
The 8698 is the dark green, coarse pad. In China it is the pad workshops actually reach for — it
took over from steel wool and abrasive cloth wheels in the 1990s because it left an even line pattern
instead of the streaks those older methods produced. The abrasive is aluminum oxide at a coarse grade
in an open nylon web, so it cuts fast and conforms to the contour of the part instead of skidding
across it.
It is supplied three ways: jumbo roll, slit roll, or cut pads. Plating shops and stainless
fabricators usually take the roll and cut their own length; bench work and fixed operations usually
take the cut pads so the size does not vary between operators.
Specifications
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Code | 8698 |
| Colour | Dark green |
| Abrasive Grain | Aluminum Oxide |
| Grade | Coarse — cut comparable to steel wool grade 3 |
| Base | Non-woven nylon open web |
| Jumbo Roll | 1300 mm × 60 m (51″ × 197 ft) |
| Jumbo Roll (alt.) | 914 mm × 88 m (36″ × 288 ft) |
| Slit Roll | 70 / 90 / 100 mm wide × 5–8 m — other widths to order |
| Cut Pad | 90 × 145 / 120 × 200 / 145 × 220 mm |
| Packing (pads) | 100 pcs per box |
| Working Method | Dry or wet |
Applications
- Restoring the brushed (hairline) finish on stainless sheet, tube and handrail
- Antique bronze and patinated finishes on copper and brass — the even line pattern is why 8698
replaced steel wool and cloth wheels in this trade - Hand and machine polishing of electroplated parts, where a cloth wheel would cut through the plating
- Blending weld marks on stainless before passivation
- Removing heavy oxide, heat tint and contamination from aluminium and copper
- Cleaning large flat surfaces straight off the roll — cut a length, use it, throw it away

Roll or cut pads — which to order
| Jumbo / slit roll | Cut pads | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shops that go through pads fast and cut their own length | Fixed bench work, or where pad size must not vary between operators |
| Waste | Almost none — you cut exactly what you use | Offcuts when only one corner is worn |
| Storage | Needs a rack; a 60 m roll is heavy | Boxes stack on a shelf |
| Consistency | Depends on how the operator cuts | Identical every time |
Why the cost per part is lower than the cost per pad
One 8698 pad costs more than a wad of steel wool. It also lasts several times longer, does not
rust, and leaves no fragments in the finish — so the cost per finished part comes out lower. In
plating shops the saving is larger still: a single pass with 8698 replaces a cloth-wheel step that
used to need correcting afterwards.
FAQ
- What grit is 8698?
- It is rated by cut rather than by a coated-abrasive grit number — specified as comparable to steel
wool grade 3. Some suppliers quote P180 as an approximation; treat that as an equivalent, not a
specification. - Will it scratch stainless steel?
- It leaves a visible brushed line — that is what it is for. If you need the line taken down
afterwards, follow with a finer pad. - What is the difference between 8698 and 7447?
- 8698 is coarse and green, made for stainless brushing and heavy oxide removal. 7447 is very fine
and maroon, made for paint preparation and light blending. See hand pad 7447 / 7447C. - Can it be used wet?
- Yes. Water flushes the swarf out of the web and keeps the cut consistent on stainless.
- Do you slit rolls to width?
- Yes — the jumbo roll is 1300 mm wide and we slit to whatever width you run. Give us width ×
length per roll and we quote from that.
More on how this pad is used in industry:
Examples of industrial uses for 8698.

