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Cubitron 3M

7K views 62 replies 22 participants last post by  DevinT 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm SOLD on this stuff by 3M. Mostly all the work I do requires a GOOD sandpaper, and I have found they are not all created equal. Many just wear quickly, or pack up with debris.

Cubitron!!!

My problem is I have plenty of Cubitron discs for my sanders.

I'm about to run out of the common 9×11 sheets of Cubitron and I simply can't find it anywhere????

I'm wondering if 3M has decided to only sell it in discs? I also see it by the roll but at times I require a wider section so SHEETS work best for me…

Maybe 3M thinks Cubitron should only be used on electric sanders??
 
#3 ·
I agree that it's great stuff. I haven't done any kind of testing so my evidence is anecdotal, but they are aggressive and last lots longer than the run-of-the-mill stuff I've used on my 5" ros. Love the series of small holes for sucking up the dust. Much easier than lining up the regular holes. No more looking for the cheapest stuff to save a buck. I believe that you get what you pay for with Cubitron.
 
#4 ·
I never used this stuff and never heard of it. I searched and took a look. It has a series of small holes in a sort of spiral. I was wondering. on a standard 5-8 hole sandpaper, if you just slap a regular disk on without lining up the holes the hooks on the sanding disk will wear off and not work any longer in that spot. I've had some mirka disks. Gread sanding disks but they're sort of a mesh weave. They have no specific holes for air induction. I found that it wore off the hooks on my sander after awhile. They have a pad that you can get that sits between the paper and sander but I had mixed results with it sticking so stopped using them. I'm wondering if this disk with all it's holes will have the same results?
 
#10 ·
I would probably be using it for lapping if it came with a PSA backing in the form of a roll at least 4" wide. All the rolls of the stuff that I can find appear to be for hook-and-loop setup. I've also read that the backing is somewhat non-stick.
 
#11 ·
13 Minutes of video, comparison done following a relative scientific model approach… some controls, some data reviewed etc…
I watched this, and it sold me on the Cubitron…. Have NOT looked back since using it…
13 minutes BUT well worth the watch..

 
#12 ·
I worked for an industrial abrasives distributor an we sold 3M products. 3M Cubitron was their high end product sold more to the metal working industry. It was / is a high priced product that was well worth the cost. If you were willing to compare cost to finish. More for the high end machining shop that dealt with alloys and stainless steel products than your basic weld shop. It definitely was cost effective in the right application.
For woodworking I don't know. Some abrasives tend to load (clog) when used in softer materials. My opinion 3M Cubitron was made for metal working. You're over paying for using it on wood.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I worked for an industrial abrasives distributor an we sold 3M products. 3M Cubitron was their high end product sold more to the metal working industry. It was / is a high priced product that was well worth the cost. If you were willing to compare cost to finish. More for the high end machining shop that dealt with alloys and stainless steel products than your basic weld shop. It definitely was cost effective in the right application.
For woodworking I don t know. Some abrasives tend to load (clog) when used in softer materials. My opinion 3M Cubitron was made for metal working. You re over paying for using it on wood.

- Bob Gnann
I've been buying/using Cubitron discs for about a year and a half now in a commercial woodwork shop setting. Before the Cubitron discs, we were using both Klingspore and Sia products. Both Aluminum Oxide.
There isn't any comparison between them…none. Cubitron is in a league of it's own.
The Cubitron discs are about 150% higher in cost than those two, but at the end of the day they're a big money saver. They last at minimum 4 to 5x longer, so thats an easy win right there. Another consideration is that they also cut considerably faster with a more consistent cut pattern. I've never done a stop watch comparison, but labor savings would probably (safely)be in the 25% range. Thats HUGE.
I've since tried both Sia and Norton ceramic discs as well and neither one stood up to the Cubitron's.
To the Abranet diehards…tried those as well….keep em.
After 30+ years in the woodworking industry, I have very few 'holy ********************' moments anymore when sales reps come pushing their various products. Cubitron was a holy ******************** moment.
 
#16 ·
I never used this stuff and never heard of it. I searched and took a look. It has a series of small holes in a sort of spiral. I was wondering. on a standard 5-8 hole sandpaper, if you just slap a regular disk on without lining up the holes the hooks on the sanding disk will wear off and not work any longer in that spot. I ve had some mirka disks. Gread sanding disks but they re sort of a mesh weave. They have no specific holes for air induction. I found that it wore off the hooks on my sander after awhile. They have a pad that you can get that sits between the paper and sander but I had mixed results with it sticking so stopped using them. I m wondering if this disk with all it s holes will have the same results?

- Craftsman on the lake
If you used mesh type discs without an interface - you've ruined your sander's pad.

Cubitron will not have such issues - it's only mesh top abrasives like abranet, sandnet, granatnet, ect…. If you use mesh type abrasives you MUST USE AN INTERFACE PAD PROTECTOR !
 
#17 ·
13 Minutes of video, comparison done following a relative scientific model approach… some controls, some data reviewed etc…
I watched this, and it sold me on the Cubitron…. Have NOT looked back since using it…
13 minutes BUT well worth the watch..



- Blackfin29
TOTALLY agree. I have seen two videos testing it and others and from the results I plan on switching over once I run out.

Wish they made it in the triangle multi tool pads. I am going through the Bocsh brand at a rate of pad ever 10-15 minutes.
 
#20 ·
Wish they made it in the triangle multi tool pads. I am going through the Bocsh brand at a rate of pad ever 10-15 minutes.

- Kudzupatch

Holy sweet jeebuz, you should buy a card scraper and learn how to sharpen and use. It will pay itself off in 10-15 minutes.

- SMP
Maybe he doesn't want to use a card scraper?

Sanding is bad enough for me. Card scraping is a form of torture.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
Wish they made it in the triangle multi tool pads. I am going through the Bocsh brand at a rate of pad ever 10-15 minutes.

- Kudzupatch

Holy sweet jeebuz, you should buy a card scraper and learn how to sharpen and use. It will pay itself off in 10-15 minutes.

- SMP
I have card scrapers.
I know how to sharpen them.
I know how to use a card scarper.

Would want to scrap all this??

 
#22 ·
Card Scraper.. sure it's great if you're making cutting boards or guitars…Not this type of WORK.

I'm also working on ribs of a boat, and let me tell you.. CUBITRON is the 2nd coming… JUST the fact of fewer clogs makes it worth it.. You just don't know what you don't know.
 
#24 ·
I bought a sample pack from Taylor tools a couple of months ago after reading a review but haven't had a chance to try it yet. The sample pack will let you try multiple grits without a huge investment. I also bought the 3M Hookit protector pad to prevent damaging the hooks from overheating on my ROS .

I noticed that Amazon carries the 12m c 70 rolls of Cubitron as well. Not sure if they have the wider ones that 3M has on their website.
 
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