide is a specialty abrasive and works well for specific applications. It’s commonly used for finish work because it delivers extremely consistent, even cutting. It is harder and sharper than aluminum oxide, so the cut rate remains the same through the entire life of the belt. Silicon carbide is more expensive than aluminum oxide, but silicon carbide abrasives deliver a level of consistency that aluminum oxide abrasives cannot, which offsets the higher cost.
It's ability to remove material without excessive heat buildup makes it perfect for finishing stabilized wood, resins, epoxy, and other heat sensitive applications. Silicon carbide is also excellent for automotive paint preparation. Other applications include marble, garnet, glass and other solid surfaces. It is typically black in color and acceptable for applications requiring waterproof materials.
Ceramic is considered a premium abrasive grain, as it is extremely hard and sharp. Ceramic abrasives come with a premium price, but also have the longest lifespan over any other type of abrasive material. The higher cost can be justified as it could save you money over the long-term.
Ceramic abrasives are ideal for aggressive cutting of metals and hard woods. The material works best when high speed and high pressure is applied. It is so aggressive, caution must be used to prevent scorching of the working material if you’re working with wood. Ceramic is friable, continuously delivering a sharp cutting surface, increasing the already impressive longevity of the product.
Ceramic is typically available in 24 through 120 grit, with most manufacturers offering a max of 220 grit. Red Label is one of the only manufacturers to offer ceramic up to 400 grit, however, our ceramic abrasives in 180, 240, 320, and 400 grit are only available in a J weight backing. While we always recommend using ceramic for steel, bladesmiths desiring stiff backed belts over 120 grit should use closed coat aluminum oxide.
For the best results, only use J weight belts with a rotary platen or when slack grinding. The backing on a J weight belt is thinner than the tape joint, so if it’s used against a flat platen, the seam may bump with each rotation. The seam bump can create unintended marks on the blade, which are undesirable. You can use a rotary platen to avoid this issue, but in the absence of one, use closed coat aluminum oxide with an X weight backing. Some knife makers have had success layering a surface conditioning belt under a J weight belt to absorb the bump against a flat platen. This technique works best on sanders larger than 1 x 30 due to guard constraints.
Zirconia was the most aggressive and durable abrasive grain until ceramic came along. It is still an excellent choice for heavy metal grinding / polishing of metals and material removal in hardwoods. Zirconia sanding belts are less costly than ceramic and do not typically exceed 220 grit. Zirconia is the middle ground abrasive between aluminum oxide and ceramic in terms of price and longevity.
Paper backed abrasives typically include aluminum oxide and silicon carbide belts, discs, and shop rolls. Paper backing has some advantages, such as its light weight and lower cost compared to cloth backing. It also delivers even cutting for delicate processes and finer grits. However, paper alone does not provide the rugged durability of cloth or synthetic backings. Paper backing can be infused with material such as latex, to create an extra flexible, durable product that delivers consistent scratch patterns. Some industrial and professional users require paper wide belts for specific woodworking, stone, granite, plastics and metal finishing applications.
Cloth is a popular backing due to its cost effectiveness and strength. Premium abrasive products typically feature cloth or other synthetic backings. Polyester is a waterproof, synthetic backing that offers superior strength and longevity. Most standard sized belts are cloth backed.
Plastic film backing is excellent when users require an extremely uniform finish. It is popular in wet sanding due to its waterproof properties, strength, and flexibility.
Foam and sponge backings are best for hand sanding moldings and veneers. These materials form fit contours and are an excellent choice when flexibility is required.
In the United States, sandpaper grit size is determined by the Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute (CAMI). Abrasives bought at local hardware stores and lumber yards are usually measured using the CAMI scale. However, Red Label Abrasives is a global abrasive manufacturer and relies on the scale provided by the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA). The FEPA scale is superior to CAMI due to the strict tolerance system manufacturers must adhere to in order to earn grit ratings. The FEPA scale ensures abrasives are consistent, which enhances the quality of the finished products.
Using the FEPA scale, the grit number is preceded by the letter “P”. Grits range from P8 to P and higher. The lower the number is the more coarse the grit is. You can view a breakdown of grit ranges in the table below.
Category
Grit Range
Uses
Coarse Sandpaper
P8 - P80
Medium Sandpaper
P100 - P220
Fine Sandpaper
Link to PTATOOLS
P240 +
Extra coarse sandpaper in the P8 to P36 range are very tough. Extra coarse sandpaper should only be used on the toughest jobs to avoid removing too much material or damaging a workpiece.
Coating refers to the amount of abrasive grain applied to the backing material. In general, closed coats provide an even finish on solid materials and open coats provide better finishes on woods. You can find a detailed breakdown on the difference between coatings in our blog post on closed and open coat abrasives.
Grain is applied evenly together without any voids in the coat. It delivers a longer life and finer finish. Typically used in non-woodworking applications
Only a portion of the backing is covered with an abrasive grain. This type of coating reduces loading in coarser grits. The backing is covered 50%-70%, allowing more room for material buildup to expel from the grain.
Semi-open or semi-closed coat falls between closed and open coat. These abrasives have about a 30% grit reduction on average.
Coated abrasive products are categorized by the ‘weight’ (wgt) of the backing material used. This alphabetical system indicates the stiffness and thickness of the backing. Below is a list of commonly used sandpaper backing weights.
A & B wgt are common in low-end materials and/or finer grits. They are typically used for hand sanding applications. C & D wgt are the most popular for general use sandpaper products. E & F wgt are most commonly used for belts and discs.
For most applications, a good ratio of weight, flexibility and flatness are crucial for sandpaper product performance. J wgt material is the lightest and most flexible. This is popular in light metal finishing applications and knife handle work. X wgt has the widest range of applications. Y wgt is typically used for heavy duty applications. Cloth materials are stiffer and used in most belt sanding applications due to their increased strength. Paper backing is used when uniform consistency is needed. Paper backed materials are used in hand sanding applications such as polishing and fine wood finishing.
Other weights (S,T,M) are seldom used, only for specific applications and products.
Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for abrasives. The best abrasive for you will depend on the materials you’re working with and the outcome you’re trying to achieve with your materials. We’ve broken down abrasive needs for a few popular applications below.
We know we haven’t covered every possible abrasive application in existence. If you’re having trouble finding a solution for your application, you can speak with one of our abrasive technicians to arrive at the best product for your needs. You can call us at (844) 824- or fill out a contact form to speak with a technician.
For most woodworking applications, open coat aluminum oxide will usually get the job done. Aluminum oxide is affordable and effective when working with wood. Open coat abrasives work best with softer woods like cedar and pine. If you’re working with harder woods like African Blackwood, cocobolo, oak, or hickory, then closed coat aluminum oxide would be the better choice. You can view or woodworking products below:
Creating a knife requires working with a combination of materials as the handle or scales are often different materials from the blade. While we tend to recommend open coat aluminum oxide abrasives for wood, the wood used for handles or scales is usually either exotic wood that is naturally hard or wood that is stabilized to become harder. Therefore, closed coat aluminum oxide, zirconia, or ceramic abrasives should be used for knife making.
Aluminum oxide abrasives are cheaper, but they won’t last as long or perform as well as ceramic or zirconia abrasives. We would highly recommend using ceramic abrasives to get the best value for your money spent. We also sell knife making kits, so that you can buy an assortment of different types of belts to fit your needs.
Coarser grits (P36 - P150) are good for grinding away stock material with ease. You can use coarse grit abrasives to shape your blade and scales. Fine grits (P180 - P800) can be used for honing or blade sharpening. Ultra fine grits (P - P) can provide a final round of sharpening and finishing for an ultra smooth finish.
You can view our knife making products below:
There are two types of abrasives we generally recommend for metalworking. Those two types would be closed coat aluminum oxide and ceramic. You could also use zirconia abrasives as a middle of the line alternative. Zirconia abrasives are stronger than aluminum oxide and less expensive than ceramic, but you really do get the best bang for your buck with ceramic abrasives. You can view our metalworking products below:
If you’re working on auto body repair, we actually have an in-depth guide on abrasives for auto body repair that you can use for reference. The guide includes how to select grits, what abrasive material is recommended and more.
We cover the best practices for storage and use in our blog post on how to store abrasives for the best performance. However, recommended storage and use guidelines can be quickly summarized.
To give your abrasives a longer lifespan and ensure the best possible performance, the abrasives should be stored away from the ground and in an area with moderate temperatures (60°F-80°F) and low humidity. Controlling humidity is crucial to ensure good abrasive health as high humidity can damage the joint adhesive on sanding belts causing them to snap. Sanding belts should be stored on racks and sanding discs or wheels should be stored on/in boxes, racks, bins, and drawers.
Education is important to us here at Red Label Abrasives. We believe knowing more about the products you use can help you to utilize them better. If you'd like to learn more about sandpaper we maintain a sanding blog with over two dozen articles. You can learn more sandpaper and sanding applications with a wide variety of sanding topics.
Making abrasives goes back a long way in history and before. The oldest coated abrasive found belongs to the 13th century. But their use dates back to the Stone Age: When people crafted tools by rubbing two pieces of stone together. After thousands of years since then, they have burst into various types including grinding wheels, sandpapers, polishes, honing stones, and ball mills. Now is a time of huge abrasive manufacturers and their mass production.
That’s why the one who wants to buy abrasives, should have proper data on the best companies, to find the best among all. Let’s take a look at a list of 10 bests.
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Find the top abrasive companies in the world here. They bring the most durable and high-performance abrading equipment.
1- 3M Company
You may find it surprising that the company that invented Post-in Notes is on this list! But Yes. 3M is an American abrasive manufacturer famous for its enduring legacy along with its pioneering solutions. In sandpapers, grinding discs, and other products, they have developed revolutionary innovations such as non-woven technology, Cubitron II precision-shaped grain technology, and microreplication technology, making them perform perfectly and last for a long time.
2- Saint-Gobain Abrasives
As the name suggests, Saint-Gobain is among the specialized abrasive companies. They offer “user-friendly solutions for every step of the abrasive process” as they state on their official website. They are committed to applying cutting-edge innovations in the abrading tech, encompassing the latest grain adhesions, infiltrated high-density technology, and 3D grain spacing technology. Using them, they provide high-quality products such as sandpapers, diamond blades, grinding wheels, and vacuum discs.
3- Mirka
Mirka is one of the top abrasive companies in the world that has introduced and developed robotic sanding (AIROS), addressing the evolving needs of the modern user. The technology is what sets the brand apart from other abrasive producers. The innovation integrates robotic arms with sensors, AI algorithms, and intelligent software into the sanding process. This leads to a uniform finish and consistent quality.
4- Norton Abrasives
Each producer we mentioned had a special feature to stand out; Norton excels because it is the world’s largest abrasive manufacturer and supplier. They are also known for being a pioneer in mass-producing precision-made grinding wheels. This company mainly offers abrasive products such as bonded, coated, non-woven abrasives to be applied in construction, welding, auto-polishing, and DIY.
5- Klingspor,
If you want to find an all-inclusive abrasive manufacturer, Klingspor is a resourceful answer to your needs. They offer 50,000 tools for removal, polishing, milling, cutting, finishing, and grinding to handle every abrading task. They boast their advanced machinery, professional R&D department, and well-trained staff and guarantee their quality based upon their strict quality check processes over their production lines.
6- Asahi Diamond Industrial Co.
Ltd. Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. is a tool company based in France. It is known for its expertise in manufacturing diamond and cubic boron nitride (cBN) tools which are used in automotive, aerospace, optic, and construction sectors. The material they are known for is one of the hardest and most durable abrasives available. Which they aim to provide customers with durable tools that can handle the most demanding conditions.
7- Tyrolit Pferd
Technical specs matter when choosing an abrasive manufacturer, but Tyrolit Pferd stands out by offering more. Along with quality, premium materials, and advanced boding techniques, they develop a CSR process: producing sustainably. They hold the value of using responsibly sourced materials and minimizing energy usage, carbon footprint, and waste generation in the production process.
8- Bosch
A super multitasker like Bosch is a professional in abrasives as well. listed among the best abrasive tool manufacturers, Bosch offers abrasive accessories such as Sanders, diamond cutting discs cleaning fleece, polishing pads, foam, sponge, and felt discs, which can be used on different materials and surfaces. Bosch offers the abrasives as individually packaged attachments to the tools, or in convenient sets.
Norton’s key areas of manufacture in the abrasives market are bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, non-woven abrasives, super abrasives, and specialty non-abrasive products.
9- Sait Abrasives,
Sait Abrasives is one of the leading Italian abrasive manufacturers, producing both bonded and coated abrading products specifically designed for the industrial market. They are a member of FEPA (European Federation of Abrasive Producers), as well as OSA (Organisation for the Safety of Abrasives).
They offer a wide variety of 90,000 abrasives that provide various options for all sorts of applications. The products are strictly tested and certified to meet ISO and ISO standards.
10- Nippon Resibon
With its super series of abrasives, colored grinding wheels, and flexible grinding wheels Nippon Resibon has a lot to say in the field of innovation and raising the performance of abrasives. Specifically, the flexible one is the first and can boost the quality of grinding and make it easier than before. That’s why it has received a good reputation in the international market.
But as a Japanese business, they have a firm vision to develop their original grinding wheels that are specifically designed to respond to the different needs of end users in Japan and overseas.
Read More : A Look at the Top Tool Manufacturers Shaping the Industry
Coated Abrasives consist of grains bonded on a flexible base like paper or polyester film. They are usually produced by using adhesive to spread abrasive grains over them, and a coat to secure them.
Top coated abrasive manufacturers in the world are the ones that handle this process applying the latest technologies and the best raw materials. You can see the best abrasive producers we mentioned before here.
Bonded Abrasives consist of abrasive materials which are bonded together in a solid form. They are used for grinding, cutting, and finishing. The best companies manufacturing them are committed to precision manufacturing processes, quality control, and providing high-quality materials. The following manufacturers are the most known and favorite ones:
The USA is a home for giant Abrasive Companies with several product lines and subsidiaries either in the country or around the world. We have talked about some before because they are ranked as the top ones.
American producers are known for using advanced technologies, commitment to strict quality controls, and offering customized abrasive solutions for different needs.
Read the following infographic to learn more about the best USA abrasive manufacturers and their subsidiaries.
India is a growing area in terms of the tool manufacturing industry, including abrasives. this growth has made them a global hub in this field. However, the landscape of abrasive equipment in India isn’t merely dominated by homegrown companies. Indians have had long-term cooperation with international producers. This has made their product collections colorful and variable.
Brands from the USA and Germany have integrated their knowledge and experience into the Indian abrasive manufacturing system and have helped their tools’ quality grow.
But, still, there are originally Indian companies in the abrasive market that produce world-class abrasives and distribute them across the country and the world. Here is a list of them.
Germany has a rich history and expertise in abrasive manufacturing. The Germans have developed abrasive technologies over hundreds of years and now have a lot to say and enjoy a strong reputation around the world for their superior quality, durability, and technical expertise. Take a look at the infographic to find out about the long legacy of German abrasives.
China’s name is tailored with the manufacturing these days and abrasive production is no exception. The country is home to different ranges of abrasive manufacturers, ranging from small-scale ones to large ones.
Competitive pricing, a wide range of products, and recent investments in automation, robotics, digitalization, and being export-oriented are the most outstanding features of the Chinese abrasive industry. Find the 7 top Chinese abrasive manufacturers below.
Despite the presence of famous international abrasive companies like Pferd, Norton Abrasives, and Tyrolit in South Africa, there is no notable abrasive manufacturer that is originally from South Africa.
Yet local manufacturers such as Santek Industrial Abrasives are still active in the domestic market producing non-woven and converter-coated and non-woven commodity products.
FAQ
Who Are the Top Abrasive Manufacturers in The World?
3M, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Nippon Resibon, Sait Abrasives, Bosch, Tyrolit Pferd, Klingspor, and Mirka are among the top ones.
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