One of the most important parts of metal finishing is abrasive tooling. If you select the incorrect kind, your consumers may not approve of the finish or you will be stuck with a laborious deburring operation. For this reason, selecting the proper abrasive is crucial when polishing or deburring metal components. So how do you choose the ideal abrasive tooling for the particular requirements of your shop?
With adaptable equipment and sanding strips that can complete several finishing tasks in a single pass, we have assisted clients all across the country in working more productively and securely during the past ten years. This time, we’ll give you a quick tutorial on selecting the best surface treatment abrasives for your metal components and explain how this choice may have a significant influence on your business’s operations and financial results.
Types of Metal Abrasive
Metal abrasives are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and compositions, including silicon carbide, ceramic, and aluminum oxide. To assist you in selecting the best abrasive materials for your metal finishing activities, let’s further dissect these categories:
Non-woven Abrasive Materials
Non-woven abrasives provide metal components with a consistent, dependable polish. The ideal complement to larger grits, this comparatively mild abrasive offers a uniform surface that reduces workpiece spreading and discoloration. For non-woven abrasives, sanding strips, hand pads, and flap wheels are typical media types.
Oxide Aluminum Abrasives
Crystals of aluminum oxide are incredibly strong and reasonably priced materials. Therefore, among the most popular and efficient methods for polishing and deburring metal are aluminum oxide abrasives. For aluminum oxide abrasives, semi-flexible discs and sanding strips are common media types.
Zirconia Abrasive Materials
Zirconia is an incredibly durable and strong white crystalline oxide. This material’s abrasives have a high degree of wear and tear resistance, which makes them ideal for intensive grinding tasks. Discs, sanding strips, and discs are common media types for zirconia abrasives.
Important Things to Think About When Selecting Metal Abrasives
After giving you an overview of the many kinds and uses of metals abrasives, let’s talk about some more detailed pointers and recommendations to get you to the best decision more quickly:
Examine Your Choices with Caution
It may be alluring to go for an inexpensive metal abrasive or any other readily available solution. However, utilizing the incorrect abrasives will lead to subpar finished goods, ineffective processes, and higher overall expenses. Investigating and purchasing premium abrasives and metal deburring equipment is well worth the money.
Select the Appropriate Type and Grade
Using an abrasive that is excessively fine or sensitive will result in painful and ineffective metal finishing and deburring processes. Likewise, an abrasive that is too rough or gritty will result in a poor finish.
Consult a Metal Abrasives Specialist
Metal abrasives might be a confusing field, but not if you have a professional in the field to help you. As sandblasting abrasive suppliers, we can assist you in determining which solutions are appropriate for your particular needs, initiatives, and goals.
