Attention is a finite resource, and “big” things tend to take up more of it, whether that’s in life or in the shop. For this edition of Great Gear, we’ll be taking some time to look at a few “smaller” items in the shop — things you may overlook in your day-to-day woodworking, but which are certainly handy, and can make a big difference in the quality of your shop work.
GATOR SANDPAPER
The first product on the docket is the sandpaper shown on the next page. Gator makes a number of different kinds of sandpaper styles (for more than just wood, though I’ll stick to the ones that relate to woodworking here). As you can see in the photos on the next page, I took a look at five varieties of sandpaper.
REPTILION SANDING SHEETS.
The sanding sheets come in small and large sizes. As with all sanding sheets, they can be used by hand, but you’ll get more mileage out of them when using them with a sanding block. Despite the fun look of the “scaled” sandpaper, I find it doesn’t make much difference in the function. What does though is the kind of abrasive they use.
CERAMIC ABRASIVE.
Like many high-quality abrasives, these sheets are made with ceramic alumina. This material is chemically identical to aluminum oxide, the abrasive you'll fine in most sandpapers, but where they differ is in structure. The crystalline structure of cermic alumina results in it being harder and more brittle than most aluminum oxides — both of which are benefits.
While it may seem counter-intuitive, the increased brittleness of the ceramic alumina results in a microscopic fracturing rather than blunting, meaning that the cutting capability is maintained even as the material is worn away.
Gator advertises that their ceramic alumina abrasive lasts up to four times as long as standard aluminum oxide competitors. Given the way ceramic alumina wears down, this is true — a piece of this sandpaper will maintain its effectiveness longer than aluminum oxide, as long as you have a forgiving surface to attach it to. Using something such as a cork-faced sanding block prevents excessive pressure from being applied, which would result in excessive fracturing and reduce the lifespan of the sandpaper.
 |
 |
| 5½" x 9" Sanding sheet | 4½" x 5½" Sanding sheet |
POWERNET SANDING SHEETS.
In addition to the sanding sheets, Gator provides both orbital and detail sanding sheets. These also use ceramic alumina, along with a hook and loop backing to secure to your sander. As you can see in the photos here, you’ll find two types. The first is a standard, solid disc with dust-relief holes. With the exception of the backing and circular shape, these are nearly identical to the sanding sheets, and function just as well.
 |
| 5"-rad. Sanding disc |
The second type is the net-mesh style, which comes in both discs and detail sheets. For large sanding projects, this is my preference, as the netted mesh does a drastically better job of clearing away dust when used with a vacuum.
 |
| 3¾" x 5¼" Detail sanding sheet |
Each of the net-mesh orbital sanding discs comes with a felt backer in the package. Just like a cork face on a sanding block, this pad extends the lifespan of the discs (as well as the hook and loop interface on your orbital sander).
 |
| Each package of net-mesh orbital sanding discs comes with a felt backer to increase the lifespan of both the discs and the hook & loop interface on your sander. |
Overall, Gator sandpaper is a quality product. While you might pay a little more up front, with the right usage you'll find that these may last you much longer than cheaper alternatives.
