Aluminum is soft and gummy — it smears into the abrasive surface instead of breaking away cleanly. Closed-coat discs load up in seconds. The PuroFilm FT77 film disc has an anti-clog stearate coating specifically for this: it prevents aluminum particles from bonding to the abrasive surface. The Blue Ceramic F65 semi-open coat also handles aluminum better than standard AO. Avoid closed-coat discs on aluminum entirely.

Use wet sanding (BN38 SiC sheets with water) for clear coat leveling, final paint prep at P800–P2000, and anywhere heat buildup would damage the surface or the finish. Use dry sanding for rust removal, bare metal prep, filler shaping, and primer sanding — all the ceramic and AO discs in this collection are dry-rated only. Mixing wet abrasives into dry sanding stages or vice versa shortens abrasive life and can contaminate the surface.

The FF78 47-hole uses a universal hole pattern that fits every 6" DA sander on the market — no alignment issues across mixed-brand shops. It is an open-coat disc best for filler, primer, and bare metal at P40–P800. The FT77 119-hole uses a film backing with anti-clog coating and goes up to P2000 — it is the better choice for aluminum, fine finishing, and high-grit work where disc longevity matters more than aggressive cut.

Start with P80 to remove rust, mill scale, and old paint. Move to P120–P150 to level the surface and remove P80 scratches. Sand to P180–P220 before applying primer — primer needs tooth to bond, so do not go finer than P220 on bare metal before priming. After primer, sand to P320–P400 before base coat. Use the Blue Ceramic F65 or FF78 for the coarser stages, and the FT77 film disc for P220 and above.

Yes, but with care. Stainless work-hardens quickly under heat — use light pressure and keep the disc moving to avoid heat buildup. The Blue Ceramic F65 is the better choice over AO on stainless because ceramic self-sharpens under heat rather than glazing. For surface finishing on stainless (brushed finish, weld cleanup), the SiC scuff pads are the right tool for hand work — they cut stainless without embedding iron particles that cause rust spots.

Yes. The non-woven SiC scuff pads rinse clean with water or blow out with compressed air. On metal, use the SiC pads (ultra fine) for deglossing paint before adhesion, scuffing between primer coats, and pre-weld surface prep. The AO pads (very fine) work for lighter scuffing on primer and plastic. Each pad handles multiple uses before losing effectiveness.

Match the roll to your block backing. PSA roll (peel-and-stick) for smooth PSA-backed longboard blocks like Durablock or 3M Stikit blocks. Velcro roll for hook-and-loop longboard blocks like the FastPlus FB2. The ceramic abrasive is the same on both — the only difference is how the strip attaches. PSA changes faster in production; Velcro repositions without losing grip.

Yes. All 6" Hook and Loop discs in this collection fit the Mirka DEROS 650CV and DeWalt DWAS150 directly. The FF78 47-hole universal disc is specifically designed to align with any 6" backing pad hole configuration, including Mirka and DeWalt pads. The FT77 119-hole and F65 49-hole discs also fit both sanders. All 5" discs fit the Mirka DEROS 5650CV and DeWalt DWE6421/DWE6423.