1" Wood Domed Disc

• Classroom-ready smooth surface reduces sanding time, allowing immediate painting, staining, or decorating for time-sensitive educational projects
• Consistent 1-inch diameter ensures uniform appearance when creating sets, patterns, or multi-piece designs for classroom games or product lines
• Gentle dome profile creates subtle shadow definition and tactile interest, making pieces more engaging than flat alternatives for sensory learning and artistic designs
• Premium hard maple construction accepts all standard finishes evenly while providing durability that withstands repeated handling in educational settings
• Graspable size for all ages suits fine motor skill development activities for young learners and detailed craft work for adult makers
• Minimal tool marks from CNC turning process means surfaces are smooth enough for immediate use with only light touch-up if desired
• Lightweight individual pieces (0.048 oz each) keep project and shipping costs low while remaining substantial enough to avoid feeling flimsy

Teachers and Montessori educators use these domed discs for hands-on math manipulatives, creating sets for counting exercises, pattern recognition activities, and color sorting games that build early numeracy skills. The tactile dome surface provides sensory feedback that flat shapes cannot offer, supporting multi-sensory learning approaches. Craft businesses incorporate them into product lines for refrigerator magnets, decorative pushpins, drawer pulls, and jewelry components where the subtle dimensional profile adds visual interest. Home décor makers glue multiple discs to canvas or wood backing to create textured wall art, geometric patterns, and modern minimalist installations that play with light and shadow. DIY enthusiasts apply them as decorative elements on wooden boxes, picture frames, furniture embellishments, and as bases for custom game pieces. The uniform size makes them ideal for checkers, counting tokens, or custom board game components. Woodworkers use them as wooden plugs to cover countersunk screws in cabinetry, creating a finished appearance that matches surrounding wood. A unique application gaining popularity is creating three-dimensional topographic maps by stacking and layering discs at different heights, then painting them gradient colors to represent elevation changes.

• Are these discs sanded smooth enough to paint immediately?
  Yes, each disc arrives pre-sanded with 150-220 grit finishing, smooth enough for most painting and crafting applications straight from the package. For ultra-smooth results with high-gloss finishes, a quick pass with 220-grit sandpaper will create an even finer surface. Always wipe away dust with a tack cloth before applying finishes.
• What's the actual difference between the dome height and overall thickness?
  The total thickness is 13/64" (5.08 mm) measuring from the flat base to the highest point of the dome. The dome height of 3/32" (2.54 mm) represents just the curved rise from where the dome begins at the edge to its peak.
• Can these be drilled for magnets or hanging hardware?
  Absolutely. Hard maple drills cleanly with standard bits. For mounting magnets, use a 3/16" or 1/4" bit to create a shallow recess in the flat base. For hanging projects, drill through the edge rather than the dome to preserve the curved surface.
• How many coats of paint or stain will I need for full coverage?
  The tight grain of hard maple typically requires one coat of primer followed by two coats of acrylic or latex paint for solid coverage. For staining, apply pre-stain wood conditioner first, then one to two coats of stain depending on desired darkness.
• Will these work for outdoor projects like garden markers?
  Unfinished maple has low weather resistance and will deteriorate with prolonged outdoor exposure. For outdoor use, seal all surfaces thoroughly with marine-grade spar urethane or exterior polyurethane (minimum 3 coats).
• Can young children safely handle these for classroom activities?
  Yes, the pre-sanded smooth surface and clean-cut edges minimize splinter risk, making them appropriate for supervised use with preschool-age children and up. The 1-inch size is large enough to prevent choking hazards.
• How do these compare to birch or pine discs?
  Hard maple's 1450 lbf Janka hardness rating makes it significantly more durable than pine and comparable to birch. Maple's fine, closed grain accepts finishes more evenly than birch's more varied grain and doesn't require the grain-filling that pine often needs.
• What's the best adhesive for gluing these to different surfaces?
  For wood-to-wood bonding, use PVA wood glue (Titebond or Elmer's). For attaching to metal, glass, or plastic, cyanoacrylate (super glue) or two-part epoxy provides excellent hold.
• Can I use a wood burning tool to add designs?
  Yes, hard maple accepts pyrography well, though it requires higher heat settings than softwoods due to its density.
• Are these consistent enough for production work where I need identical pieces?
  Yes, CNC turning ensures dimensional consistency within ±1/64" (±0.254 mm).
• Can these be laser engraved with detailed designs?
  Hard maple works excellently with CO2 laser engravers. The light wood color provides strong contrast against the darkened engraved areas, producing crisp, readable text and detailed graphics.