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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: monterey on June 22, 2018, 03:31:17 PM

Title: Aluminum oxide or zirconia?
Post by: monterey on June 22, 2018, 03:31:17 PM

Which is the better for we bowyers?

My sander is a Rigid oscillating and I'm out of the crappy red ones from the orange box.  Which do you use and prefer?

Title: Re: Aluminum oxide or zirconia?
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 22, 2018, 04:30:23 PM

I use the red phenolic on a roll for my drum sander. I get it from supergrit.com.

Lasts a very long time and doesn't load up.

Title: Re: Aluminum oxide or zirconia?
Post by: Flem on June 22, 2018, 05:12:39 PM

Been using zirconia on a 2x72 belt grinder. It grinds glass, metal, wood and lasts a long time. Looking forward to using it on a drum!

Title: Re: Aluminum oxide or zirconia?
Post by: monterey on June 22, 2018, 08:16:59 PM

Thanks for the info I ordered a couple Al oxide for the time being to see how that works out. 

Title: Re: Aluminum oxide or zirconia?
Post by: Flem on July 05, 2018, 02:10:59 PM

Had a chance to use the Zirconia on a drum. 80grit Zirconia cuts like 50grit AO. Also made some sleeves for my spindle sander, it cuts noticeably faster and the grit does not break down as fast as the AO. I still prefer AO on anything over 100grit.