Sanding and finishing is the one area that almost all woodworkers struggle with. Whether you are finishing a garage sale find, applying a durable film finish on a kitchen cabinet project, or using a traditional oil and wax finish, sanding is extremely important. Ask the pros and they will tell you that a key tool to achieving a flawless finish is using an abrasive scuff pad like Mirka Mirlon.
Mirka Mirlon is a non-woven sanding pad that you can think of as steel wool on steroids. Since the sanding grit is bonded to the synthetic fibers it won't clog-up like traditional sandpaper. Instead, it remains free-cutting as the sanding process continuously exposes fresh sanding grit to produce a smooth and consistent scratch pattern.
We offer Mirka Mirlon in two grits that are easily identified by color. The maroon sanding pads are rated at 360 grit and are perfect for final sanding, prepping old finish to be re-coated, and removing rust for cast iron and steel surfaces. It's also comparable to 2/0 or 3/0 steel wool but uses aluminum oxide for fast and consistent results.
The gray sanding pads are rated at 1500 grit and are ideal for scuffing between finish coats and make an excellent applicator pad for oil & wax finishes. The gray pads are also perfect for knocking down a high gloss finish to a beautiful satin sheen and are comparable to 0000 steel wool. The gray pads feature silicone carbide aggregate to produce an extremely fine and consistent scratch pattern.
Unlike steel wool, with Mirka Mirlon you don't have to worry about bits of metal fibers embedding and rusting in your projects. If you use water-based finishes like General Finishes Milk Paint or High-Performance Clear Coat you know steel wool is a bad choice. Mirlon, on the other hand, is excellent at scuffing and de-nibbing between coats with any finish.
Mirlon, unlike sandpaper, excels at sanding profiled surfaces like crown moldings or raised panel doors. It won't tear or crease like sandpaper, making it much better at getting into tight places. And because it is soft and flexible it is much less likely to dull the sharp details you worked so hard to create.
If you love using traditional oil and wax finishes like Odie's Oil, you owe it to yourself to try using Mirlon as an applicator pad. Unlike a common rag, Mirlon holds the finish without absorbing it, so it's easier to spread. It also provides a wet sanding action that helps polish the wood for a beautiful satin sheen.
For everything from shop maintenance to the final touch of your next woodworking project, Mirka Mirlon is the secret weapon of professional and hobbyist woodworkers alike.
