emery cloth
Definition
- Noun:
- An abrasive material: A type of sandpaper or abrasive sheet where the abrasive particles (emery) are bonded to a cloth backing, making it more flexible and durable than paper-backed abrasives. It is used for smoothing, polishing, or removing material from surfaces, especially metal.
Usage
- Emery cloth is an uncountable noun. You refer to a piece or sheet of it.
- It is used for manual finishing work in metalworking, woodworking, and other crafts.
- It is typically described by its grit number (e.g., coarse, fine) to indicate the size of the abrasive particles.
Examples
- Noun:
- Use a fine-grade emery cloth to polish the brass fitting until it shines.
- He smoothed the rough weld seam with a piece of emery cloth.
- For this job, you'll need emery cloth, not sandpaper, as it is stronger.
Advanced Usage
- "to wrap emery cloth around a file": A technique to create a custom abrasive tool for curved or irregular surfaces.
- To sand the inside of the pipe, he wrapped emery cloth around a round file.
Variants and Related Words
- Emery paper (n): A similar abrasive material with a paper backing, generally less durable than cloth-backed emery.
- Emery paper is suitable for lighter sanding tasks on wood or soft metals.
- Abrasive cloth (n): A more general term for cloth-backed sanding materials, which may use abrasives other than emery (e.g., aluminum oxide, silicon carbide).
Synonyms
- Abrasive sheet: A general term for flat, coated abrasives.
- Sandcloth: A less common synonym, emphasizing the cloth backing.
- Polishing cloth (in context): When used for final finishing, though this often implies a non-abrasive cloth for applying polish.
Related Phrases
- To sand with emery cloth: The primary action performed using this material.
- Always sand with the grain of the metal when using emery cloth.
Noun
-
cloth covered with powdered emery
