Sanding Discs

Red Label Abrasives Premium-Quality Sanding Discs

At Red Label Abrasives, we’ve spent over 35 years perfecting the art of abrasive manufacturing. As a family-owned U.S.-based company, we’re committed to producing high-performance sanding discs that are built to last. Every disc is engineered for precision, durability, and value, whether you’re working in a professional shop or tackling a DIY project at home.

We offer sanding discs in a wide range of sizes, from 5" to 30", to fit virtually any machine or project requirement. Whether you're sanding wood, metal workpieces, or automotive surfaces, we have discs specifically designed for the task. From heavy material removal to fine finishing, Red Label has you covered with products trusted by professionals across multiple industries. If your work depends on reliable sanding performance, you’ll find the right disc here, backed by expert support and fast shipping.

Types of Sanding Discs We Offer

We offer three main types of sanding discs, each built for specific applications and performance demands. Every disc is available in a wide range of grits and abrasive grains, giving you full control over your sanding process from rough stock removal to fine polishing.

Hook and Loop Sanding Discs (Velcro-Style)  

Hook and loop discs (often called Velcro sanding discs) are engineered for quick changes and repeat use. Each disc features a looped fabric backing that locks securely into the hooks of a compatible sander pad. This system allows for fast swaps without adhesive mess or wasted time.  

If your sander doesn’t have a hook and loop pad, no problem. A simple hook and loop converter pad can turn most sanders into hook and loop-compatible tools. These discs are ideal for users who switch grits frequently or need a convenient, clean way to swap discs on the fly.

Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) Sanding Discs  

PSA discs feature a peel-and-stick adhesive backing that bonds firmly to a flat sander pad. They offer excellent stability, even during aggressive sanding, and are a popular choice for high-speed and high-volume applications. While PSA discs aren’t intended for reuse, they deliver strong value and performance for one-time-use scenarios. This is why they’re a go-to option for professionals who need low-profile sanding with minimal vibration.

Flap Discs  

Flap discs take a different approach. Instead of a flat abrasive sheet, these discs are made with overlapping abrasive flaps attached to a central hub. As the flaps wear down, new abrasive layers are exposed, giving you longer life and consistent performance throughout the disc's use.  

Our Edgecore Ceramic Flap Discs are engineered for tough metalworking jobs, including grinding, shaping, deburring, blending, and finishing. They work exceptionally well on both ferrous and non-ferrous metals and are built to maintain sharp cutting power under pressure.

No matter what material you're working with (or how demanding the job0, Red Label Abrasives has a sanding disc built to outperform. Need help choosing the right disc? Our team is ready to help.

What Type of Abrasive Grain Should You Choose for Your Sanding Discs?

Choosing the right abrasive grain is key to getting the best results (and the longest life) from your sanding discs. At Red Label Abrasives, we offer four high-performance abrasive grains, each manufactured to excel with specific materials and applications. Selecting the right one can improve cut rate, surface finish, disc longevity, and overall efficiency.

Open Coat Aluminum Oxide

Best for: Softwoods, resinous woods, and general woodworking

Open coat aluminum oxide has spacing between the abrasive particles, which helps reduce loading, especially when sanding soft or gummy materials like pine. It runs cooler and clears debris faster, making it ideal for woodworking projects where clogging is a concern.

Closed Coat Aluminum Oxide

Best for: Hardwoods, mild metals, and general-purpose use

Closed coat aluminum oxide provides full grain coverage across the disc surface. This results in a more aggressive cut and longer wear life compared to open coat, but it’s also more prone to loading on softer materials. It’s a solid, budget-friendly choice for harder woods, painted surfaces, and light metalwork.

Zirconia

Best for: Hardwood, stainless steel, cast iron, and heavy-duty grinding

Zirconia is a tough, self-sharpening grain designed for high-pressure applications. It lasts significantly longer than aluminum oxide and performs well under heat and pressure. If you’re sanding hard materials or running high-speed equipment, zirconia delivers a cleaner, faster cut and longer disc life, especially when stock removal is the priority.

Silicon Carbide

Best for: Heat-sensitive materials, glass, stone, plastic, and non-ferrous metals

Silicon carbide is a sharp, hard grain that excels in fine finishing and wet sanding. It fractures easily to expose fresh cutting edges, which makes it ideal for polishing tasks and materials that can’t tolerate heat buildup. If you're working with acrylic, brass, rubber, or stone, silicon carbide is your go-to.

Edgecore Ceramic

Best for: Stainless steel, hardened metals, exotic hardwoods, and high-heat grinding

Our flap discs are the only disc option that use EdgeCore Ceramic. Our proprietary Edgecore Ceramic is our highest-performing abrasive grain, engineered for maximum cut speed, extended durability, and superior heat resistance. The grain micro-fractures as it wears, exposing new sharp edges and maintaining a fast, clean cut throughout the disc’s life. It’s ideal for metalworkers, welders, and fabricators working with stainless steel, titanium, or other tough alloys. Edgecore is also a strong choice for hardwoods and other dense materials that demand consistent cutting power.

Need a deeper comparison or guidance on grain selection? Our abrasive experts explain everything in our Abrasives 101 Guide: a quick, easy way to get answers straight from the pros. If you’re still unsure, contact us for personalized recommendations based on your project and equipment.

What Grit Do You Need for Your Sanding Discs?

Choosing the right grit is just as important as choosing the right grain. At Red Label Abrasives, all of our sanding discs are labeled using the FEPA (P-scale) standard, and we offer grits ranging from P24 to P5000, which covers everything from aggressive material removal to ultra-fine polishing.

Coarse Grit (P24–P80)  

Best for: Heavy stock removal, stripping finishes, grinding rough surfaces  

Coarse grits are made to take off material fast. Use these when you need to remove rust, paint, old finishes, or shape rough surfaces quickly. P24–P36 is extremely aggressive, while P60–P80 gives you a bit more control for leveling surfaces and preparing them for finer sanding.

Medium Grit (P100–P220)  

Best for: Surface preparation, shaping, honing, and general sanding  

Medium grits are ideal for smoothing rough cuts, refining the surface after coarse sanding, or prepping wood and metal for finishing. P120 and P150 are great middle-ground options for blending edges and cleaning up scratch marks from earlier grits. If you’re doing general-purpose sanding, this is usually where you’ll start.

Fine to Ultra-Fine Grit (P240–P5000)  

Best for: Final finishing, polishing, sharpening, and between-coat sanding  

Fine and ultra-fine grits are used when surface quality matters. P240–P400 is great for smoothing surfaces before applying stain, paint, or lacquer. Grits above P800 are typically used for polishing or sharpening applications, such as refining a mirror finish on metal or smoothing an automotive clear coat.

If you're sanding in multiple stages, start with a coarser grit and gradually work up to finer ones. This gives you a smoother finish while reducing the chance of gouges or uneven spots. Trust Red Label Abrasives to give you the right grit, the right grain, and the right quality every time.

Hook & Loop (Velcro) vs. PSA (Adhesive) Sanding Discs

At Red Label Abrasives, we manufacture sanding discs with both hook and loop and PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive) backings, giving you options based on your workflow, equipment, and sanding needs. While both perform well, the right choice comes down to how often you need to change discs and how much convenience matters in your work.

PSA (Adhesive) Sanding Discs  

Best for: Single-use sanding, high-volume production, cost-conscious applications  

PSA discs come with a peel-and-stick adhesive backing that bonds firmly to flat sanding pads. They provide a strong, stable hold during use and are often more affordable than hook and loop discs. However, they’re not intended for repeated removal. Once you peel a PSA disc off, the adhesive typically won’t re-stick effectively, making reuse difficult. However, if you don’t need to change grits frequently or you’re working on large, continuous sanding jobs, PSA discs are a solid, economical choice.

Hook and Loop (Velcro) Sanding Discs  

Best for: Frequent grit changes, multi-stage sanding, and wet sanding setups  

Hook and loop discs use a reusable fastening system consisting of small loops on the disc backing lock into hooks on the sander pad. This allows for quick disc changes without losing adhesion or damaging the disc. You can remove and reattach these discs several times, making them ideal for multi-step sanding jobs or switching between grits mid-project.

Note: We also offer hook and loop waterproof film discs that are perfect for wet sanding applications.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose PSA if you’re sanding with one grit, on one surface, for long stretches of time.  

• Choose Hook and Loop if you need flexibility, quick changes, or plan to reuse discs multiple times.

With Red Label Abrasives, you get the backing, grain, and grit that match how you work.

Common Applications for Sanding Discs

Sanding discs are used across a wide range of industries and skill levels for shaping, smoothing, stripping, and finishing. At Red Label Abrasives, our discs are trusted by professionals and DIYers alike for a wide range of applications.

Automotive Work  

Sanding discs are a staple in auto body shops. They're used to:

• Prep and blend body filler

• Strip old paint or primer

• Feather edges for a smooth respray

• Restore headlights by removing oxidation

• Polish clear coats and finishes with ultra-fine grits

If you're fixing dents or doing full restorations, the right grit and backing make all the difference in your results.

Furniture Restoration and Woodworking  

From rough shaping to final finish, sanding discs help:

• Strip paint or varnish from wood surfaces

• Smooth out rough stock or mill marks

• Round off sharp edges

• Prepare new molding for paint or stain

• Sand between coats for ultra-smooth finishes

Open coat aluminum oxide and hook and loop backings are especially useful here for softwoods and resinous materials.

Metalworking  

Sanding discs are commonly used to:

• Remove rust, scale, or weld slag

• Clean metal surfaces before painting or coating

• Sharpen tools and blades

• Polish stainless steel or aluminum

Zirconia and Edgecore Ceramic discs are ideal for grinding and shaping harder metals with long-lasting performance.

Marine and Aerospace Restoration  

Fiberglass and composite surfaces on boats or planes require precision and control. Sanding discs are used to:

• Refinish gel coat or paint

• Resurface hulls and panels

• Smooth out repairs

• Polish and maintain clear finishes

Silicon carbide and fine-grit waterproof hook and loop discs are ideal for wet sanding applications in these industries.

Recreational Equipment Repair  

Sanding discs are often used to:

• Resurface bowling balls for grip control

• Restore gear, helmets, and other molded equipment

• Remove surface blemishes and renew finishes

No matter what you’re working on, Red Label Abrasives has the right sanding disc for the job. Not sure which product fits your project? Contact our team for expert recommendations.

Can You Reuse Sanding Discs?

The short answer is that it depends on the type of sanding disc you’re using. Some discs are designed for single use, while others can be reused multiple times without a drop in performance. Here’s what you need to know

PSA (Adhesive-Backed) Discs - Single Use

PSA sanding discs feature a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing that sticks firmly to your sanding pad. While they offer strong grip and are cost-effective, they’re not intended for reuse. Once removed, the adhesive loses its ability to bond properly, which can lead to slippage or uneven sanding if reapplied. If your work involves long, continuous sanding with minimal grit changes, PSA discs are a great fit, but plan to use each disc only once.

Hook and Loop (Velcro) Discs - Reusable  

Hook and loop sanding discs are built for quick changes and repeated use. You can remove and reattach the same disc several times without affecting performance, making them ideal for jobs that require switching between grits or alternating between dry and wet sanding. Our hook and loop waterproof film discs offer even more flexibility by allowing for wet sanding without degrading the backing or abrasive layer.

Flap Discs - Long-Lasting and Self-Renewing  

Flap discs are made with overlapping abrasive flaps that gradually wear down, exposing fresh cutting edges underneath. This design makes them naturally longer-lasting and more durable, even in heavy-duty metalworking applications. While not "reusable" in the sense of removing and reattaching, they deliver extended lifespan and consistent results over time.

At Red Label Abrasives, our sanding discs are engineered for maximum durability and performance. Whether you're using PSA, hook and loop, or flap discs, you’ll notice they last longer, cut cleaner, and hold up better, saving you time and money in the long run.

Questions? Talk to an Abrasive Specialist

Not sure which sanding disc is right for your project? Need help choosing the right grit, grain, or backing? Our abrasive technicians are here to help. As a family-owned U.S. manufacturer, we take pride in offering expert guidance, fast response times, and one-on-one support you won’t get from big-box brands. If you have questions, call 844-824-1956 or fill out our online contact form.  We’re here to make sure you get the right product the first time.