Abrasives

A strong factor in deciding what abrasive to select is the material to be sanded. Some substrates are easy to sand but have a tendency to clog the abrasive – such as wood and aluminium. Materials such as stainless steel are more difficult to cut and sand so specialist abrasives that feature in built coolants and grinding aids are normally selected for these applications. The time taken to complete the cutting or grinding application is also a very important consideration as the life of the abrasive can be affected positively or negatively with the speed it makes the cut or the removes the material; in many industries the cost of the abrasive is far outweighed by how quickly the application is completed. In lots of applications the ultimate test of the abrasive is the final finish. The finish attained can differ due to different mineral or grain selection, the pressure applied and the method used on the substrate, for example a linear sanding machine will apply a different finish to a random orbital sander and some hand applied finishes are superior to those where a machine has been used.

Protrade has selected its abrasive partners very carefully utilising each manufacturers area of expertise in their chosen industrial sectors. Our range includes coated abrasives, non-woven abrasives, cutting and grinding discs, wire brushes, wheels and wool. Protrade’s premium range of abrasives include brands such as 3M, Klingspor, Mirka and Maxitek.