Pad savers are placed between the backing pad mounted on the machine and the velcro sanding disc, to protect the pad from premature wear. Each time a velcro abrasive is removed, it stresses the small hooks of the pad which hold the abrasive in place, over time they lose their tension which makes them less effective. Also, due to heat build-up during sanding, the hooks can soften and be shed from the pad which will eventually mean the abrasive can no longer be retained and the backing pad will need to be replaced.
As a low cost sacrificial layer between the machine’s backing pad and abrasive, protection pads are an effective way of reducing pad replacement and reducing the overall cost of sanding. Pad savers are recommended for all types of velcro abrasives, in particular mesh and net. The very open structure of net abrasives such as Mirka Abranet and 3M Xtract allow more heat to reach the backing pad which can accelerate pad deterioration.
