[Source] Polishing emery threads

Am looking for a source of emery threads for polishing small crevices
in my smalll or intricate metal pieces. Found polishing threads but
heard someone mention emery threads but nothing shows up when I yahoo
search.?

Thanks,

I think I saw these in the Micro Mark catalog.

Rose Marie Christison

Mary:

Some of the jewelry suppliers (Rio grande & Otto Frei) have abrasive
cord. (Frei’s calls it ‘Mitchell’s Polishing Cord’.) Search ‘abrasive
cord’. Lord knows what the abrasive actually is, but it may be emory.
(Some parts of the world also use ‘emory’ as a generic term for any
sandpaper, fyi.)

Alternately, the cheap & easy answer, is to get some of the black
’wet- n-dry’ emory paper, and a roll of the fiber reinforced
strapping tape- the stuff with the threads running along it. Put the
tape along the long dimension of the back of the paper, and then
cut/tear off thin strips. The tape tears along the thread-line
pretty easily, and the threads hold the emory paper together. Many
folks then clamp the strips into their sawframes like abrasive
sawblades, and go to town with them. That may also be what your
source was talking about. Either solution will work well.

HTH,
Brian.

Some of the jewelry suppliers (Rio grande & Otto Frei) have
abrasive cord. (Frei's calls it 'Mitchell's Polishing Cord'.)
Search 'abrasive cord'. Lord knows what the abrasive actually is,
but it may be emory. 

Not a name Frei made up. Mitchell’s is actually the brand name
printed on the spools it comes on. Stuffs been available forever…
(I had a spool of the stuff when I first started in the 70s, and I’d
got from an old watchmaker’s estate, and he’d been retired for 20
years already then… It’s available in a number of different types
of abrasive. Emery and crocus cloth, are the two main ones. Also in
several different weights/widths and shapes, ie flat strip, round
cord, etc, and several grades of the abrasives. Not all suppliers
show all the types in their catalog listings, so look around.

As to your suggestion, Brian, of using strapping tape to secure thin
strips of ordinary abrasive paper or cloth, I’ve found that the 3M
imperial abrasive film is wonderful for this. That plastic base it
uses is strong enough not to need additional backing if you wish. I
routinely cut thin (1/8 inch wide) strips to fit in and finish narrow
gaps and crevices in castings.

3M also makes, for the dental trade, already cut thin strips of
similar abrasive film, in several grades. It’s interesting because
they put two different grades, a coarser and finer grade, of abrasive
on the strip, so one half is the coarser grade which you use first,
then slide down to the second half of the strip for some finer
finishing action… Gesswein was carrying it, haven’t checked to see
if they still are in their catalog, but no doubt any 3M dealer could
order the stuff.

Peter

Yes, you can get them at Micro-Mark. They are inexpensive, and come
in different grits. The best thing about them is the little aluminum
frame they are designed for. It is very easy to load and it is a
really advantageous tool for getting into tight spaces. I suggest
purchasing the kit that comes with 2 frames and some strips of emery.
Also suggest purchasing some of the replacement strips in various
grits. You can make your own strips, but because the set is so
inexpensive, it is not worth the hassle of trying to load the home
made strips in your jewelers saw frame and try to keep a good tension
on the strip.

Linda Lankford

Mary,

I’ve found that I can get excellent results thrumming using various
string material, from cotton twine to dental floss combined with
different cutting/buffing/polishing compounds. A bit of kerosene
sometimes helps bind the compound to the string.

I also found that music wire, available in different diameters, when
mounted in my saw frame is an excellent tool for burnishing those
tight inside spaces.

One source I found on the internet is

Good luck.
Mike DeBurgh, GJG
Henderson, NV

One source I found on the internet is
http://www.moleroda.com/acatalog/Abrasive_String_Abraswive_Cord.html

Wow Mike! Thanks for posting this source in the UK. They have some
great products at prices more reasonable than jewellery supply
companies. I know it wasn’t my question, but thanks for a great
source.

Helen
UK