If you’re using net-style sanding discs, consider placing a “hook and loop saver” in between the sheets and your sander’s backer pad.
I ordered a variety pack of 3M Xtract net sandpaper discs this week, which are claimed to provide for “virtually dust-free” sanding. Shown above is an example of what it looks like. Similar in nature to other “net” sanding discs, Xtract discs have a mesh-like appearance.
It wasn’t until they arrived that a voice in my head chimed in to say “but do you have an interface pad?”
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3M says: Use with 3M Hookit Clean Sanding Disc Pad Hook Saver for additional disc adhesion. I’ve seen similar recommendations before.
If you’ve ever shopped for 3M products before, you’ll understand why the next voice said “good luck with that.” Amazon has them, but it’s a 5-pack for $26. I just need one – I don’t want to spend $26 to try out an $8 assortment of net sanding discs. It’s also not clear if the 3M interface sheet will fit other sanders besides their own.
I easily found one by Diablo, shown above. The Diablo SandNET 5″ connection pad features “universal fit for alignment on all 5 and 8-hole orbital sanders.”
I didn’t see why it wouldn’t work with net sanding discs from other brands, such as 3M Xtract, or from Mirka, and so I ordered it.
Hold on, what’s that for?
Net-style sanding pads allow dust to flow through them, and this can wear out the hook and loop backing of your sanding pad.
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Thus, it’s a good idea to put a sacrificial hook and loop sheet between your sander’s backing pad and net sanding discs.
If you do see accelerated wear, it’ll be on the easily replaceable interface sheet, rather than the expensive pad that you might not even be able to easily replace on your sander.
I tried out the Diablo connection pad and 3M Xtract net discs right now, and they attach well to each other. The sanding discs are slightly larger than the Diablo pad, so be mindful of fraying if you get too closer to edges. But, that can happen with Diablo discs too.
Price: $5.47
I ordered mine from Home Depot with free shipping. I placed the order yesterday and it arrived today in a crumped paper envelope mailer. The box was squished up too, but the interface pad is fine.
Home Depot’s website suggests that you’re buying a pack of 10, but you’re not – you only get (1) at this price.
Is it necessary? No. But it’s cheap insurance against having to replace your sander’s pad, or the sander itself.
John
I use hook&loop discs on my Dewalt orbital sander, but what does “net-style” refer to?
Stuart
https://toolguyd.com/diablo-sandnet-mesh-sandpaper/
https://toolguyd.com/diablo-sandnet-deal-home-depot-bf2021/
Traditional 5″ random orbital sanding discs have large holes, usually 5 or 8 in a circular pattern.
Net-style discs are basically abrasive mesh.
Here’s a Mirka assortment: https://www.amazon.com/Mirka-9A-232-APRP-5-Inch-Abranet-Assortment/dp/B001BL1R2C/?tag=toolguyd-20
Diablo, Mirka, and 3M come to mind, and there might be others.
(Great question, thank you! I added a little more info and an image at the top of the post to help clarify things.)
Andy
These are essential if you want to avoid buying expensive replacement backing pads.
I run the 3M one on my 6” RO sander, the included Diablo one on my 5” RO and the Milwaukee one on my M12 detail sander.
Taylor Toolworks is a great source for the 3M version if anyone is interested:
https://taytools.com/collections/supplies-abrasives-sanding-discs/products/3m-random-orbital-hook-and-loop-protector-pad
MM
Agreed, they are less expensive to replace than the main backing pad! There are also extra-thick, soft, versions for sanding curved surfaces.
They are also useful on the more modern paper sanding discs with large numbers of round holes. For example 3M 775L series. Thus they are useful for more than just mesh abrasives.
Taytools is a great source for 3M abrasives in general. They have excellent prices and they are an authorized 3M dealer so no risk of fakes.
fred
$5.47 sounds great. I’ve use Festool’s which are now selling for about 3x:
https://www.acmetools.com/festool-protection-pad-pp-stf-d125-2x-203344/4014549306185.html
and pricier Mirka models 9955RP (5 inch) and 9956RP (6 inch) plus their 9166RP.
I also sometimes switch out backup pads of different densities (softer to harder) depending on what I’m sanding and the desired result.
jake
It looks like the diablo connection pad had fewer holes than the 3m variants. Do you know what the trade-offs might be?
Protection vs dust evacuation (depending on your sander hole pattern)?
Stuart
3M Xtract sanders have backing pads with a lot of holes.
Most entry and mid priced 5″ random orbital sanders have 5 or 8 hole backer pad patterns.
Consider Bosch’s 5″ sander – https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-Random-Polisher-ROS20VSC-Carrying/dp/B00BD5G9VA/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
Many users will use with just the included dust box, others will use it with a vacuum or dust extractor.
The 3M sander is over $400, and it’s designed for use with a dust extractor vacuum https://www.amazon.com/s?k=3m+xtract+sander&tag=toolguyd-20 .
Here’s the bottom of the Bosch backer pad, with 8 holes:
And here’s a diagram I put together showing the Bosch backer pad (left) and Diablo Net sanding disc interface pad (right) next to each other, with the image of the Diablo sheet rotated to match the 8-hole pattern:
It’s difficult to visualize, hence the rotation and guide lines. If you look closely, you can see the 8-hole pattern with two square 4-hole patterns, and also an equidistant 5-hole pattern.
And this is what the 3M Xtract sander backing pad looks like:
3M’s interface pad matches their sanders’ backer pads, which is expected. I have not seen an Xtract pad or interface disc that looks to match the standard hole patterns of other sanders.
I do not see any advantage to using the 3M saver on a standard 8-hole 5″ random orbital sander. It might actually be a detriment as you could still load up your sanders’ hook and loop pad through the extra holes. And that’s if it even fits. I’m seeing several styles of 3M interface sheets, and I’m not sure any of them fit standard 5″ sanders.
jake
@Stuart – Thank you; I appreciate you making time to look at this!
Stuart
You’re welcome! It was a great question!
Sorry, I rushed the post through the process because I saw quite a few readers had also bought the 3M Xtract sanding disc assortment. When I bought a pack for myself, I forgot about the recommendation for an interface pad. Some might be trying the Xtract sanding discs in place of other net discs, but it seemed there was a chance many were trying this style for the first time, and I wanted to minimize the risk of anyone finding out the hard way.
Clay
Yes, thanks for taking the time to make all this information digestible. I learned alot here today!
Bob
I use interface pads even when not using mesh disks. Sand paper rips and wears at the edges. A bulk no-name pack of interface pads is much cheaper than a replacement pad for a sander. It’s also much more convenient having a few spares than having a replacement part for your sander when you most need it.
EBT
I got the tween backer pad back when Stumpynubs was all glee over the 3M Cubitron sanding discs. I call them mesh, not nets, but that’s pedantic since 3M calls them Net Discs (e.g. Cubitron Net Discs). And the Cubitron ones, they do last longer. And yes, if you do not use a backer, you will wear the OEM foam pad out.
A trick too, is take your pen or mechpencil, line up the holes of the disc to the pad hole…helps alot.
* Now 3m has Blue Net sanding discs. I think much like the gold Mirkas. And 3M has the Clean connection set of pads that protect your sander OEM Hook and loop pad.
Jonathan Anderson
Hey, it’s fun seeing you talk about products I work on. Yes, the interface pads help primarily because most consumer-grade random orbit sanders have short hooks that don’t grab the loops on the net/mesh discs well. Most expensive sanders or backup pads have longer hooks that don’t need interface pads as much. The easy solution to ensure good bonding are interface pads, that ensure good long hooks to grab the sanding discs.
Also, as a note, in testing I’ve done, lining up holes does absolutely nothing. You can entirely offset 5 or 8 hole discs onto the sander and the dust collection is the same. The dust just flows through the hooks and into the vacuum just fine. Don’t waste your time worrying about it next time!
Stuart
Thanks for these insights!
Mopar
FYI, Amazon is currently matching Home Depot’s price on the Diablo, but at least for me Amazon Prime is offering a $1 digital credit (for use on movie rentals or apps) if I accept slower nonPrime shipping, plus I also get a 6% credit by using my Amazon Prime credit card (which gets paid in full religiously each month). So, that works out to $5.11 each for the 2 I ordered.