Abrasive product attributes

Abrasives look like a simple category until the records are compared side by side. A single part family can include cut-off wheels, flap discs, fiber discs, belts and quick-change discs, and each form has its own dimensions and mounting. Supplier files often carry one shared description field, so the diameter, thickness, arbor size and wheel type number end up buried in a title string that has to be parsed before any of it can be filtered.

Grit is the most common source of silent error. Coated abrasives are usually graded on the FEPA P scale, while some North American products use the CAMI scale, and the two diverge at finer grits. A bare "120" in a feed does not say which scale applies. Bonded wheels add a separate marking code for grain, grit, grade and bond, which should be stored as its own identifier rather than squeezed into the grit field.

A buyer choosing a wheel or disc needs the grain and workpiece suitability, the maximum operating speed so it can be matched against the tool nameplate, the mount that fits the backing pad or spindle, and the pack quantity. Abrasives are almost always sold by the box, and a price that looks cheap per unit is often a price per disc against a competitor's price per box of 25.

The abrasives attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 10 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	ABR-FD45-Z080
Bonded Wheel Spec Code bonded_wheel_spec_code	Identifier	Buyer decision	A36-N-BF
Pack Quantity pack_quantity	Number	Core	10 per box
GTIN-13 / UPC gtin_13_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	0614141000029

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Diameter diameter	Number · in	Core	4-1/2 in (115 mm)
Thickness thickness	Number · in	Core	0.045 in (1.2 mm), cut-off wheel
Maximum Operating Speed maximum_operating_speed	Number · rpm	Core	13,300 rpm

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Abrasive Product Type abrasive_product_type	Controlled list	Core	Flap disc
Abrasive Grain / Mineral abrasive_grain_mineral	Controlled list	Core	Zirconia alumina
Grit Size grit_size	Controlled list	Core	P80
Wheel Type Number wheel_type_number	Controlled list	Core	Type 27
Backing / Substrate backing_substrate	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Vulcanized fiber
Workpiece Material workpiece_material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Stainless steel (304/316)
Contaminant-Free Claim (Fe/S/Cl) contaminant_free_fe_s_cl	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Yes, Fe, S and Cl each 0.1% max (manufacturer declaration)

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Arbor Hole / Mount Thread arbor_hole_mount_thread	Controlled list	Core	7/8 in (22.23 mm)
Attachment / Mount Type attachment_mount_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Quick-change twist-on hub, 2 in disc

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Safety Standard Conformance safety_standard_conformance	Text	Channel / evidence	EN 12413; oSa marked
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Germany

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Expiry or date-marking for resin-bonded wheels
• Grit grading scale (FEPA P vs CAMI)
• Maximum operating speed in both rpm and m/s
• Backing weight or class for coated products
• Pack quantity per box and per case

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing abrasives ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Is this wheel rated for the speed of my 4-1/2 in angle grinder?
• Will this disc fit my existing backing pad, or do I need a different mount?
• Is this grit on the P scale, and how does it compare to the grit I use now?
• How many discs come in a box, and is the price per disc or per box?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ