Life cycle for Platin abrasives?

[ear3]

I've been doing a lot more high grit wood sanding recently, whereby I've been working up to 1500 with the Granat and then finishing off with Platin 2000 -- might even step up to Platin 4000 on the next project just for kicks.

My question is how long does a Platin pad typically last?  The abrasive qualities are so minute that it's impossible (for me at least) to tell by touch whether the pad is spent or not.  Obviously you know it's finished when you don't get the material any smoother, but depending on the material the differences between a 1500 and a 2000 finish are sometimes so small that you can only tell once the material is all cleaned up and waxed -- meaning a cursory visual inspection of the surface immediately after sanding with the Platin might not reveal any obvious change.

Is the life of the pad reduced further if you use it in ROTEX mode?   

 

[tbellemare]

I don't know how to quantify how long it will last but Platin used on wood should last a VERY long time. The abrasive material is silicon carbide, which is hard enough to polish glass.

I think you'd want to use the gear-driven orbital of a Rotex when using so fine an abrasive.

Tom

 

[Sparktrician]

I use Platin 500 - 4000 to buff out solid surface countertops as well as polycarbonate headlight covers.  I'm quite impressed by the durability of the discs.  What I find, though, is that the material being buffed will often clog the Platin long before the abrasive wears out.  I have to frequently use the CT to clean the pads to extend their useful lifetime. 

 

[ear3]

Thanks.  I'll make sure to clean them out regularly.

 

[wow]

With the Rotex in geared mode could you use one of the 'gum sticks' - those square sticks of rubbery material designed to clean sandpaper? Just thinking it might be quicker and more efficient than other methods, but haven't tried it...

 

[tbellemare]

You can actually wash them.

Tom

 

[Sparktrician]

You can actually wash them.

Tom

Just don't use fabric softener!!! 

[smile]

 

[mouppe]

I only throw them away if I've used them on an oil finish.