Clean & Strip Discs for Surface Preparation NovoAbrasive

When faced with tough jobs like removing rust, thick paint, or stubborn sealants, the challenge is to strip the coating without damaging the valuable metal underneath. Traditional grinding wheels gouge the surface, and wire wheels can struggle with soft coatings. This is where the Novoabrasive Clean and Strip Disc becomes an essential tool.

This guide will explain what these unique discs are, their key advantages, and how to use them to achieve a perfectly clean surface ready for the next step.

What Are Clean and Strip Discs?

Often called "poly-strip" or "surface conditioning" discs, these are not traditional grinding wheels. They are constructed from a thick, porous, three-dimensional web of nylon fiber, which is then coated with an aggressive abrasive—Silicon Carbide—and bonded with a special resin.

Think of it as a tough, open-web abrasive sponge. This unique structure is the secret to its incredible performance.

Key Features:

• Non-Woven Structure: The open web design prevents the disc from "loading" or clogging, even when removing soft, sticky materials like seam sealer or undercoating.
• Aggressive Abrasive: Silicon Carbide is an extremely hard and sharp grain that cuts quickly, ripping through rust and paint with ease.
• Flexibility: The nylon material has a slight give, allowing it to conform to contours and clean surfaces without aggressively removing the base material.

When to Use a Clean and Strip Disc: The Perfect Tool For...

These discs are designed for stripping and cleaning, not for heavy metal removal. They excel at:

• Rust and Scale Removal: Strips heavy rust from steel panels, frames, and parts, leaving behind a clean, workable metal surface.
• Paint and Epoxy Stripping: Quickly removes multiple layers of paint, primer, and tough epoxy coatings from cars, boats, and machinery.
• Cleaning Welds: Removes discoloration and contaminants from weld beads without altering the profile of the weld itself.
• Sealant & Undercoating Removal: The non-clogging design makes it the best tool for removing gummy seam sealers and thick automotive undercoatings.
• Surface Preparation: Creates a perfectly clean, lightly abraded surface that is ideal for paint, body filler, or new coatings to adhere to.

The Key Advantages Over Traditional Methods

Why choose a Clean and Strip disc over a wire wheel or a flap disc?

• vs. Flap Discs & Grinding Wheels: A flap disc will strip paint, but it will also aggressively grind away the metal. A Clean and Strip disc removes the coating without significantly altering the original surface. It preserves the integrity of sheet metal.
• vs. Wire Wheels: Wire wheels are less effective on thick coatings and can get clogged. They also pose a safety risk of throwing sharp wires. Clean and Strip discs are more aggressive, won't clog with soft materials, and are safer to operate.
• vs. Sanding: Chemical paint strippers are messy and slow. A Clean and Strip disc is a fast, mechanical process with no harsh chemicals.

How to Use Clean and Strip Discs Safely and Effectively

These discs are designed for use on a standard angle grinder.

1. Safety First (PPE is Mandatory):

• Full-Face Shield: Essential for protecting your face from flying debris.
• Gloves: Heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands.
• Respirator: Protects your lungs from inhaling paint, rust, and abrasive particles.

2. Mount the Disc:

• Ensure the grinder is unplugged.
• Mount the disc onto the grinder just like a standard grinding wheel, using the proper flange and locking nut.

3. The Correct Technique:

• Use the Flat Face: The primary work surface is the flat face of the disc, not the edge.
• Apply Light Pressure: This is the most important rule. Pushing hard will not make it work faster; it will only cause it to wear out prematurely. Let the speed of the grinder and the sharpness of the Silicon Carbide do the work.
• Keep it Moving: Use smooth, sweeping motions across the surface. Don't dwell in one spot for too long.
• Manage Heat: While these discs generate less heat than grinding wheels, prolonged use on thin sheet metal can still cause warping. Work in small sections and allow the panel to cool if necessary.

Pro-Tips for Maximum Performance

• As the disc wears down, its smaller diameter can be used to get into tighter corners and more detailed areas.
• For extremely delicate work, you can reduce the pressure even further and let the disc "float" over the surface.
• The disc works by shearing off coatings. You will see it working instantly. If you have to push, you are doing it wrong.

By using a Novoabrasive Clean and Strip disc, you are choosing the smartest, fastest, and safest way to prepare a surface. It allows you to remove what you don't want (rust, paint) while perfectly preserving what you do (the base material).