Abrasives by Application — Choosing the Right Abrasive for Your Material One of the most common mistakes people make is reaching for whatever abrasive is available rather than choosing one matched to the material they're working with. Every surface has a hardness, a grain structure, and a sensitivity to heat and contamination. The right abrasive respects all three. Abrasives for Metal Metal is the most diverse category when it comes to abrasive selection. Different metals respond very dif …