Abstract: An apparatus for variably texturing a first surface of a rigid-disk substrate having an annular inner recording head-landing zone and an annular outer data zone surrounding the head-landing zone is characterized by a stepped force-exerting cylindrical stepped roller which forces a movable tape having an abrasive containing slurry on its surface to variably texture the zones of the surface of the substrate. A method of variably texturing a surface of a rigid-disc substrate includes the steps of providing a movable abrasive-containing tape between the stepped cylindrical roller and disk substrate to force the tape against the substrate with greater pressure on a head landing zone than on a data zone.