When sanding harder metals such as titanium or stainless steel, aluminum oxide does not have as long of a life as say, Ceramic or Zirconia. These two sanding materials have better durability and run cooler than aluminum oxide when applied to hard metal surfaces.
However, ceramic and zirconia are far more expensive than aluminum oxide, and the fact that aluminum oxide is proficient when used to sand many other metals is why it tends to be a more popular choice for professionals across the industry.
A customary rule of thumb for sanding is to start out using a lower-number, coarse grit before progressing to higher-numbered grits to add a finer touch. For example, on your average three or four head sanding machine, you may start with an 80-grit wide belt to cut-down and calibrate the item being sanded, focusing on getting the preferred thickness.
Secure the shank into the collet or chuck of a tool. Holes allow dust removal when used with a vacuum sander. Thread one of these backup pads onto the tool’s arbor, then attach a sanding disc and secure with the disc nut. Convert your threaded grinder spindle into a 5/8″-11 size that’s compatible with common grinding wheels and sanding discs.
