3M Xtract Virtually Dust Free Composites Reviews Summary

Durability

Pros:

• "The sandpaper preforms great. It cuts great and after sanding for over an hour it was still highly abrasive."
• "This sandpaper lasts longer than the Festool and Mirka I had been using."
• "This stuff actually holds up longer and continues to provide a quality finish for probably 3-4x as long."
• "They last for ages and never block up"
• "Even after several hours of continuous sanding on various surfaces, they showed minimal signs of wear and continued to deliver consistent results."
• "They seem to last 10x longer than traditional sanding disks."
• "I've sanded several smaller projects and the paper has shown little sign of wearing out."

Cons:

• "Like the subject states I want to love these but I cant. While they are newish they work really really well but they just don't last."
• "These disks simply do not stick to the pads on either a DeWalt or Festool sander."
• "It loses its grit after a few uses."
• "It was wasting money, this sand paper doesn’t last like other brands that I used to buy."
• "The disks wore out quickly and wouldn't stay attached to my sander."
• "They wear out very fast, if you don’t check often, you run the risk of burning through your backing plate in your sander."
• "The discs wear out quickly overall."

Performance

Pros:

• "The dust extraction is amazingly better than anything I have used in the past"
• "They take your sanding capabilities to a whole new level."
• "These sanding discs work like a dream! They cut like nobodies business and last surprisingly long."
• "Virtually all the dust if collected compared to the standard disks with holes."
• "Woodworking since 1980. The 3M Xtract net disc are the fastest cutting and longest lasting sanding disc I have used so far."
• "These sanding discs cut faster then any other I've used."
• "They're effective, have great dust collection, and you can usually tell when it’s time to change the disc for a new one just by looking at it."

Cons:

• "Complete waste of money."
• "Same as with other's negative experiences but most of all, they just don't stay in place."
• "All these reviews about it wearing out are correct. The abrasive does fly off, and then you have to brush it off of the surface you are sanding or it will cause pig tails."
• "From all the rave reviews I thought this would be the best sandpaper to end all sandpapers.. but was sorely mistaken."
• "I would NEVER recommend these sanding discs to anyone.. I don't understand the results other people have had when I read the positive reviews."
• "Very disappointed."
• "I was expecting more from these."

Design & Ease of Use

Pros:

• "I like the fact that I can just set the sander on the disc without lining up the holes."
• "This thing attached to a Ryobi orbital sander with a pad protector did that job like child's play.. It took out wood and didn't get clogged."
• "Since there are no holes to line up attaching the disk is quicker."
• "The mesh is great for dust collection, and there is no lining up holes to your sander."
• "Design keeps them from gumming up, and facilitates dust suction without any holes on the face of the sandpaper having to line up with the sander."
• "The open pore design allows the very fine sanding particles to pass through rather than getting clogged up."
• "They do not load up like regular paper disks and are not limited to 9 holes of suction."

Cons:

• "poorly designed box. would recommend having a separate sandpaper box to transfer all of it into once you open it."
• "The purple sanding material is easily peeled from the flimsy backing mesh."
• "The hook and loop was 'looser' for me and didn't secure the discs to my sander as much as I'd prefer."
• "They also don’t get all clogged with sawdust like regular ones do."
• "The hook and loop does not attach. I have replaced the pad but the paper continues to fly off the sander."
• "One of the most annoying things is that it does NOT stick to my orbital sander's foot."
• "I wanted to like this paper so badly. It does sand well but as others have said, the hook and loop does not attach."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "They are slightly more expensive but they really do the job they were intended for."
• "In the long run they will save me money for sure."
• "This has saved me a ton of time, and the price is very fair."
• "at $40 for a 50 pack, they are two or three times the value."
• "Although more expensive to purchase they outlast conventional sanding discs enough that I’m convinced they are actually cheaper in the long run."
• "They're just as cheap or cheaper than those inferior brands!"
• "Pricier than traditional paper discs, but (in my opinion) this is offset by how long they last."

Cons:

• "rather pricey, i've seen it on other sites for a good bit cheaper."
• "I just cant get behind the price paid for the minor difference in wood removal abilities."
• "But the price of this sand paper is ROUGH to get past."
• "They're not worth the money... yet."
• "I hate writing negative reviews BUT...."
• "They are completely worthless. They last about 1/5 as long as other brands I use. Don’t waste your money."
• "I was both extremely happy and extremely pissed off as I wasted 3 months of doing nothing but sanding with the cheapo paper."