Difference Between Abrasive Cloth and Abrasive Paper

Abrasive paper and abrasive cloth are two different polishing tools, and the main difference between them is the base material. Abrasive paper has a paper-based structure, while abrasive cloth has a fabric-based structure. In addition, there are certain differences between abrasive cloth and abrasive paper in terms of abrasive material, granularity, and price. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, abrasive cloth is more durable but more expensive and rougher, while abrasive paper is cheaper and provides finer polishing but is less durable. The choice mainly depends on the actual needs. Let's explore the differences between abrasive cloth and abrasive paper.

In which aspects are the differences between abrasive cloth and abrasive paper reflected?

When buying abrasive paper, you may come across abrasive cloth. It looks similar to abrasive paper and is also used for polishing. However, there are certain differences between the two polishing tools, mainly in the following aspects:

Different base material: Abrasive paper has abrasive bonded to a paper-based structure, such as cowhide paper, latex paper, waterproof paper, etc. Abrasive cloth, on the other hand, has abrasive bonded to a fabric-based structure, and some abrasive cloths use paper and cotton fabric as the base material together.

Different abrasive materials: Both abrasive paper and abrasive cloth use grinding particles as abrasive materials. The common abrasives used in abrasive paper are silicon carbide, corundum, etc., while the abrasive materials used in abrasive cloth are different from those in abrasive paper. Abrasive cloth uses artificial diamond, artificial corundum, diamond, silica, quartz, iron oxide, etc.

Different granularity: Generally speaking, the abrasive particles in abrasive paper have a smaller size, making it more delicate, while the abrasive particles in abrasive cloth are larger, making it coarser. However, abrasive cloth has a faster polishing speed and higher efficiency, although its polishing precision is relatively lower.

Different prices: For products of the same specifications and models, abrasive paper is usually cheaper than abrasive cloth. In general, abrasive paper is more common in the market compared to abrasive cloth, which is less commonly found.

Which is better, abrasive cloth or abrasive paper?

When it comes to polishing, many people wonder which is better, abrasive cloth or abrasive paper, especially in woodworking. In fact, both abrasive cloth and abrasive paper have their own advantages: 1. The advantages of abrasive cloth are durability, less sand shedding, and the ability to fold and bend without breaking; the disadvantages are higher price, limited availability of fine-grit varieties. 2. The advantages of abrasive paper are lower price, wider variety of types and numbers, and finer polishing; the disadvantages are relatively lower durability and tendency to shed sand.

In summary, abrasive cloth and abrasive paper have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice can be made based on the material of the workpiece and the polishing requirements. It is generally recommended to use abrasive cloth for rough polishing and abrasive paper for fine polishing.