Abrasives search tool - find the right abrasive for your sander and sanding task

[Administrator_JSVN]

Is there a significant difference in results or paper life between Granat and Rubin for prepping bare wood for staining and/or finishing? In my one use of the 125 I thought the results were great with the Granat I bought as a set with the sander.

No, for bare wood, the results and paper life will be very similar. You will save slightly on price with Rubin.

 

[gsdvorak]

Thanks Shane- appreciate the efforts in creating this!  I will be using this frequently (and also very soon as I have a new DTS400 on the way).

Regards,
Gerald

 

[mheffernan]

Thanks for the link. Very helpful.

 

[Tinker]

This is great, Shane.
I am slowly getting to bottoms of piles of discs I bought many moons ago and renewing as i go.
Your hard work will make my work so much simpler and much easier.
Thanks
Tinker

 

[Cabenth]

Didn't know where best to put this question so here it is...

I just received my RO90. It is advertised to come with an abrasive 'sample pack' but I only see 2 pieces, both the blue, course grit, one for the delta, one for the round. What is supposed to be in that pack, and are the sheets just tossed in the systainer, not wrapped in a bag or anything?

All the product images indicate 6 pieces, 1 blue and 2 white for both round and delta.
If what I got was correct, why bother?

While we're on the subject, it would be nice if Festool offered an abrasive progression pack, maybe 7 sheets each of 60, 100, 150, 220, 320, 500, and 1k. That's one piece less than your 50 sheet packs, but far more useful for someone who doesn't have a floor to sand (in my opinion).

Thanks for your help

 

[mike_aa]

Cabenth,

If you need a small assortment of abrasives for the RO90 or any sander, Tom Bellemare at Tool Home will gladly make one up for you in the quantities you need for each grit.  He helped me with my RO90 and other sanders I have.  In fact, as soon as I recover from this Recon sale I'll be calling him myself to get one for the recon RS2 I got.

Mike A.

 

[tbellemare]

Didn't know where best to put this question so here it is...

I just received my RO90. It is advertised to come with an abrasive 'sample pack' but I only see 2 pieces, both the blue, course grit, one for the delta, one for the round. What is supposed to be in that pack, and are the sheets just tossed in the systainer, not wrapped in a bag or anything?

All the product images indicate 6 pieces, 1 blue and 2 white for both round and delta.
If what I got was correct, why bother?

While we're on the subject, it would be nice if Festool offered an abrasive progression pack, maybe 7 sheets each of 60, 100, 150, 220, 320, 500, and 1k. That's one piece less than your 50 sheet packs, but far more useful for someone who doesn't have a floor to sand (in my opinion).

Thanks for your help

When the RO 90 first came to North America, it included very generous abrasive packs in both configurations. For quite some time now, it has only had one sheet of Granat in each configuration.

Tom

 

[Cabenth]

Thanks Tom.

One area where Festool sorely lacks... 2 pieces of paper isn't a 'pack' and it's not even a sample since there's only the one kind of the one grit. At best, it's 'starter paper.' Just enough to be able to make sure the device works. Maybe they should call it 'Proof of Function Abrasive.' (POFA) that's all it is. Suppose the bosses tissue is they advertise a pack, show a picture that should get you started, but I could not find any place where it actually laid out what was in the box.

 

[grbmds]

I don't remember every buying a sander (and I own older sanders from Makita, Rockwell (really old), and Dewalt) that included any sandpaper. I wouldn't even expect it.

 

[rst]

Bob Marino sells many grits in 10 packs.  Bob is GREAT!!

 

[Cabenth]

I don't remember every buying a sander (and I own older sanders from Makita, Rockwell (really old), and Dewalt) that included any sandpaper. I wouldn't even expect it.

I wouldn't expect it either, of a $75 to $150 sander, but the RO90 is a BIT more than that, I feel it's reasonable to expect a little more, perhaps 1 each of a progression, 10 total.

 

[Tinker]

When i started wit my first Festoy sander, i got several different grits in progression starting with 80 grit up to 180.  The problem i discovered was that i did not get the progression in one type, such as Rubin.  Each step up was a different type and I was running into somewhat non satisfaction with my progressions, especially in the lower grades.

By the time i was wearing out packages (I got everything for the 150 in 5 and 10 packs.), I was beginning to understand a little more about what each grade and grit was good for.  My biggest problem was with Rubin.  That seemed to not cut wood as well as elected in the lower grits and it did not seem to last as long as i had hoped.  Once i found grant, I discovered that the RO 150 was a much better sander that i had even dreamed of.  I now have Granat in grits starting at 40, progressing by steps 0f 20 grits up to 100. 

In the past, i found I used a lot more paper in the lower grits as I was sort of getting inpatient until I got to the higher grits.  I now go thru the steps with Granat in much less time, far less impatience and a disc seems to last forever.  By the time i get to the higher grits, I am even using less paper there as the ground work has gone a lot smoother.  I am able to use up my old stocks of Rubin with better results.

I am currently working on a serving tray for THE BOSS while she is away on other side of the big pond.  I sanded the whole tray starting with 60 grit Grant.  actually, i started with 60 grit Rubin and was starting to get impatient.  I was only doing the sides and using the Festoy sanding block that is configured to use a full 150 disc.  I was trying to get rid of saw marks. I had used Bandsaw to rip two of the sides.  They were dead on straight, but with tooth marks. I finally changed over to a disc of Granat 60 and wow! what a difference.  I had intended to use my LS 130, but those marks disappeared so fast doing by hand, i never did take the 130 out of its systainer. Once those tooth marks were gone, the higher grits were easy and fast no matter which type of paper I used.
Tinker

 

[SPM in King]

Shane,

I sand a lot of domestic hardwood table tops.  I have had luck with Rubin, but a am slowly moving to Garnat.  When purchased in bulk, the price differential is minimal.

I often fill areas with epoxy mixed with wood dust.  Both the above papers clog quiet rapidly when used at high speed, so I have been turning the speed all the way down to extend the life of the disk.  I typically use 80 or 120 grit for this.  Is there a better disk for this application?

Thanks.

 

[semenza]

Shane,

I sand a lot of domestic hardwood table tops.  I have had luck with Rubin, but a am slowly moving to Garnat.  When purchased in bulk, the price differential is minimal.

I often fill areas with epoxy mixed with wood dust.  Both the above papers clog quiet rapidly when used at high speed, so I have been turning the speed all the way down to extend the life of the disk.  I typically use 80 or 120 grit for this.  Is there a better disk for this application?

Thanks.

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

      How has turning the speed down worked out? I have not sanded epoxy, but my guess is that Granat will be the best choice.  Although if you can get your hands on some of the discontinued Cristal I would try that. It has a sparse grit distribution that allows more space between particles. It resists clogging on potentially gummy stuff quite well. I would slow the speed for Cristal as well. Also keeping the sander moving , regardless of abrasive , will help prevent the material from heating up and getting soft.  Check in stores and with dealers, and Ebay for some Cristal. Somebody might still have some.

Seth

 

[SPM in King]

Seth, slowing down helps, but ultimately epoxy is nasty stuff to sand.  Cleaning the disk with a crepe block before the epoxy starts to gum up also helps.  Once it actually melts, the disk is finished.  I will try to move around a bit more.  I can see how that would help/  We don't have a lot of dealers up in the frozen north, but I will look for some Cristal.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Samtor]

I have added a search tool to our website that will allow you to select your sander model, application and optionally preferred grit range. The website will then display abrasives that match your search criteria.

I hope you all find this useful.

http://www.festoolusa.com/abrasives

Shane

Hi Shane,
There seems to be 2 similar grits with different part numbers for Platin.

RO 90 DX (Round) Sander S500 Super Fine 15 90 mm Diameter Round 497426 -
RO 90 DX (Round) Sander S500 Super Fine 15 90 mm Diameter Round 498322 -
RO 90 DX (Round) Sander S1000 Super Fine 15 90 mm Diameter Round 497427 -
RO 90 DX (Round) Sander S1000 Super Fine 15 90 mm Diameter Round 498323 -

The official Festool website also has the similar issue but it lists the diameters as 80mm.

Could you help clarify.
Thanks.

 

[Zoofish]

When i started wit my first Festoy sander, i got several different grits in progression starting with 80 grit up to 180.  The problem i discovered was that i did not get the progression in one type, such as Rubin.  Each step up was a different type and I was running into somewhat non satisfaction with my progressions, especially in the lower grades.

By the time i was wearing out packages (I got everything for the 150 in 5 and 10 packs.), I was beginning to understand a little more about what each grade and grit was good for.  My biggest problem was with Rubin.  That seemed to not cut wood as well as elected in the lower grits and it did not seem to last as long as i had hoped.  Once i found grant, I discovered that the RO 150 was a much better sander that i had even dreamed of.  I now have Granat in grits starting at 40, progressing by steps 0f 20 grits up to 100. 

In the past, i found I used a lot more paper in the lower grits as I was sort of getting inpatient until I got to the higher grits.  I now go thru the steps with Granat in much less time, far less impatience and a disc seems to last forever.  By the time i get to the higher grits, I am even using less paper there as the ground work has gone a lot smoother.  I am able to use up my old stocks of Rubin with better results.

I am currently working on a serving tray for THE BOSS while she is away on other side of the big pond.  I sanded the whole tray starting with 60 grit Grant.  actually, i started with 60 grit Rubin and was starting to get impatient.  I was only doing the sides and using the Festoy sanding block that is configured to use a full 150 disc.  I was trying to get rid of saw marks. I had used Bandsaw to rip two of the sides.  They were dead on straight, but with tooth marks. I finally changed over to a disc of Granat 60 and wow! what a difference.  I had intended to use my LS 130, but those marks disappeared so fast doing by hand, i never did take the 130 out of its systainer. Once those tooth marks were gone, the higher grits were easy and fast no matter which type of paper I used.
Tinker

I've used Granat on limestone in the past with great results.

nexus 9 hülle

 

[Tinker]

Do you use a CT when sanding(grinding?) limestone?
Does the dust clog your HEPA filters (if you have them on your model)
Tinker

 

[tbellemare]

Tinker:

I've used a Rotex 150 with Saphir for shaping and taking out saw marks on landscaping limestone slabs. It works great. Prior to Granat being available, I then switched to Rubin, just because I had a bunch of it, and went through the grits to about 120. At about 80, the fossils start to become really noticeable. At 120, they are quite prominent and it starts to feel silky.

I've always stopped there and sealed with teflon impregnated sealer. The next time, I think I'll try going to about 180 and see what I was missing... I'm also going to use Granat after the shaping.

I haven't used a CT yet - I just did it outside. Next time, I'll try dust extraction. I seriously doubt it will get past the bag (5 microns).

Tom

 

[Tinker]

Tom, I wish I had known about Festoys when i was in MasonBiz.  Especially the sanders and CT's.  We used hammers & wedges to split stones.  Hammers and chisels to dimension. Also Grinders and carborundum blades on circular saws to cut to dimension and shape.  But no DC.  Just good face masks and goggles. A lot of guys used NO face (nose & eye) protection.  Polishing I had done in a shop where I bought my stone already dimensioned to specifications.

I did find lots of sedimentary type stones in the field (excavated as well as gathered from stone walls) with fossils imbedded. I am sure when you sanded around those fossils, you did not sand down into the depressions, but only the flat areas around the imprints if you wanted to save.  Some fossils could be quite graphic showing even the tiniest details in the stone. 

Even tho i no longer even THINK of cutting (or even lifting) stones, i am still interested in the methods used, especially the methods used since i quit the biz around 35 years ago.  there are a lot of new ideas and materials that have come along since '81 that used to be handled at quarries and supply shops.  Some of those, such as your polishing on site are now somewhat routine out in the field.

Tinker