January 31, 2025
| Standard Line discs | Zirconia FSC (conical face); FSF (flat face) |
| Industrial Line discs | Top coated Zirconia FNC (conical); FNF (flat); |
| Performance Line discs | Top coated Ceramic FPC (conical); FPF (flat); |
| Top Line discs | Ceramic FTC (Conical); FTF (flat); FOV (extended – for external and internal radius grinding) |
Description: After extensive testing Cibo Abrasives launched their Standard Line of Zirconia abrasive cloth flap discs. The FSC and FSF flap discs combined a good quality zirconia cotton cloth with great performance and a competitive price.
Standard line discs are ideal for working on stainless steel where where the backing breakdown is ideal to prevent discs glazing over. For general purpose use the zirconia flap discs are used on stainless steel, mild steel and aluminium.
Grit Type: Zirconium Oxide / Zirconia
Available Grades: 40, 60, 80, 120
Description: With a longer disc life than the Standard Line, Cibo’s FNC and FNF flap discs are made from a top performing zirconia abrasive cloth with grinding aids to ensure high cut rate and long life. Industrial line are the workhorse disc for steel fabricators who are yet to discover the increased benefits of stepping up to ceramcis.
Grit Type: Zirconium Oxide / Zirconia
Available Grades: 40, 60, 80
Applications: Industrial Line flap discs are particularly suited to more aggressive grinding applications where speed of cut really matters.
Description: The Cibo FTC and FTF ceramic Top Line discs out-perform traditional grinding discs by as much as 50% whilst achieving a better finish. Cibo’s Ceramic flap discs have the highest stock removal capacity of any flap disc we have tested, as well as the longest effective life. FOV discs use the same Top Line performance abrasives but have an extended flexible edge to improve access on internal corners and the radiussing of external corners to reduce the risk of flat spots on curves and tubes
Grit Type: Ceramic
Shape: Conical, flat, extended
Available Grades: 40, 60, 80
Applications: The FTC conical ceramic flap discs have an excellent cut rate on steel and aluminium.
Dependent on the product selected abrasive flap discs can now offer everything from aggressive and consistent stock removal through to fine finishing, pre-polishing and now even mirror polishing solutions.
For the operator flap discs offer a number of advantages over traditional grinding discs. Firstly they are lighter in weight and are easier to control when grinding metal. More importantly flap discs generate less noise and cause less vibration thus reducing the risk of vibration white finger. In addition flap discs provide much less down time when compared to traditional sanding discs.
So given the benefits of flap discs. How do I choose the right disc for my metal fabrication application?
Flap discs are designed for use on angle grinders which means that they have a locking nut in the centre allowing them to work at shallow angle or even flat to the metal surface. The angle at which the disc is presented to the workpiece will change how aggressive the grinding action is. To assist with this three types of flap disc are now commonly made.
Conical shaped discs, flat faced discs and flat faced discs with a flexible edge.
Flat faced discs are generally preferred for finishing or more controlled grinding applications where a lower grinding pressure is applied to the disc
After choosing the grit size then the most important question is which type of abrasive grain will give me the best cut / life / cost ratio. Aluminium oxide discs have now largely disappeared from the market due to their poor performance against the zirconia disc. There is however a new kid on the block with the ceramic aluminium oxide flap discs which are the future of power grinding.
Ceramic alumina: This technology has now been perfected and gives a great cut under high pressure grinding applications. Early itterations of ceramic flap discs had a great initial cut but then glazed over. This is not a problem with the latest generation of ceramic abrasives. In 40 and 60 grit forms we recommend ceramic grain grinding on steel, stainless steel and aluminium as well as on high alloy metals such as waspalloy.
Zirconia alumina: Good quality zirconia flap discs are a high quality blend of zirconia and aluminum oxide grain which provides an excellent cut v cost ratio. They are traditionally supplied for general steel grinding applications.