Gold A/O vs Purple Film Discs: No-Hole 6" Orbital Setup
By Quality Industrial Abrasives and Tools | Benchmark Abrasives | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: How-to Guides
Gold A/O and purple film 6-inch hook and loop discs both work on a no-hole backing pad, but they differ in backing, price and hole pattern. Here is how to pick.
Quick answer
For a no-hole backing pad on a random orbital sander, start with the gold A/O 6-hole discs when cost per disc drives the job, and switch to the purple film-backed no-hole discs when you want a film backing and a disc that matches a pad with no dust holes. Both use the same hook-and-loop attachment, so the real decision is backing material and hole pattern, not brand.
Why the hole pattern decides before the abrasive does
A no-hole sanding disc only makes sense on a backing pad without dust ports, or when you deliberately run without extraction. The purple film discs are listed as no-hole, so they pair directly with that setup. The gold A/O discs are listed with 6 holes, which means they are built for a pad with matching ports; on a solid pad the holes simply do nothing and you lose the dust path they were designed for.
That is the first filter. If your pad has no holes, the no-hole purple disc removes a mismatch. If your pad has 6 ports, the gold disc lets those ports work as intended.
Film backing vs the gold A/O construction
The purple discs use a film backing, a smooth, dimensionally stable sheet rather than a paper-like face. Film-backed discs are typically chosen where the user wants a consistent surface and a backing that resists the edge wear that paper can show. The catalog describes the gold discs as premium A/O, the aluminum oxide abrasive, sold in boxes of 50 with a hook-and-loop backing similar to Velcro.
The trade-off is not that one is universally better. Film backing usually carries a higher price, and the catalog prices reflect that: the purple 50-pack is listed at USD 36.22 against a comparison price of USD 52.49, while the gold 50-pack is listed at USD 13.34 against USD 21.51. If you are burning through discs on a high-volume job, the gold disc's lower entry cost is a real advantage.
The exception: grit range and what the listing does not say
Both products offer grit as an option, so you can build a sequence from coarse to fine with either. What the supplied records do not state is a full grit list, backing weight, or a maximum RPM for either disc. Do not assume a grit is available or that a disc is rated for a specific sander speed until you check the option menu and the product page. Treat those absences as a reason to verify, not as a reason to guess.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Hole pattern fit: Match the disc to the pad: no-hole purple discs for a solid pad, 6-hole gold discs for a pad with six ports. A mismatch wastes either the dust path or the hole punching. Check your backing pad before you check the grit.
- Cost per disc: The gold 50-pack is listed at USD 13.34 versus USD 21.51 comparison, and the purple 50-pack at USD 36.22 versus USD 52.49. For high-consumption stripping, the gold disc stretches the budget further. Price the pack, not the single disc, when you buy in bulk.
- Backing durability: Film backing gives the purple disc a stable, smooth face; the gold disc uses a conventional A/O hook-and-loop construction. Choose film when edge wear and surface consistency matter more than the lowest cost. Film is a premium choice, not a default one.
- Grit availability: Both listings offer grit as an option, but the supplied records do not list every grit. Confirm the grits you need in the option menu before committing to a 50-pack. A 50-pack is only a bargain if it contains the grit you actually use.
Product facts at a glance
- 6" Premium Purple Film Backed No Hole Hook & Loop Discs - 50 Pack: 6-inch premium purple film-backed discs with no holes, sold in a 50 pack. The no-hole pattern matches a solid backing pad, so you are not paying for dust ports you cannot use.
6" Premium Purple Film Backed No Hole Hook & Loop Discs - 50 Pack - 6" Gold A/O 6 Hole Hook & Loop Discs - 50 Pack: 6-inch premium gold A/O discs with 6 holes, sold in boxes of 50. The 6-hole pattern lines up with a ported pad, and the lower listed price makes it the budget-friendly bulk option.
6" Gold A/O 6 Hole Hook & Loop Discs - 50 Pack
Which disc fits your setup
Best for
- A random orbital sander with a no-hole backing pad: purple film-backed no-hole discs
- A ported pad and a budget-conscious, high-volume sanding job: gold A/O 6-hole discs
- Users who want a film backing and buy in 50-disc boxes
Not for
- A pad with dust ports if you want extraction to work: choose the 6-hole gold disc instead of the no-hole purple
- Anyone who needs a grit or RPM rating the listing does not state without verifying it first
