Emery cloth

[roysha]

A couple of days ago I realized I had only 1 sheet of 500 grit emery cloth left so I went to order some more. HA!! NO SUCH THING! WTH? The grits jump from 400 to 600 and I can't find 500 in any shape or form.

Can someone tell me why it is unavialable?

Is the jump from 400 to 600 as easily made as 400 to 500 when polishing metal, especially barrels and such? I have never used 600 because if I needed it brighter that 500 I took it to the buffer. Also, if I decided to bead blast, 500 was plenty of polish for the 140/270 beads.

[405grain]

I just typed "500 grit sandpaper" into Google and got dozens of options. You can easily get 500 grit in multiple configurations, such as sheets, disc, belts, etc., not to mention also in multiple colors. If you don't want to go to a physical store to look for it (and it's sold at lots of them) you can always order it from Amazon.

Oh, let me edit this so it's more clear. When you type in a generic term like "sandpaper" the results that you'll get are going to include emery cloth, along with lots of other options. What you're looking for is incredibly easy to find with a little searching.

[roysha]

Emery cloth!

[Screwbolts]

would this work: https://www.aaabrasives.com/3m-70001...ity-cloth-roll

or maybe this: https://www.aaabrasives.com/3m-70001...ity-cloth-roll

or maybe this: https://www.gaberandcompany.com/ecom...)-110-0299.cfm

Golly gee, maybe this: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/04009379

If you were in canada maybe this: https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/p/d/v000144756/

then there is always Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155837392403

I am getting tired of posting so many hits of a search of " 500 grit Emery cloth" . It is so easy to find.

[oldleadhead]

A friend whom I was doing a job for ordered me some. It was foreign made and terrible, it would not cut. I'd like to get some American made emery cloth. I'll search aluminum oxide sheets, 3m brand...

[roysha]

then there is always Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155837392403 NOT 500 GRIT read the listing

If you were in canada maybe this: https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/p/d/v000144756/ I'm not in canada as can be readily ascertained from my avatar.

Golly gee, maybe this: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/04009379 That one might work.

or maybe this: https://www.gaberandcompany.com/ecom...)-110-0299.cfm Abrasive PAPER

or maybe this: https://www.aaabrasives.com/3m-70001...ity-cloth-roll $570 for a 5 roll package! Get a grip, I'm just a hobbyist, not an industry.

would this work: https://www.aaabrasives.com/3m-70001...ity-cloth-roll See previous comment!

Perhaps, if you had spent a little more time suggesting alternative search words, (the only name I know for the product I am looking for is EMERY CLOTH) and a little less on the sarcasm, your post would have been a great deal more helpful. I guess some people just can't help feeling superior to us poor schmucks out here in Dumbsville.

[fc60]

Greetings,

I am not an abrasives expert.

I do buy a lot of shop supplies from McMaster Carr

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/emery-cloth/grit~500

Cheers,

Dave

[nicholst55]

Good luck finding American-made emery cloth. Speaking of that, does anyone know of a source for crocus cloth?

[country gent]

Look to Norton for emery cloth and whats available they have a big selection in rolls and sheets. I have 2"? x 30' rolls from 220 to 600 grit in the shop. Do you want the true emery cloth with the cloth backing or is paper backing okay? I believe my one roll is 480 grit.
Crocus can be duplicated with red rouge buffing compound on a strip of cloth or paper, other rouges ( black, green tan, white or blue) can also be used as intermediaries. These are also very good for polishing with a grinder and cupped mounted brush ( natural hair fibers are better than nylon ). The last polish thats very good with the brush or cloth is the various diamond lapping pastes. A small dab goes a long way on a cloth or brush.
Another handy tool are the new cheap electric tooth brushes with te above compounds for doing fine intricate polishing.

[Screwbolts]

roysha, Perhaps I will no longer waste my time trying to help those that wont help themselves, but point out small mistakes of those trying to help.

Your problems are truly not mine, Have a great Day!

Well isn't that nice,

Ken

[Shopdog]

Otto Frei has 500g cloth Norton on sale. Believe it's half price.

[roysha]

Shopdog: I went there and could not find it. Could you give me a item number please? Thanks in advance.

[roysha]

Screwbolts: Congrats. You have the dubious honor of being the first member on this site that I have put on my ignore list.

[country gent]

Roysha,
Mc Master Carr, Grainger, MSC, Grizzly and some others all have good selections available. Most hardware's have decent selections of wet dry papers.
When sanding/polishing How you do it can make a big difference in how fast it finishes up. When you can crossing over the polishing lines helps the paper to cut and finishes smoother for a given grit. Why the cupped brush in a rotary tool works so well, when held flat to the piece it naturally crosses over.

Working papers both wet and dry makes bigger steps do able also.Sand with a grit dry then with light oil kerosene or water same grit then move on to next grit.

[roysha]

Indeed, those folks have a good selection of various products. The problem with paper is that it does not have, what I call, flexible strength. I can squeeze, pull tight, wrap around a file or twist into a "cord" and the cloth will not tear or break. Also, as another example, if I am polishing a chamber for whatever reason, the cloth more or less molds itself to the contour of the chamber. While the paper will work on a straight chamber, if I try to use it on a sharply shouldered chamber, for example, it does not want to follow the contour of the chamber nearly, if at all, as well as cloth. If I am polishing anything with even a bit of unevenness or put a bit of pressure on the paper, it almost invariably tears or the edge "digs" in leaving a mark that needs to be then polished out.

I do use W or D paper for wood finishing, but I really don't care for it much as a metal finishing tool. Will it work on metal, of course, but I don't like to use it in that manner.

All that and everything else being said, basically the 500 grit is apparently an item that has very little or no demand, so it is not worth the companies time to produce it. If the Chinese don't want to produce it, you know it has got to be a no-demand item.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, this topic has run its course and I'm just going to find a work-around. No big deal. Thanks to most of you for your comments.