Your Opinion of Mirka's Abranet Abrasives

[1chipster]

I recently made my purchase of a new festool sander and wanted to buy hopefully, a multipak that would include a number of different grits of the same type of abrasive.
Unfortunately, it seems that festool, for the most part,  only sells its abrasives in 100/pkg.  This topic has been discussed elsewhere in these forums. I was interested in the Mirka Abranet abrasives and what the experiences have been of people who have tried them.  The advantages are they are sold in pkgs of 10 of each grit or a sample of many grits.  They seem to work well, based on vid clip from woodcraft, and last longer. Can they be used with the festool sanders and are there any precautions I need to take?

 

[Jesse Cloud]

If you have seen the threads on the subject, then you probably already know that some dealers, Bob Marino comes to mind, will sell abrasives in smaller quantity.

I use abranet for rubbing out lacquer with a paraffin oil/thinner slurry.  Don't see any reason the Festool sanders wouldn't work, though if you are polishing with a slurry, don't connect the vac and turn the speed way down. 

Last time I bought abranet was on EBay.  There was a guy who sold it by the sheet, so I bought a couple of sheets of each grit I needed.  For what I use it for, a sheet lasts a long time.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I was interested in the Mirka Abranet abrasives and what the experiences have been of people who have tried them.  The advantages are they are sold in pkgs of 10 of each grit or a sample of many grits.  They seem to work well, based on vid clip from woodcraft, and last longer. Can they be used with the festool sanders and are there any precautions I need to take?

I remember reading an article somewhere that said that the hooks from the hook and loop pad on the Festool sander stuck through the holes in the Abranet and the ends of the hooks were abraded off when you started sanding. So when you took the Abranet mesh off and tried to reapply Festool abrasive, the pad no longer gripped the paper as well.

I tried Abranet on my LS130 sander, and I *think* I experienced that problem, but I wouldn't swear to it. However I'm not going to use Abranet on my new LS130 pad to confirm the problem!

I've just Googled "Abranet" and "Festool", and found the article I was thinking about at http://www.plesums.com/wood/tips/festool.html which says in part...

Therefore I got Mirka Abranet paper (or should it be called "screen") at 600 and 800 grit to continue the rub out. Great results! (I had used the Abranet with the Makita sanders, too.)

Just one problem. After months (not years) the velcro sanding pad on the Festool had lost it's hooks. The sanding disks quickly became a frisbee. So $34.50 later, I have a new Festool sanding pad and am back in business. Talking to the Festool managers at AWFS, they explained that the "stick-fix" pads aren't really velcro... the hooks are extra long, so apparently went all the way through the Abranet, rather than just holding it, and the hooks were being sanded off. And I had just stocked up on 6 inch

Forrest

 

[MarkF]

I'm not able to comment about Festool+Abranet but I am using Abranet with my 6" Bosch and a 5" PC ROS with an Abranet Pad Protector between the sander pad and the abrasive.  It's great for leveling Shellac and Lacquer which gum up and corn on regular abrasives.  The big advantage of the "net" matrix is the reduced heat and greatly improved dust removal from the surface.   I use it dry with a vac on reduced suction and get very nice results and long life.  With Festool's dust removal system I would imagine it would work even better.  My only complaint is the marking on the discs wears off quickly and if you mix them up it's difficult to tell the difference between them.   
The Pad Protector interface is important to protect your sander H&L pad:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005922/18749/Pad-Protector--6--(2).aspx

 

[EcoFurniture]

I have used Abranet on my ETS for a couple of years. Although the Mirka sheets tend to fly off easier than the Festool sheets (while running at full speed without touching the workpiece), I haven't found this being a problem. It actually only happened after I reused the Mirka several times.

In terms of durability: under normal use, die mirka could last about 2-3 times longer. You will also get better dust collection. Don't get me wrong, Festool 's dust collection is pretty impressive, with Mirka is just another notch better.

Another detail I found important:
While sanding glue residue (hot melt and wood glue) I noticed that (like with all other brands) that the Festool paper gums up quite fast, not so the mirka.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I've used the Abranet with the pad protector Mark mentioned with good results. Top notch product in my book. [thumbs up] 

 

[1chipster]

Thanks everyone for such a quick reply. I did forget to mention that I would use the pad protector if this turned out to be a good product which it seems to be. BTW, I did read that Bob Marino does sell paper in smaller amounts but could not see anything listed on his website.  Will keep it in mind. 

 

[bonesbr549]

Not cheap but they are good as others have said.  I used them almost exclusively on the PC ROS I had.  When I purchased my ETS150 I did not have any 6" so thought all was lost, but woodcraft started carrying the 6" and now I have some grits for them as well.  They last a very long time and you can rinse them out let dry and go at it again. I've used them till no grit left.  Use the left overs for scuff sanding as scrap.  They are great! 

 

[1chipster]

I was just looking at the hole configuration on the abranet vs the festool and of course they are different.  I want to use the abranet for light-mod sanding on wood for my ES 125.
Is abranet the way to go for this and if so, is there an abranet that fits the festool hole set up? If not should I add add'l ones.  I don't want to burn out the festool pad.

 

[Deansocial]

add holes??? is a hole every 1mm not enough?

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Thanks everyone for such a quick reply. I did forget to mention that I would use the pad protector if this turned out to be a good product which it seems to be. BTW, I did read that Bob Marino does sell paper in smaller amounts but could not see anything listed on his website.  Will keep it in mind. 

There's an old saying, "If you don't see it, ask".  Give Bob a call or send an email.  I'll bet he will come through for you.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I was just looking at the hole configuration on the abranet vs the festool and of course they are different.  I want to use the abranet for light-mod sanding on wood for my ES 125.
Is abranet the way to go for this and if so, is there an abranet that fits the festool hole set up? If not should I add add'l ones.  I don't want to burn out the festool pad.

Chipster, Abranet is a mesh so there is no hole pattern. The 5" pad protectors don't have a center but you can cut one of your own. 

 

[Neill]

Chip,

I am with Brice on this one.  I have used the Abranet with the protective pad on both 5" and 6" Festool sanders.  The sandpaper is mesh so there is no problem with hole alignment there.  The protective pad has holes but you can get enough of them to align to be effective.  Also, Mirka sells replacement pads for Festool.  I know that Woodcraft carries them.  I have not tried them but it might be a consideration when your original wears out.

I very much like them.  They kind of give you what I would describe as "road feel".  In other words I can feel the mesh biting the wood as opposed to Festool which just seems to glide over the surface.  Just a matter of preference.

As far as small quantities of paper, I know that Bob Marino, Timmy C. at Festool Junkie and Tom at Tool-Home, will split boxes of abrasives for you.  All great guys.  You have to call them.  They all have their own websites or can be accessed through Festool USA.

Neill

 

[1chipster]

Thank you all for your help.  I am a newbie at this and I want my new es 125 to last awhile.  It never hurts to double check with the pros.

 

[lrussell5]

Hey, I just came across this Mirka abrasives buying guide that your might find useful, it includes some tips about the Abranet-http://www.dtc-uk.com/page/mirka-abrasives/50/

 

[Max Fracas]

I use Abranet on my Mirka CEROS sander.  No holes to line up and the dust collection is great.  I do find the mesh discs are prone to snagging and tearing on corners or uneven edges.

 

[Cheese]

I've used them in the past, but they seem to be a bit tender, a bit fragile. Catch them on an edge and they're toast.