17 Surprising Woodshop Uses for 3M Cubitron II 775L PSA Abrasive Sheets and Discs

By Mike Taylor, Taylor Toolworks

I’d like to spotlight an unsung hero of the woodworking shop: PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) abrasive sheets and sanding discs. Specifically, the 3M Cubitron II 775L Film-Backed Sanding Sheets and Discs. If that doesn’t sound exciting, stick around—because by the end of this post, you’ll see just how versatile and essential this abrasive can be in your shop. I’ve found no fewer than 17 unique uses for them beyond just slapping one on a sander.

Why 3M Cubitron II?

Before we dive into the applications, here’s why these are my go-to abrasives. Cubitron II sheets and discs are made from 3M’s 775L precision-shaped ceramic grain—engineered into tiny triangular structures that slice through wood instead of plowing through it. This means cooler cutting, faster material removal, and a much longer life span. Combine that with an ultra-tough film backing and super-strong, clean-removing PSA adhesive, and you’ve got an abrasive that outperforms everything else on the market. In fact, this is the fastest-cutting and longest-lasting abrasive out there—guaranteed.

Now, let’s get into 17 ways to use them.

1. Custom Sanding Blocks

Cut a block to any size and shape you need, add cushioning (like craft foam or cork rubber), lacquer the surface, and apply your abrasive. When the paper gets dull, just peel off and replace. It’s easy to swap grits, and perfect for all kinds of blocks—flat, angled, or even round.

2. Hand Sanding Pads

Fold a piece in half for quick touch-ups. Or stick one to craft foam or leather to add some cushioning or create a pad with an elastic hand strap for better control and comfort.

3. Contour Sticks

Wrap abrasive around dowels, PVC pipe, or pipe insulation tubes to sand inside coves and round profiles. Fast, cheap, and great for refining molding, raised panels, and decorative grooves.

4. Sanding Files

Stick a strip of abrasive to a flat or contoured wooden stick. Trim it flush with the edge to create sharp, crisp corners, or leave one side clean for a “safe edge” that won’t scratch adjacent surfaces. These are perfect for fairing curves or refining joinery like tenons and dovetails. Add a handle for extra control. Use coarse grits (80x) for aggressive stock removal and fine grits to clean up scratch marks.

5. Corner Files

Make 90-degree files by placing trimmed abrasive strips on adjacent sides of a stick. Great for refining inside corners and cleaning up square bandsaw cuts.

6. Inside/Outside Corner Edge Breakers

Soften sharp edges inside grooves or dados by wrapping abrasive around a small block. Or cut a V-notch into a block and wrap a disc around it to chamfer both corners in one pass.

7. Flat Lap Boards

Stick abrasive sheets to a flat surface for precision lapping of small parts like knife handles, drawer handles, inlays, or any small part where you need controlled stock removal. Use a 45° guide block to sand chamfers with control.

8. Lathe Taper Sander

Turn a taper on the lathe that’s not quite straight? Push it against a sanding board with Cubitron abrasive attached for flawless, straight lines—no advanced turning skills needed.

9. Drill Press Disc Sander

Use a mandrel and a plexiglass or plywood disc to create a dual-sided sander. Grind on top, dimension stock underneath, sharpen blades, or flatten ther backs of palne blades -all with precision.

10. Drum Contour Sanders

Wrap strips of abrasive around homemade plywood drums or rubber sanding drums. Great for smoothing curves or polishing inside curves of contoured parts. With grits available down to 400 you can get a surprisingly smooth finish.

11. Non-Slip Jig Surfaces

Cut abrasive into strips and apply them to jigs, sleds, or fences for added grip. 120 grit gives just enough traction without marring your workpiece.

12. Flattening Plane Soles and Chisel & Plane Blade Backs

Stick abrasive to a granite slab or cast iron surface to flatten plane soles and the backs of irons or chisels. For more control, use a MagSwitch as a handle—it’s faster, safer, and cleaner than other methods.

13. Shooting Sanders

Don’t own an expensive low-angle shooting plane? Make a Shooting Sander Block with a stepped safe edge and stick-on abrasive. It turns your shooting board into a precise sanding station, perfect for squaring ends of parts with no tear-out. One can also be used with bench hooks.

14. Chamfer Sanders

Make a 45° ramp jig and apply abrasive to the angled surface. Sand consistent bevels or clean up router chatter. More advanced versions include adjustable depth stops and replaceable abrasive sections.

15. Fair Curve Sanders

Stick PSA abrasive to a thin, flexible hardwood batten and glue handles to both ends. You can then bend it to match concave or convex shapes and sand smooth, consistent arcs—perfect for refining curves, templates, and shaping work. Hardwood strips around 1/16" thick offer good flexibility, but experiment with different thicknesses to find what works best for your project.

16. Jointer Sanders

Stick abrasive to a 90° block to manually square the edge of boards. Ideal for small parts, thin stock, or when you don’t have access to a powered jointer.

17. Leveling Furniture Legs

Is a stool or chair rocking? Stick a small sheet to your table saw top and gently grind down the long legs until the rocking stops. It’s a fast and controlled fix.

Final Thoughts...

Cubitron II 775L PSA sheets and discs are more than just consumables—they’re creative shop tools in their own right. They’re aggressive, long-lasting, and versatile enough to replace a drawer full of specialty abrasives and shaping tools. Keep a few sheets in various grits on hand, and you’ll be amazed how often they come in handy.

Available in 5" and 6" discs or our NEW 9" x 11" sheets, in grits from 80 to 400—grab yours today HERE at Taylor Toolworks.