The Norton A290 No-Fil abrasive disc is coated with stearate for more durability over an uncoated abrasive while resisting chip loading. The lightweight backing is flexible and conforms to the workpiece. This disc is suitable for soldered and welded areas, as well as all other dry metal finishing operations. Coated abrasives have individual abrasive grains spaced at a predetermined distance from one another. This is an open-coat disc. An open coat covers 50 to 70 percent of the surface with abrasive grains, for greater flexibility and clog resistance than a closed coat, which covers 100 percent of the surface. An open coat allows for longer usage time because it clogs less, while a closed coat offers a finer surface finish than an equivalent open-coat abrasive. The paper backing is flexible, and offers a more consistent finish than a cloth or fiber backing, while being thicker and more durable than a polyester film backing. NorGrip hook and loop fastener is easy to press on and tear off, and helps make disc changes fast. Stearated abrasives are non-pigmented to eliminate color transfer to the work surface. This disc is suitable for use with a die grinder or orbital sander. Use with molded rubber back-up pads on a grinder, using a hard pad for aggressive cutting, a medium pad for general purpose applications, or a soft pad for contours and fine finishing work. Or, with a random orbital sander, use a foam back-up pad to match the application. Foam pads come in different combinations of shape and density for finer or more aggressive work. For example, use a low profile for uniform contact with the work surface, a tapered edge for small contours or inside corners, soft density for 320 grit and finer sanding, or medium density for grits coarser than 320. Aluminum oxide is a widely used and versatile abrasive material. It is a tough, fracture- and wear-resistant grit that works well with a broad range of materials, from metals to wood. Aluminum oxide is more durable than silicon carbide and often used for material removal and finishing. P-graded abrasive grains are held to a closer tolerance than non-P-graded abrasives, which means that they offer a more consistent surface finish. Abrasives are used for a variety of applications from shaping a part to fine finishing, depending on the grit size. Low grit numbers like 40 are coarse and are used for removing excess material and shaping a part. High grit numbers like 400 are fine and help to create a smooth surface finish. Norton Abrasives manufactures a wide variety of sanding, grinding, and polishing abrasives, and has been located in the United States since 1885. In 1990, Saint-Gobain purchased Norton, keeping its manufacturing facilities and offices in the same location. Norton/Saint-Gobain has been recognized as a Global 100 Sustainable Company, as well as earning ISO 9000 and 14001 certification for quality and environmental management standards.