When using any abrasive, the abrasive minerals that are attached to the backing will begin to wear and “round-off” as you sand. This decreases their effectiveness, and their cutting effect will decrease notably the longer you sand. The moment you feel you are putting more effort into sanding and not seeing a noticeable difference of material removal is an indicator that your abrasive is worn and ready to be changed out.
You may also notice that as they wear, they may begin to clog with sanding dust between the small abrasive grains. In either case, when this begins to happen, you should replace your abrasive.
TIP from a pro: When using the 3×4 Electric Ray, flip your abrasive 180⁰ after you have been using it a while. It will wear more evenly and result in a better sanding job.
Another time clogging can happen is when using your tool for finish removal. As you sand, small bits of the softened finish can accumulate on your abrasives. This is caused by heat and friction melting some existing finishes that then attach in small bits to your abrasive. When this happens, these attached pieces will cause bad sanding swirls and your abrasive should be replaced. If your abrasive is still good but caked with finish, grab a short, bristled fingernail brush, and use your sander to sand the bristles. The bristles lift the particulates off the surface, freeing your abrasives from loading. In cases where the finish is soft, this will happen frequently, and the finish on the part you are sanding may best be removed by chemical stripping. Sanding in one place for too long when trying to sand off an old existing finish can be a primary cause of this problem also.
SurfPrep abrasives are made from the highest quality raw materials made to resist clogging, topically applied and fused stearates, helping to enhance and extend life.
