Everyone wishes sanding were faster and easier, so I jumped at the chance to try out two fairly new disks: Mirka’s brand-new Ultimax Ligno and the somewhat similar 3M Xtract Cubitron II Net Disk 710W, which has been out for a couple of years. Both include high-tech ceramic abrasives and arrange their abrasive grains in clusters, with gaps between them. The clustered abrasives are intended to cut more aggressively, and the gaps to funnel air between them, which keeps the sanding process cooler and allows more-efficient dust collection. The 3M disks use a porous net material as the substrate, while Mirka’s disks are solid, with a universal hole pattern called “Multifit.” Dust collection was very good with both.

3M Xtract Cubitron II Net Disk 710W

I compared the disks to each other and to two more-standard types of disks: Festool’s Granat line and a budget-friendly option called Dura-Gold Premium. In my tests for the rate of material removal (efficiency), the 3M disks stood out significantly, sanding away 28 grams of wood. Mirka removed 12 grams, and the Festool and Dura-Gold disks removed 10 grams each.

Mirka’s Ultimax Ligno

To test surface quality, I prepared both sides of the same maple boards for finishing by sanding methodically through the grits: 120, 180, 220, and 320. Then I applied two coats of hard-wax oil to one side and a coat of stain to the other.

The surfaces prepped with the Mirka disks had a much higher sheen and smoother surface than those produced by the 3M disks. There were no problems with the stained sample surfaces, though they displayed the same differences in sheen. To find out if those differences would matter under a film-forming finish, I sprayed the samples with lacquer. As I expected, once I built up a film, the differences disappeared.

I plan to keep both of these new disks on hand—the speedy 3M disks for use with film finishes, and the fine-polishing Mirka disks for penetrating finishes.

—Adam Godet is a pro woodworker in Washington, D.C.

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Watch how it's made—and discover the best abrasive for each job.

Tool Review: Sanding Nets by Festool

Regardless of what Adam Godet threw at Festool’s new Granat Net abrasives, they were more durable, cleaner, and clogged less than conventional sanding disks.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Craftsman Random Orbit Sander

While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.

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Bahco 6-Inch Card Scraper

The size and thickness are what matter here. A consistent performer, this Bahco scraper is found in many shops we visit.

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Mirka Abranet

Mesh material allows for maximum dust collection, and versatile for any orbital sander.

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