When considering hand sanding tools, resilient non-woven pads can offer more versatility than traditional sandpaper and sanding sponges and are becoming more widely used for hand sanding a range of materials. These can be used on trade jobs, in a workshop and even at home.
Instead of grit being applied to traditional abrasive products, such as sandpaper and sponges, nylon web fibres are bonded together (not woven together) and impregnated with abrasive grains.
Non-woven pads are available in abrasive and non-abrasive versions, depending on the desired application and results you want to achieve. To help clarify any misunderstandings, we explain how you can use non-woven pads for a variety of jobs to get the results you want quickly.
Why use non-woven abrasive pads?
For the best results, choose abrasive non-woven sanding pads if you’re either removing surface coatings and light deburring, or for hand finishing metal or wood projects. Here are some key benefits to using abrasive non-woven pads:
- Waterproof and can be used for wet or dry sanding
- Provides an even and consistent scratch pattern
- Long-lasting and washable
- Avoids clogging
- Can be cut to any shape or size
- Ideal for getting into tight curves and grooves
- Will not rust and are non-conductive
- Will not tarnish surfaces
- Can be used in conjunction with chemical strippers
Woodworking
If you’re a woodworker by trade or looking to do some DIY at home, you could use Oakey Flexible Removal Pads to remove paint and surface coatings from wood and smooth wood down. You could then use Oakey Flexible Finishing Pads for finishing door and window frames, blending paint, scuffing varnish and even help to achieve an ideal surface key for applying further coats of paint or varnish.
Metalworking
If you’re working with metal as a professional or as a hobby, you could use Oakey Flexible Removal Pads for light deburring or removing surface coatings and contaminants by hand, such as cleaning barbecue grills, rust from tools and paint from metal. To finish metal surfaces, including aluminium and aluminium coatings, use Oakey Flexible Finishing Pads prior to final polishing or applying final coats of paint, varnish or stain. If you’re planning to finish off any car body repair work, you can rest assured there won’t be any metal fibres left which could spoil the finish.
Pipe work
As non-woven pads are non-metallic and don’t rust, many users, such as plumbers, use non-woven pads for wet applications as an alternative to steel wool. Also by cutting or folding the pads, they can be used in tight spaces, such as inside or outside of sweated joints to remove corrosion.
Why use non-abrasive non-woven pads?
The durable non-abrasive pads are similar to the abrasive versions as they are also waterproof and conform to tight curves and narrow grooves. However, non-abrasive non-woven pads are tear-resistant and do not scratch or tarnish surfaces, making them an essential item for cleaning a wide range of materials in the home, garage or workshop.
If you’re looking to tackle some tough cleaning jobs, then Oakey Flexible Cleaning Pads are gentle yet sturdy enough to remove dirt and grime from glass, grout and tiles, PVC window frames and doors, taps and fittings and even for highlighting wood. To make the cleaning process even quicker and easier, you can use these cleaning pads with a liquid detergent.
View our range of non-woven pads here
If you would like more information on how to use non-woven pads to get the best result, get in touch.