12" Cloth PSA Sanding Discs, 10 PACK
12" Cloth PSA Sanding Discs, 10 PACK
Available in stock (49993)
Twelve inches is the disc size that most belt/disc combination sanders and mid-size bench disc sanders carry, which makes it the disc that squares more mitres and end grain than any other in a cabinet shop. These 12" cloth PSA sanding discs are resin-bonded aluminum oxide on X-weight poly-cotton cloth: the grain cuts wood and mild steel quickly at hand-feed pressure, and the cloth backing takes the heat and rim loading of a 12" platen without tearing the way paper does.
They are bought by cabinet and furniture shops, picture framers, school and community shops, and anyone running a combination sander who is tired of paper discs shredding at the edge. Each pack is 10 discs of one grit, with 24 through 600 grit on the listing, so a shop can keep a shaping grit and a finishing grit on the shelf without tying up money in either.
- Aluminum oxide on X-weight poly-cotton cloth; the backing outlasts the grain, not the other way round
- Thirteen grits from 24 to 600 cover shaping, squaring, finishing and soft-metal deburring
- PSA adhesive holds flat to a clean 12" steel or aluminum platen at full rim speed
- Resin bond resists the heat that builds at the rim of a 12" disc
- 10 discs per pack, one grit per pack; buy only the grits your machine actually runs
- Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200
Which grit should you run on a 12" combination sander?
All thirteen grits are aluminum oxide. On a hand-fed disc sander you cannot apply the pressure that zirconia or ceramic need to self-sharpen, so aluminum oxide is the correct grain: it stays productive at light and moderate pressure and wears gradually rather than glazing. The choice is grit, and on a 12" machine the disc is usually doing one of four jobs.
- 24, 36 and 40 grit: shaping. Bringing bandsawn curves to the line, rounding chair-leg ends, hogging end grain on 8/4 stock and dressing rough castings. Expect a deep scratch you will follow with 60 or 80.
- 60 and 80 grit: squaring and fitting. This is the disc that lives on a shop combination sander: squaring crosscut ends, sneaking up on mitres against the mitre gauge, truing plywood edges and fitting face frames. 80 is the better default if you finish sand by hand afterward.
- 100, 120 and 150 grit: refining. Removing the 60–80 scratch from end grain that will be visible, easing small parts and softening chamfers. 120 grit is the framer's disc for mitres that close tight without further work.
- 180 and 220 grit: finish sanding on the machine. End grain on boxes and drawer fronts that will go straight under oil, small hardwood parts and profiles.
- 320, 400 and 600 grit: deburring and polishing edges on aluminum, brass and mild steel, flattening small plates and tool backs on the platen, and fine finishing on dense exotic hardwoods.
A three-pack strategy that works for most shops: 40 for shaping, 80 for daily squaring, 150 or 220 for finish work.
Grit guide for mitres, end grain and shaping on a 12" disc
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 24–40 | Shaping curves, heavy end grain | Coarse scratch; step to 60 or 80 next |
| 60 | Squaring ends, thick hardwood | Fast, forgiving, good general disc |
| 80–100 | Mitres, face frames, plywood edges | The disc most shops leave mounted |
| 120–150 | Tight-closing mitres, visible end grain | Light pressure; move the work |
| 180–220 | Finish-ready end grain, small parts | Cherry and maple burn if you dwell |
| 320–400 | Deburring soft metals, fine finishing | Little stock removal |
| 600 | Pre-polish, plate and tool backs | Keep the disc clean |
What machines take a 12" PSA disc?
- Belt/disc combination sanders with a 12" disc side. Many combination machines built around a 6"-wide belt carry a 12" disc; measure the platen before ordering, because 10" and 12" combos look alike from across the shop.
- 12" bench and pedestal disc sanders with a cast or steel platen and a tilting table with mitre slot.
- Platen disc sanders and stationary disc sanders in school shops, framing shops and pattern rooms sized for a 12" adhesive disc.
- The old page also listed hand-held disc sanders and random orbital sanders. A 12" disc is a stationary-machine size; for a hand-held tool use a 5" or 6" disc on a back-up pad.
Mounting is PSA only. The disc has no arbor hole and needs a bare, clean platen face; hook-and-loop platens need a PSA conversion pad first. Keep the disc centred so the rim does not overhang the platen, and never run a disc that is larger than the platen.
How to get the most out of a 12" PSA disc
- Strip the platen clean. Peel the old disc while the platen is warm, then wipe with mineral spirits or denatured alcohol until your fingertip squeaks. Adhesive ridges under a new disc show up as a high spot that burns one ring of the work.
- Lay the disc from the centre. Peel a few inches of liner, set the disc centre on the platen centre, then press outward in a spiral with your palm or a roller so no air is trapped toward the rim.
- Give it a minute. Pressure-sensitive adhesive builds its bond over the first minutes; let a fresh disc sit before you start on 24 grit shaping work.
- Use the down-running side. Feed only on the half of the disc that is travelling down toward the table so the disc holds the work down. The up-running side lifts and throws.
- Work the outer two-thirds. Rim speed on a 12" disc is much higher than at the centre; that is where the cut is. Use the centre only for the lightest touch-ups on small parts.
- Keep the work moving and the pressure moderate. Dwell burns wood and loads the grain. Feed steadily along the disc face rather than pushing harder.
- Step grits without skipping more than one grade. 40 → 80 → 120 → 220 is a practical shop sequence for disc work.
- Clean with a crepe eraser. Pine pitch and finish residue pack the grain long before it is worn out; a belt eraser held to the running disc restores the cut.
- Remove warm, store flat. Run the machine briefly before peeling a spent disc so the adhesive lifts cleanly, and keep spare discs flat in the pack with liners on.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Squaring crosscut ends and truing end grain on solid wood
- Fitting picture-frame and cabinet mitres against the mitre gauge
- Shaping bandsawn curves, templates and small parts to a line
- Plywood, MDF and melamine edges
- Deburring and edge-blending mild steel, aluminum and brass
- Flattening small plates, tool backs and jigs at 320–600 grit
Don't use it for
- Hook-and-loop platens without a PSA conversion pad
- Hand-held sanders; a 12" disc is a stationary-machine size
- Heavy stock removal on stainless or hardened steel, which belongs on a zirconia or ceramic belt
- Wet sanding or coolant; these are dry-use discs
- Re-mounting a disc after it has been peeled off
Specifications
| Diameter | 12 inch |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | Aluminum oxide, resin bonded |
| Backing | X-weight poly-cotton cloth |
| Attachment | PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive) with paper liner |
| Arbor hole | None |
| Grits offered | 24, 36, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600 |
| Pack quantity | 10 discs, one grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Dry |
| Machines | 12" disc sanders, belt/disc combination sanders, platen disc sanders |
| Also available | 5", 6", 8", 9", 10", 14", 16", 20" and 30" cloth PSA discs |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my combination sander takes a 12" disc?
Measure the platen, the flat metal plate the disc sticks to, across its full diameter. If it measures 12", this disc fits. Many belt/disc combination sanders with a 6" belt carry a 12" disc, but smaller combos use 8", 9" or 10" platens, and the nameplate does not always say. A disc should never overhang the platen edge.
Which grit gives a tight mitre on picture frames and boxes?
Fit the mitre with 100 or 120 grit on a 12" disc. Coarser grits remove material faster than you can sneak up on the angle, and finer grits are slow enough to burn cherry and maple. Take light passes against the mitre gauge on the down-running side and check the joint often; the last pass should be a whisper.
Why does my PSA disc bubble or lift at the edge?
Almost always because the platen was not clean, or the disc was pressed on from the edge inward and trapped air. Strip old adhesive with mineral spirits, dry the platen, then lay the disc from the centre outward and press it flat. Let it sit a minute before heavy work. Cold discs or a cold platen also bond poorly; let both reach shop temperature.
How long does a 12" cloth disc last compared to paper?
Paper discs on a 12" platen usually fail at the rim, tearing or peeling before the grain is used up. The X-weight cloth backing on these discs does not tear at the rim, so the disc runs until the aluminum oxide is actually dull. Cleaning the disc with a crepe eraser when it loads with pitch extends that further.
Can I use these 12" discs for both wood and metal?
The grain and cloth handle both, but keep separate discs for each. Aluminum oxide on X-weight cloth deburrs and blends mild steel, aluminum and brass well on a stationary sander. A disc that has sanded metal will leave grey marks in wood, and steel sparks near wood dust in the machine are a fire risk.
Why sell 12" discs in a pack of 10?
A 12" disc on a stationary machine lasts a long time, and most shops run only two or three grits, so a 10-pack per grit keeps a machine supplied without a large outlay. Grits from 24 to 600 are available. Orders over $200 ship free, and case quantities for schools and production shops can be quoted at 714-646-3299 or sales@maverickabrasives.com.
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