Abrasive Hand Pads

Non-woven abrasive hand pads are flexible pads used for cleaning, blending, finishing and surface preparation by hand. This guide explains how they work and how to choose the right grade.

What they are — A hand pad is a non-woven abrasive that works like a tougher, longer-lasting alternative to sandpaper or a scouring pad. It flexes to the shape of the work, so it reaches contours, edges and awkward areas a rigid abrasive cannot, and it can be used dry or wet, folded or flat.

Choosing a grade — Pads come in grades from coarse to fine. Coarse grades strip paint, rust, scale and old coatings, medium grades clean and blend, and fine grades produce a smooth, satin or brushed finish without heavy scratching. Work from coarse to fine where a job needs both, and use a fine pad for the final finish.

What they suit — Hand pads clean and key metal before painting, remove light rust and surface marks, blend and satin-finish stainless and other metals, and clean up wood and other surfaces. They are the tidy choice where an abrasive disc or belt would be too aggressive.

Choosing for the job — Keep a range of grades to hand so you can strip and then finish the same surface. Order the grades you use most, or a mixed selection to cover cleaning through to finishing.

Order before our daily cut-off for fast UK dispatch.