BallReviews
General Category => Coverstock Preparation => Topic started by: lefty50 on February 02, 2013, 10:57:02 AM
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After experiencing inconsistent results using Abralon pads, I decided to go back to sandpaper. However, I found the grits to be confusing and mislabeled. In the process of trying to resolve this issue and find whether the CAMI or the FEPA scale was being used, I found what I believe to be an excellent article on the topic. It explains the two systems, and at the end gives a list of manufacturers along with their standardization of the FEPA standard plus whether or not they actually utilize the P when it's really a FEPA rated sheet. Apologies if this has already been distributed, but it was wonderful information that I strongly recommend for everybody.
Here is the link:
http://ebenistecreateur.fr/file/livres/Travail%20du%20Bois/242%20Fiches%20(anglais)/finition/papier%20de%20verre.pdf (http://ebenistecreateur.fr/file/livres/Travail%20du%20Bois/242%20Fiches%20(anglais)/finition/papier%20de%20verre.pdf)
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Excellent article, Steve. I had not seen it before.
I wish the chart went up to the numbers we see in bowling abrasives: P4000 grit, but those are rarely used on wood working.
Seeing that the article is actually addressing wood sanding with sandpaper, it is understandable that 3M did not discuss their Scotch-Brite pads. They can be even more confusing since the original ones, maroon, green, light grey, blue and white are all graded in CAMI levels, while their newest SB pad, gold (P2000 grit), is graded in FEPA levels.
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Good article, thanks for posting! And I feel the same way about abralon, very inconsistent for me too.
Matt
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@Charlest- How are you doing Jeff? I understand exactly what you mean re: the inconsistency in labeling standards for various abrasives, that is exactly why I went looking for this article after puzzling over what I saw in Home Depot today. I know most bowlers may not use the lower grits, but as you know from my earlier thread, I've had to run everything down to 400 grit sandpaper in order to get a reaction on my Tuesday night league. I was standing in Home Depot today and saw only two brands, 3M and Norton. Some of the 3M was marked with P, but not all. None of the Norton was marked, but it really felt to me like it was graded on the FEPA standard. That research, confirmed by the article, was critical in me understanding which sandpaper to pick up this morning. I am amazed at the lack of consistency the manufacturers are putting into their labeling when they freely admit that they either use a mix of standards, and use the European standard without marking it as such. I was as interested to find that the article admitted to that lack of standardization among all the companies as I was to read about the definition of the standards. Glad you enjoyed the article, and thanks again for all your expert help in this area in the past... R)
@Matt - Good to know I am not alone on my thoughts about the inconsistency of Abralon! For a while, I thought I was going crazy, but I am definitely going back to sandpaper for consistency.
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The inconsistency of Abralon is related to the knit backing material and the harder, but more fragile, silicon carbide abrasive. That's why 2000 Abralon slowly degrades into something closer to 4000 abralon.
SIA air velvet is a more durable aluminum oxide abrasive and is on a woven backing that holds onto the abrasive a little better.
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Thanks J, good to know, but I've tried SIA also... At least for me, sandpaper has won the battle.
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Thanks for the link.
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nice article, thanks for posting.