Let's talk roloc discs for a minute

[signcrafter]

I have a few older roloc discs, not even sure were I got them from. Have been meaning to add a few here and there but haven't yet. This past week I was working on an old beat up hammer head with a worn out roloc pad. Not even sure what kind it was or what grit. I'll be using them for some sanding of metal like hammer heads. Also getting into body work, the other day I was using a stud gun to pull a dent and needed to grind the paint and primer off so the stud would weld to the panel.

There are a ton of different kinds of roloc discs and they can start to add up pretty fast. Would like to pick up some different kinds but can't afford to play the guessing game as to which ones would work best for what. So hoping to use your experience to help pick what ones I need.

What are some of the common ones for body work? Like removing paint or other things.

What ones work best for restoring hammer heads? Getting the dings out and smoothing them. Not something I do a lot, not really a tool polisher. But it was fun and really looked nice when I was done and now have a brand new quality hammer!

What other ones come in handy for different tasks?

 

[Haveblue]

I cant comment about bodywork, but I have found that the yellow bristle-disk is a very good all purpose disk. They respond well to pressure, meaning, light pressure will polish a surface, and more pressure will actually remove imperfections in the surface. They work well for gasket, and paint removal. I think it would work well for a hammer, as I have used one to polish up old rusty tools with great results.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I;ve worked on a small mfgr. floor that had two downdraft booths for touchup's and resprays (90% of work was modded and then resprayed new cars/SUV's.)

We used the Roloc t-3 discs that used the male stud on the disc.

Kept 36 and 50 grit around in sanding discs to grind welds and modify sheet metal and alum. and plastic.

Kept the Roloc 3M scotchbrite surfacing pads around in Blue (very fine), maroon (medium) and brown (course) for the finer work.

3M makes the surfacing pads in super fine (gray) but they use silicon oxide as the grit. Good for engine building and metal detailing but by that time the shop was using RO sanders and not grinders.

Pick up a variety pack of the sanding discs and scotch brite discs (usually 3 or 4 discs one each of the above ) and see what you like the most. Then buy by the box (25, 50 or 100 count) from an industrial supplier. Far cheaper than retail.

I personally need to get some of the 80 grit and 100 grit sanding discs and see how they work as the 36 and 50 grit can be a little course at times.

Suppliers other than 3M make them and use the same color system.
We use a USA made brand that is far cheaper but on par than 3M's rolocs.

As for dia. size, that is up to decide. I like the 3" discs because I have access to deep discount 3" discs but if you work in cramped quarters the 2" may be better. Most techs I know use the 2".

The sanding discs last a long time. The scotchbrite discs go pretty quick, especially the blue very fine discs.
Good luck.

 

[wafrederick]

The scotchbrite pads,not to be used on engines for gasket removal.Any engine builder will tell you this.They have aluminum oxide in them which is an abrasive acting like a cutting tool.GM found this in the 1990s with engines that failed they got back.The little pieces get in the oil and the oil filter can't trap them.GM and Jasper engines and transmissions don't recomend them for this reason.

 

[signcrafter]

I;ve worked on a small mfgr. floor that had two downdraft booths for touchup's and resprays (90% of work was modded and then resprayed new cars/SUV's.)

We used the Roloc t-3 discs that used the male stud on the disc.

Kept 36 and 50 grit around in sanding discs to grind welds and modify sheet metal and alum. and plastic.

Kept the Roloc 3M scotchbrite surfacing pads around in Blue (very fine), maroon (medium) and brown (course) for the finer work.

3M makes the surfacing pads in super fine (gray) but they use silicon oxide as the grit. Good for engine building and metal detailing but by that time the shop was using RO sanders and not grinders.

Pick up a variety pack of the sanding discs and scotch brite discs (usually 3 or 4 discs one each of the above ) and see what you like the most. Then buy by the box (25, 50 or 100 count) from an industrial supplier. Far cheaper than retail.

I personally need to get some of the 80 grit and 100 grit sanding discs and see how they work as the 36 and 50 grit can be a little course at times.

Suppliers other than 3M make them and use the same color system.
We use a USA made brand that is far cheaper but on par than 3M's rolocs.

As for dia. size, that is up to decide. I like the 3" discs because I have access to deep discount 3" discs but if you work in cramped quarters the 2" may be better. Most techs I know use the 2".

The sanding discs last a long time. The scotchbrite discs go pretty quick, especially the blue very fine discs.
Good luck.

Thanks for the detailed response. Where can I get a "variety pack" like you mentioned? I googled that but didn't come up with much. Found one that 3m sells for over 500 bucks but that isn't going to work!

What brand do you use that is cheaper then 3m but as good?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Thanks for the detailed response. Where can I get a "variety pack" like you mentioned? I googled that but didn't come up with much. Found one that 3m sells for over 500 bucks but that isn't going to work!

What brand do you use that is cheaper then 3m but as good?

I'll have to look at the box at work.
None of the discs or pads have a name on them. We buy boxes of 50 or 100 all day long and the box is plain white with a mfg name on it. Due to mil contract work, they are USA.

LOL, I was just looking over at teh 3M site yesterday and saw the variety packs.

When bought in even low bulk, the 3" pads and discs are around 75 cents to $1 each. The roloc sanding discs go for ever. The scotchbrite pads not so much.

I'll get ya a link.

What size discs are you currently using signcrafter? 2", 3" or 4" Rolocs?

EDIT: BTW signcrafter, my local mom and pop hdwre sells the scotchbrite discs in 2" and 3" in all grits singally as they just buy a 25 count box and ter it open and sell onsies.

They also sit right next to a HUGE wooden boat restoration shop that buys them buy the 100's thus why they stock what they do.

If no varitey pack available, I buy and ship ya one of each. Far cheaper than online purchase and shipping will be to.

Here's the link re: engine use mentioned above:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-156558.html

I;m still loking for the variety pack but IIRC NAPA may stock them last time I was in one.

 

[IndyGarage]

I buy them by the box from lehigh valley abrasives.

http://www.lehighvalleyabrasives.com/servlet/StoreFront

 

[dwright406]

I've been using these 3" clean and strip discs, they work excellent.

http://www.lehighvalleyabrasives.com/servlet/the-Clean-&-Strip-Discs/Categories

And I use the flap discs at the bottom of this page for grinding welds down and such.

http://www.lehighvalleyabrasives.com/servlet/the-Quick-Change-Discs/Categories

Everything I have ordered from Lehigh has been excellent.

 

[Monte]

for removing paint i would use these discs:
available from 3M, Norton, Wurth and others

 

[Ign]

I'm guilty of using the 2" surface conditioning discs on water pump gasket surfaces....makes the job SOOO much easier when the engine's in the truck and you're trying to work up under an intake and around a couple of accessories. I go real light w pressure and only take off that which won't first come off with a gasket scraper or can't easily be accessed by a scraper. Usually use a right angle die grinder but that's dicated by application.

I figure for a cooling system I don't care much...MAYBE it shortens water pump life but most of these trucks (mine) are beaters anyhow. I do plug any water ports first.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I'm guilty of using the 2" surface conditioning discs on water pump gasket surfaces....makes the job SOOO much easier when the engine's in the truck and you're trying to work up under an intake and around a couple of accessories.

I did remember the oil sytem issue to which is why I always use hand scapers (but I'm not a vehicle tech for a living) but almost every tech I see in every bay breaks out the 90 degree angle die grinder with rolocs for gasket work in any shop USA.

Thottle body, intake manny, water pump, exhaust, ad nauseum.

Scotchbrite or Octopus (Green or yellow finger discs).

I think it's a factor of shop " flat rate" economics that drives it. It is a very efficient tool. Right or wrong for the job.

 

[regguy1]

The scotchbrite pads,not to be used on engines for gasket removal.Any engine builder will tell you this.They have aluminum oxide in them which is an abrasive acting like a cutting tool.GM found this in the 1990s with engines that failed they got back.The little pieces get in the oil and the oil filter can't trap them.GM and Jasper engines and transmissions don't recomend them for this reason.

This is correct, do not use on engines. Here is a video from Buick Division GM making the point about Alum oxide particles causing comebacks on engine repairs. They have very sophisticated methods to analyse failures.

Worth watching:

 

[joedodge]

I use the maroon pads for light duty, the 3 inch brown for cleaning hubs and rotors and such heavy removal. And green and yellow bristle pads on gasket surfaces and aluminum and such.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

yeah they work good .....if you know what you are doing

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I'm still learning which is best for what app. I bought all these at $5 a box from a CL weirdo. Got a BNIB IR angle die grinder for another $20 with an attachment.

 

[ZRX61]

When my 3in rolocs get ragged on the edges I use them up on a 2in mandrel
I use the maroon & brown scotchbrite discs, plus #36 #50 & #80 green sanding discs. I have some finer ones, but forget the #, plus green & yellow hedgehogs.

I also have paint strippers like the purple one Monte posted, but black... in 3in, 5in & 7in

 

[jjjrmx5]

I have some finer ones, but forget the #, plus green & yellow hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs!!!!!!!!! Dammit.

I knew there was a better term than the octopus I call them.

They come in green yellow and white.

I only know yellow and green.

ZRX61 a person of roloc knowledge .