When buying sandpaper, you may also come across abrasive cloth. The two products look quite similar and are both used for sanding and surface preparation, but they are not exactly the same. The main differences can be seen in the following areas:
1. Different Backing Materials
Paper-backed abrasives are made by bonding abrasive grains to a paper backing, such as kraft paper, latex paper, or waterproof paper. Abrasive cloth, on the other hand, uses a woven or non-woven cloth backing to hold the abrasive grains.
2. Different Applications
Different types of abrasive cloth are mainly used for rough grinding and material removal on metals and wood. They are commonly converted into abrasive belts for use with belt sanders and belt grinding machines.
Sandpaper is more commonly used for intermediate grinding and fine finishing on metal, wood, painted surfaces, and composite materials. It is available in various forms, including hand sanding sheets, hook-and-loop or adhesive-backed discs, and abrasive belts.
3. Different Grit Sizes
Compared with abrasive cloth, sandpaper is generally available in finer grit sizes, making it suitable for producing a smoother surface finish.
Cloth-backed abrasives are more commonly available in coarser grits. They provide faster stock removal and higher grinding efficiency, but the resulting finish is usually rougher and the achievable surface precision is lower.
4. Different Prices
For products with the same specifications and grit, standard paper abrasives are usually less expensive than abrasive cloth. However, premium-grade sandpaper can cost considerably more than some types of cloth-backed abrasives.
Paper-based products are also more commonly available in hardware stores, while abrasive cloth is relatively less common for general retail purchase.
In fact, both abrasive cloth and paper-backed abrasives have their own advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloth-Backed Abrasives
The main advantages of abrasive cloth are its durability, strong grain retention, and flexibility. It can be folded or bent repeatedly without easily cracking or breaking.
Its disadvantages are that it can be more expensive, less readily available, and is generally offered in coarser grit ranges.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Paper-Based Abrasives
Sandpaper is relatively affordable and comes in a wider range of types and grit sizes. It is particularly suitable when a finer and more controlled finish is required.
Its main disadvantage is that it is generally less durable than cloth-backed abrasives and may lose abrasive grains more easily during demanding sanding operations.
Both products have their own strengths and limitations. The right choice depends on the workpiece material, the amount of stock to be removed, and the required surface finish. As a general rule, cloth-backed abrasives are better suited to rough grinding and heavy stock removal, while sandpaper is more suitable for fine grinding and finishing.
