3M Abrasives
3M abrasives are trusted across the industrial, automotive, aerospace, and metalworking sectors for their unmatched performance, consistency, and precision. Engineered with advanced materials science, these abrasives are designed to help professionals achieve superior surface preparation and finishing results - quickly, cleanly, and efficiently.
What sets 3M abrasive technology apart is the innovation behind its materials. Proprietary systems like Cubitron™ II ceramic abrasives and Trizact™ microreplicated abrasives deliver sharper, longer-lasting cutting action that outperforms conventional sanding belts and discs. Each product is built to optimize cut rate, longevity, and surface quality, making 3M a trusted choice for heavy grinding, fine finishing, and everything in between.
From grinding wheels, sanding discs, and belts to specialty finishing materials, RSP Supply offers a full selection of 3M surface preparation products - ready to help you achieve consistent, high-quality results in every application.
FAQs
What are 3M abrasives used for?
3M abrasives are used for cutting, grinding, sanding, blending, deburring, and polishing materials such as metal, wood, plastic, and composites in industrial and manufacturing applications.
What makes 3M abrasives different from other brands?
3M abrasives feature proprietary technologies like Cubitron™ II and Trizact™, which use precision-shaped and microreplicated grains to deliver faster cutting, cooler operation, and longer life compared to conventional abrasives.
What is Cubitron™ II technology?
3M Cubitron™ II abrasives use precision-shaped ceramic grains that continuously self-sharpen during use, maintaining high performance, reducing heat buildup, and providing consistent finishes with less operator effort.
What is 3M Trizact™ technology?
3M Trizact™ abrasives use microreplicated pyramids of abrasive minerals that wear evenly to produce predictable, fine finishes—ideal for polishing, paint preparation, and high-precision surface finishing.
What types of abrasive products does 3M offer?
3M manufactures abrasive belts, discs, wheels, sheets, hand pads, and surface conditioning products, along with accessories and power tools designed for professional use.
Beveling with 3M Abrasives
There are various methods to bevel a workpiece, each with its own advantages. Choices include a grinding wheel, a fiber disc, or a flap disc, and the selection often boils down to personal preference. In this discussion, we'll explore different beveling techniques and conduct a test to compare how much material each method removes in 30 seconds of grinding. The material used for this test is a 1018 carbon steel plate.
3M™ Silver Depressed Center Grinding Wheel.
Renowned for their long-lasting durability, grinding wheels might not be the quickest at cutting, but they endure through extensive grinding and beveling on numerous parts. In our test, this wheel removed 19 grams of material.
3M™ Cubitron™ II Flap Disc 969F.
Flap discs may not be the fastest cutters, but they stand out for their conformability and ease of use. However, they tend to wear down more rapidly in high-pressure tasks like beveling. In our test, the flap disc removed 27 grams of material.
3M™ Cubitron™ II Fibre Disc 982C.
Among the three abrasive types, fiber discs are the most efficient, cutting significantly faster and removing more material than both the grinding wheel and the flap disc in a 30-second grinding interval. This disc removed 43 grams of material.