Sam the Cat wrote:

question for others using a ROS w/H&L pad. Recently the local borg has
started carrying the norton paper with a combo set of holes to fit both 8
and 5 hole pads. Besides seeming to be a lot less sandpaper I have noticed
my H&L pad is loosing its grip. With all the extra holes in the pad I am
thinking that I have ruined the pad -- anyone else experience this, or am I
nuts ? I've tried to revive the H&L with a brash brush, but it did not help
much. Its getting to the point that the paper flys off the pad if I pick it
up off the work surface.

Now I am faced with getting the sander fixed -- a new H&L pad goes for ~$22
and with shipping comes to ~$27. Now ordinarily this would not seem odd --
except that I can get a new 333 on Amazon for ~$64, new motor plus pad for
about twice the cost of a replacement pad alone

I thought the replacement pads were more like $15, but it's been about a
year since I last bought some---

They (the pads) to wear out...a thorough cleaning w/ cleaning liquid may
help a little for a while but one the "sticky" starts to lessen they're
toast before long...

If you use much volume, I'd recommend going w/ PSA instead of H&L--much
cheaper in the long run at only a slight (imo) inconvenience. The
advantage of switching from one grit to another and back w/ the same
sheet is the only advantage and at the much cheaper cost of PSA, that
isn't that big a deal...ymmv, etc.

Regarding abrasives, I've used either Klingspor or the Mirka from
Amazon--both are much better quality/longer-lived than the HD-carried
Norton and probably less than half the cost...

Only problem w/ Klingspor is they don't seem to have much in the 5-hole
PSA.

One can also buy bulk rolls of PSA paper at the local auto-body supply
at much less than the Borg retail prices.