emery cloth
Gritty finishing textile
Emery cloth is a type of abrasive material made by coating cloth with emery—a hard, granular mineral.
It's used for polishing metal, removing rust, or smoothing rough surfaces: He cleaned the corroded pipe fittings with emery cloth.
The cloth backing makes it more flexible and durable than sandpaper for metalwork.
Friction-smoothing a surface
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- strippingRemoving outer layers
scouring · filing · sharpening · roughening · deburring · smoothing · polishing · buffing
Rough in texture
- mediumMiddle size or state
- fineAcceptable in quality
- extra fineTop quality designation
- meshInterlocking open weave
micron · grain · roughness · texture · aluminum oxide · garnet · corundum · backing
Smoothing surfaces without power
- tear sheetsExtracted publication pages
- finger pressureForce from a digit
- wet sandingAbrasion with liquid lubricant
- dry sandingAbrasion without lubricant
Eliminating metal oxidation
- deburringRemoving machining imperfections
- pipe fittingPlumbing connector piece
- plumbingWater and waste infrastructure
- sheet metalThin flat industrial panels
blade sharpening · machining · fitting · filing · burnishing · descaling · brass · copper
Movable room objects
- refinishingRestoring a worn surface
- cabinetmakingCraft of building furniture
- veneerDecorative outer layer
- joineryFitting wood pieces together
hand sanding · detail work · stripping · restoration · antique repair
sanding
Friction-smoothing a surface
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
stripping · scouring · filing · sharpening · roughening · deburring · smoothing · polishing · buffing · finishing
coarse
Rough in texture
- mediumMiddle size or state
- fineAcceptable in quality
- extra fineTop quality designation
mesh · micron · grain · roughness · texture · aluminum oxide · garnet · corundum · backing · flexible
hand sanding
Smoothing surfaces without power
- tear sheetsExtracted publication pages
- finger pressureForce from a digit
- wet sandingAbrasion with liquid lubricant
dry sanding · circular motion · light pressure · tight spaces
rust removal
Eliminating metal oxidation
- deburringRemoving machining imperfections
- pipe fittingPlumbing connector piece
- plumbingWater and waste infrastructure
sheet metal · blade sharpening · machining · fitting · filing · burnishing · descaling · brass · copper · steel
furniture
Movable room objects
- refinishingRestoring a worn surface
- cabinetmakingCraft of building furniture
- veneerDecorative outer layer
joinery · hand sanding · detail work · stripping · restoration · antique repair
- sandpapersandpaper, sanding sheet, sanding sheets, sanding belt, sanding belts
- surface preprust remover, priming, paint remover, spackling, wire brush
- friction materialsbrake pads, brake linings, brake shoes, clutch plates, brake blocks
- metalworking suppliesabrasives, sandpaper, grinding wheels, sanding belts, steel wool
- scrubberssteel wool, scouring pad, scrub brush, scouring pads, Scotch-Brite
- clothstowel, washcloth, tea towel, hand towel, kitchen towel
emery clothglass
Transparent solid from sand
silk · satin · polished metal · smooth leather · velvet
cloth, clothe, clothier, emery, emery board, emeries, emery boards