3M Abrasives Guide: Selection Charts for Discs, Belts & Wheels
Match the right 3M abrasive to your material and job — Cubitron discs, coated belts, deburring wheels, flap discs & Scotch-Brite hand pads —
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3M™ CUBITRON™ 3 ROLOC™ DISC 1184F
The 3M™ Cubitron™ 3 Roloc™ Disc 1184F is built for metalworking jobs where flexibility matters most — weld grinding, beveling, and deburring on stainless steel, titanium, and nickel alloys. It uses 3M Precision-Shaped Grain, a proprietary grain re-engineered with curved sides, to deliver faster cut rates and longer disc life than earlier Cubitron generations. The 3M™ Roloc™ quarter-turn attachment system lets you swap grades or applications in seconds.
- Curved-side Precision-Shaped Grain keeps sharp cutting points active longer, cutting fast with less operator pressure
- Purpose-built for flexible applications: weld grinding, beveling, and deburring
- A built-in grinding aid keeps grinding temperatures down on stainless steel and other heat-sensitive alloys
- The Roloc™ attachment system means fast, tool-minimal disc changes between grades
Grinding & stock removal: durability vs. flexibility
3M's own selection matrix for its Cubitron disc lines. Durability and cut rate are independent of each other — use durability to judge how long a disc lasts under pressure, and flexibility to judge how well it follows contours and complex shapes.
| Product(s) | Backing | Cut rate | Durability | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1187C, 1182C | Fibre backed | High | High | Low |
| 1184F | 2-ply cloth | High | Medium | Medium |
| 1184F | 1-ply cloth | High | Low | High |
| 982C, 987C | Fibre backed | Medium | High | Low |
| 984F, 947A | 2-ply cloth | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| 782C, 787C | Fibre backed | Low | High | Low |
| 767F | 2-ply cloth | Low | Medium | Medium |
| 777F, 361F | 1-ply cloth | Low | Low | High |
3M Coated Abrasives Belt Selection Guide
3M's coated abrasive belt line covers sanding, grinding, deburring, blending, finishing, and polishing across most wood, metal, and hard-to-grind surfaces. Find your metal type below, then move down to the Good → Better → Best → Finishing grade you need, then across to your machine type to find the right belt for the job.
| Metal type | Grade | Portable / file tool | Coarse grade power grinding / high pressure | Slack belt sander | Stroke sander | Bench top belt machine | Backstand / off-hand | Centerless & roll grinding — dry | Centerless & roll grinding — wet | Flat finishing — dry | Flat finishing — wet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel | |||||||||||
| Good | 241E | 577F | 341D | — | 341D | 341D | — | — | 341D | 361F | |
| Better | 577F | 963G | 577F | — | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | |
| Best | 984F/947A | 984F/994F/997F | 947A | — | 984F/947A | 984F/947A | 966F | 966F | 966F | 966F | |
| Finishing | — | — | 341D/Trizact | — | 341D/Trizact | 3XXD*/Trizact | 777F/Trizact | Trizact | 461F | 461F | |
| Stainless Steel | |||||||||||
| Good | — | — | 577F | 341D | 577F | 577F | — | — | 341D | 361F | |
| Better | 577F | 577F | 777F | — | 777F | 777F | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | |
| Best | 984F/947A | 984F/994F/997F | 947A | 747D/947A | 984F/947A | 984F/947A | 977F | 966F | 984F | 984F | |
| Finishing | — | — | Trizact | — | Trizact | 3XXD*/Trizact | 777F/Trizact | Trizact | 461F/Trizact | 461F/Trizact | |
| Aluminum, Brass & Bronze | |||||||||||
| Good | 241E | 577F | — | — | — | — | — | — | 341D | 361F | |
| Better | 577F | 963G | 577F | — | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | 577F | |
| Best | 984F/947A | 984F/994F/997F | 947A | — | 984F/947A | 984F/947A | — | — | — | — | |
| Finishing | — | — | 341D/Trizact | — | 341D/Trizact | 3XXD*/Trizact | 341D/Trizact | 461F | 461F | 461F | |
| Cobalt & Nickel Alloys | |||||||||||
| Good | — | — | 577F | — | 577F | 577F | — | — | 577F | 577F | |
| Better | 577F | 577F | 777F | — | 777F | 777F | 577F | 577F | 777F | 777F | |
| Best | 984F/947A | 984F/994F/997F | 947A | — | 984F/947A | 984F/947A | 977F | 966F | 984F | 984F | |
| Finishing | — | — | Trizact | — | Trizact | 3XXD*/Trizact | 777F/Trizact | Trizact | 461F | 461F | |
| Titanium | |||||||||||
| Good | — | — | 461F | — | 461F | 461F | — | — | — | 461F | |
| Better | 577F | 577F | 577F | — | 577F | 577F | — | 577F | — | 577F | |
| Best | 984F | 984F/994F/997F | — | — | 984F | 984F | — | 966F | — | 966F | |
| Finishing | — | — | 461F | — | 461F/Trizact | 3XXD*/Trizact | — | Trizact | — | 461F | |
*3XXD: choose from 302D, 332D, or 341D depending on the backing flexibility your application needs.
3M EXL vs. EXL Pro Deburring Wheels
Both are convolute-construction Scotch-Brite™ wheels effective on all metals, composites, and glass — the difference comes down to wheel life and the finish they leave.
- Solid, dense, conformable construction for a professional finish
- Effective on all metals, composites, and glass
- Conformability keeps abrasive in contact with complex-shaped parts in robotic processing
- Convolute construction keeps the wheel running smooth
- 30–50% longer life than the standard EXL wheel
- Effective on all metals, composites, and glass
- Extra-tough composition removes burrs and radiuses sharp edges with less pressure
- Unique resin system minimizes smearing
3M Scotch-Brite™ Deburring Wheel Selection Guide
Scotch-Brite™ deburring wheels come in two constructions — Convolute and Unitized — and both are rated on two independent scales: mineral aggressiveness (how fast they cut) and density/hardness (how conformable they are).
Convolute wheels
Used on right-angle grinders and bench tools for cleaning, deburring, finishing, and polishing on all types of metal, composites, and glass.
*Numeric designators (8/9) represent mineral aggressiveness, not density.
Convolute wheel application chart
| Scotch-Brite™ Convolute Wheel | Cleaning | Deburring | Blending | Finishing | Polishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M General Deburring | ● | ● | |||
| EXL/EX2/EX3 Deburring | ● | ● | ● | ||
| Metal Finishing | ● | ● | ● | ||
| Cut and Polish | ● | ● | ● | ||
| Multi-Finishing | ● | ● | ● | ||
| Light Deburring | ● | ● | |||
| EXL-PRO Deburring | ● |
Unitized wheels
Also used on right-angle grinders and bench tools, for the same range of cleaning, deburring, finishing, and polishing work on metal, composites, and glass.
Unitized wheel application chart
| Scotch-Brite™ Unitized Wheel | Deburring | Blending | Finishing | Polishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXL Deburring | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Cut and Polish | ● | ● | ● | |
| Roloc EXL | ● | ● | ||
| Rapid Cut | ● | ● |
3M Flap Wheels
- Available in Aluminum Oxide (244D) and Ceramic Aluminum Oxide Blend (747D) minerals, covering grit ranges from 36 to 150 depending on the product
- Great for cleaning, deburring, polishing, and finishing
- Open web resists load buildup so the mineral keeps cutting longer
- Conformable nylon fibers respond to surface irregularities without gouging, preserving original part geometry
| Product | Mineral | Grade | Performance | Stainless steel | Carbon steel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 244D | Aluminum Oxide | 60–120 | Better | — | ● |
| 747D | Ceramic Aluminum Oxide Blend | 36–150 | Best | ● | ● |
Available in T83 (1/4" straight shaft) and T84 (1/4-20 threaded) mounts.
3M™ Cubitron™ II Flap Discs
3M's Cubitron™ II Flap Discs grind and finish in a single step — grinding, weld removal, deburring, and more — cutting with less pressure for better operator comfort. They're flexible enough to follow curves and contours, less prone to gouging, and include a grinding aid that keeps the disc cool on heat-sensitive metals. Because their construction lets more abrasive load on, they keep cutting long after other discs go dull.
15-minute grind test: weld removed
In 3M's own 15-minute grind test, the 3M™ Cubitron™ II 967A 40+ removed roughly 2.5× (250%) the weld material of two competitive ceramic discs tested at the same grit range, which measured 100% and 103% respectively as the test baselines.
Where each cutting level fits
Low
Blending, light cleaning
Medium
Weld removal, scale removal, oxide removal, surface prep
Medium-high
Beveling, light deburring
Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad Selection Guide
Scotch-Brite™ hand pads are color-coded by grade — from ultra fine gray pads for finishing up to tan heavy-duty pads for aggressive cleaning. Less aggressive/finer finish runs top to bottom in the color-code chart further down this section.
| Blending | Finishing | Deburring | Cleaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 3M Multi-Flex | 3M Multi-Flex | — | 3M Multi-Flex |
| Better | 7446, 7447 | 7440, 7447, 7448 | — | 7447 |
| Best | 7440, 8447 | 7446, 8447 | 7440 | 8447 |
Scotch-Brite hand pad color code
| Pad | Color | Aggressiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 7448 — Ultra Fine Hand Pad | Gray | Least aggressive / finest finish |
| 7447 — General Purpose Hand Pad | Maroon | Light-medium |
| 8447 — Production Hand Pad | Maroon | Medium |
| 7446 — Blending Hand Pad | Gray | Medium |
| 7440 — Heavy Duty Hand Pad | Tan | Most aggressive / coarsest cleaning |
Shop the tools for the job
Frequently asked questions
What is 3M Cubitron abrasive technology?
Cubitron is 3M's precision-shaped ceramic grain abrasive line. Instead of randomly fractured grit, the grain is engineered into sharp, uniform triangular shapes that stay sharp longer and cut faster than conventional aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasives — used across 3M's Roloc discs, flap discs, belts, and grinding wheels.
What do the Scotch-Brite hand pad colors mean?
Color indicates grade, not a universal aggressiveness standard on its own: gray 7448 is the least aggressive (ultra fine finishing), maroon 7447 and 8447 sit in the light-to-medium range for general purpose and production use, and tan 7440 is the most aggressive, built for heavy-duty cleaning and deburring.
What's the difference between 3M EXL and EXL Pro deburring wheels?
Both are convolute Scotch-Brite wheels effective on all metals, composites, and glass. EXL Pro uses a tougher wheel composition that lasts 30–50% longer than the standard EXL wheel and needs less pressure to remove burrs and radius edges, with a resin system that minimizes smearing.
Which 3M abrasive belt should I use for stainless steel?
For stainless steel, 3M's Best-tier belts are 984F/947A for most machine types, 747D/947A for stroke sanders, and 984F for wet flat finishing. Step down to 777F for a Better-tier option, or Trizact for a final finishing pass. See the full Coated Abrasive Belt Selection Guide above for every machine type.
How do I choose between a Cubitron II flap disc and a fibre disc?
A Cubitron II flap disc grinds and finishes in one step and stays flexible on contours, so it's the better all-around choice for weld removal, deburring, and blending. A rigid fibre disc concentrates more pressure for the fastest raw stock removal on flat surfaces, but needs a separate finishing pass afterward.
