General abrasives cover the belts, rolls, sheets, pads and specialty products that do not fit a single disc or wheel category. They are used for surface preparation, blending, deburring, cleaning and finishing, and the right product for the stage of work matters more than brand or price.
Abrasive type follows the material. Aluminium oxide is the general-purpose grain and the cheapest. Zirconia alumina is tougher and longer-lived, used on steel and stainless. Ceramic grain cuts fastest and coolest and lasts longest on hard alloys. Silicon carbide is used for non-ferrous metals, stone and painted surfaces where other grains load up.
Backing and form follow the application. Cloth backing is durable and used for belts and discs on metal. Paper backing is for finer finishing work. Non-woven material (Scotch-Brite type) is used for blending and surface conditioning where removing metal is not wanted.
Grit progression matters. Skipping grits leaves scratches that the next step cannot remove; going through every grit wastes time. Starting one grit coarser than the previous step's finish is the standard rule.
