Orbital Sanding Discs
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Orbital Sanding Discs (Hook-Face) for Surface Preparation & Finishing
Browse our full range of orbital sanding discs (hook & loop) for random orbital sanders and finishing tools. These discs are designed to deliver a consistent scratch pattern, quick disc changes and strong dust control options — ideal for everything from wood sanding and paint prep to metal finishing, composites and automotive refinishing. Choose from paper, film, foam interface and net/mesh constructions across a wide range of grits and hole patterns.
Orbital Sanding Discs – Choose the Right Type for Your Material
Orbital discs are the go-to choice when you need controlled sanding and a uniform finish. Compared with grinding or fibre discs, orbital sanding discs are designed for surface preparation stages — removing scratches, flattening surfaces and preparing for coating — without aggressive gouging. Selecting the correct abrasive type improves cut rate, disc life, dust extraction and finish quality.
Looking for other disc types? Explore our full range of cutting, grinding and surface preparation abrasives:
→ Fibre Discs
→ Flap Discs
→ Grinding Discs
→ Roloc Discs
→ Surface Conditioning Discs
Aluminium Oxide Orbital Sanding Discs
Aluminium oxide discs are the everyday orbital sanding choice — ideal when you need a balanced cut, consistent finish and strong value. They’re widely used for wood sanding, paint/key prep and general surface preparation.
Popular choices include Bibielle CD Aluminium Oxide Orbital Sanding Discs (6″/152mm), Gold Turbo Orbital Sanding Discs (multiple hole patterns), plus performance film options such as Klingspor FP 73 WK and Klingspor FP 77 K T-ACT for clean finishing and controlled scratch patterns.
- Best for: wood sanding, paint/keying, general workshop sanding
- Why choose: reliable cut, good finish quality, cost-effective per disc
- Tip: use multi-hole patterns for better extraction and cooler sanding
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Ceramic Orbital Sanding Discs
Ceramic discs are built for maximum cut rate and longest disc life. The grain fractures and self-sharpens under pressure, making ceramic a strong choice for users who want faster sanding with fewer disc changes.
Popular choices include Nitro EXTREME Ceramic Discs (multiple sizes and hole patterns including ‘Festool-Fit’), Nitro Ceramic Film Multi-Hole Sanding Discs (6″/152mm), and Klingspor PS 61 FK Ceramic paper discs for heavy sanding. For mesh-style ceramic performance, the range also includes Mirka Abranet Ace discs in 77mm, 125mm and 150mm options.
- Best for: heavy sanding, tough surfaces, faster stock removal
- Why choose: long life under pressure, maintains cutting performance
- Tip: ideal when you’re burning through aluminium oxide too quickly
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Film Orbital Sanding Discs
Film discs use a flat, stable backing to produce a very consistent scratch pattern — ideal for fine finishing and refinishing work where surface quality matters. Film also tends to resist tearing on edges compared with paper.
Popular choices include Mirka Microstar (150mm 15-hole, plus grip options), Mirka Polarstar (150mm 15-hole / grip), and film-backed Klingspor options such as FP 73 WK and FP 77 K T-ACT. For premium fast-cut film performance, the range includes Nitro Ceramic Film Multi-Hole discs.
- Best for: fine finishing, paint prep, automotive refinishing
- Why choose: uniform scratch pattern, cleaner finish, strong edge stability
- Tip: pair with correct interface pads for ultra-flat finishing
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Foam/Sponge Orbital Sanding Discs
Foam and sponge systems help the abrasive conform to curves and contours, reducing pressure points that cause swirl marks and uneven sanding. They’re ideal for profiled surfaces, curved components and finishing stages.
Popular choices include Mirka Abralon discs (34mm, 77mm, 150mm/175mm options plus J3/J5 variants), and Klingspor FD 500 foam self-fastening discs. For softer surface finishing behaviour, you also stock Mirka Abranet Soft Aluminium Oxide discs in 150mm.
- Best for: contours, curved panels, edges and profile sanding
- Why choose: smoother finish, reduced swirls, more forgiving sanding
- Tip: excellent for finishing stages and refining scratch patterns
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Silicon Carbide Orbital Sanding Discs
Silicon carbide is a sharp, hard abrasive that excels on hard or brittle materials and fine finishing tasks. It’s commonly used where you want a clean cut and controlled finish on plastics, composites and certain coated surfaces.
Popular choices include Klingspor PS 19 EK Silicon Carbide paper self-fastening discs (4-1/2″/115mm, no-hole). (You may also see Abralon items appear here on-site — ideal when you want a cushioned finish approach.)
- Best for: plastics, composites, fine finishing and refinishing stages
- Why choose: sharp cutting action, clean finish, consistent control
- Tip: use lighter pressure for best finish and to reduce heat
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Zirconia Orbital Sanding Discs
Zirconia is a durable, aggressive abrasive that performs strongly on tougher sanding tasks — especially where you want longer life than aluminium oxide and a more aggressive cut without going full ceramic.
Popular choices include Turbo Zirconia Discs (6″/7″/8″ with ‘Festool-Fit’ options), Klingspor CS 411 XK zirconia cloth discs, Klingspor PS 21 FK zirconia paper discs, Norton H835 Blue Fire self-grip discs, and SAITAC D-VEL Z-F zirconia hook & loop sanding discs.
- Best for: heavier sanding, metal prep, durable sanding on hardwood
- Why choose: aggressive cut with strong lifespan under pressure
- Tip: excellent “step-up” when AO isn’t lasting long enough
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Net/Mesh Orbital Sanding Discs
Net/mesh discs are designed for maximum dust extraction. Dust passes through the full abrasive surface rather than just holes, reducing loading and improving visibility — ideal for cleaner sanding environments and longer disc life.
Popular choices include Mirka Abranet discs in 125mm, 150mm and 200mm, plus open-structure options like Klingspor AN 400 aluminium oxide self-fastening screen discs.
- Best for: dust-controlled sanding, cleaner finishing, reduced clogging
- Why choose: improved extraction, longer life, more consistent finish
- Tip: pair with compatible extraction pads and a good dust extractor
View Net/Mesh Orbital Sanding Discs →
Quick Selection Guide
| Disc Type | Best For | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium Oxide | General sanding | Wood, paint prep, everyday workshop sanding |
| Ceramic | Maximum cut / longest life | Heavy sanding, tougher materials, faster removal |
| Zirconia | Durable aggressive sanding | Metal prep, harder sanding tasks, hardwood shaping |
| Silicon Carbide | Hard/brittle materials & finishing | Plastics, composites, controlled fine sanding |
| Film-Backed | Consistent finish | Refinishing, paint prep, high quality surface finish |
| Foam/Sponge | Contours & edges | Profiles, curved surfaces, swirl reduction |
| Net/Mesh | Dust extraction | Cleaner sanding, less clogging, longer disc life |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between film, paper and mesh sanding discs?
Paper discs are the everyday workhorse option, film discs give the most consistent finish for refinishing, and mesh discs prioritise dust extraction and reduced loading for cleaner sanding.
Which orbital sanding discs last the longest?
Ceramic and zirconia discs typically offer the longest life under pressure. Mesh discs can also last longer in dusty sanding due to reduced loading.
Which discs are best for dust extraction?
Net/mesh discs (such as Mirka Abranet) provide excellent extraction through the full disc surface, improving visibility and reducing clogging.
What grit should I use for orbital sanding?
Start coarse for removal (e.g., P60–P80), move to medium for refinement (P120–P150), and finish with fine grits (P180–P320+) depending on the surface and finish required.