Choices, choices, choices...
Well, there's no doubt that all the different types of abrasive offered by Festool can be intimidating, if not confusing. But, each one is developed and engineered to solve a specific problem. You may have tried one type of abrasive, like Brilliant, and decided it does the job and you can just use it for every purpose. Well, that may or may not be the best choice. In this article, we're going to sort through the different types of abrasives and touch on the ideal application for each. Hopefully, once you're done reading this you'll have a better understanding of what you should be using to get the best results.
In the section below, the numbers in the color-coded bar denote the grit range for the abrasive type. The colors represent the abrasive type and can be found on the packaging for easy identification.
Rubin
For aggressive sanding of bare wood. Great for mild to medium stock removal and preparation for finishing.
Brilliant
For mild to medium stripping of paints and varnishes as well as fine sanding on bare wood.
Cristal
For more aggressive stripping of heavy build-up down to bare wood.
Saphir
For aggressive stock removal and heavy stripping jobs of hard, stubborn and thick coatings. With a stiff backing, this abrasive can take a lot of abuse.
Granat
A premium abrasive composed of hardened Aluminum Oxide and Ceramic Grit for scratch resistant coatings and high VOC coatings.
Titan
For solid surface applications and painted metal surfaces, such as automotive finishes.
Vlies
For light sanding and mild abrasion of finished surfaces to a matte finish. Conforms to contours of material.
Platin
For higher gloss finishing of surfaces and sealants.
You may notice that there's a new abrasive in the list, Granat. It will be introduced in early 2011 and will be available for most sanders. More information will soon be made available about Granat.
For more comprehensive information on the various abrasive types, consult our Abrasives Guide brochure.
