Product Description
Micro-Mesh MX 2 Way Flexi File - Shaping and Refining - Set of 3
The AMAZING Micro Mesh 2 Way Flexi Files are flexible buffing stick files. It's like a very fine file with some flexibility. Use this set of 3 for shaping and refining metal clay and precious metal before polishing. This really is a must-have for all jewellery makers, we love these at Metal Clay HQ ♥!
Set of 6 grits - 3 sticks, each stick with two different MX grits, one per side;
- 60MX (P240)/80MX (P360) - Extra Coarse - perfect for more rough work, cutting spruces and refining saw shapes.
- 100/150MX - Coarse - an ideal grit for preparing castings, smoothing file marks, and shaping.
- 240/320MX - Medium/Fine - finer step before polishing
They are flexible, so great for manipulating around your curved pieces. Flexifiles are very strong and cope well with edge-work as well as being flexible enough to bend to fit contours. The file itself is thin enough not to inhibit movement and is a really handy size for working on intricate mould tools and parts. The material itself is strong and will withstand working on sharp edges and hard metals.
Can be used with water on resin and polymer clays. Gentle enough for working on metal clays. These have a harder cutting action, making it superior for hard surfaces and great for shaping your jewellery.
Each stick is 1.2cm x 14.5cm in size.
What is Micro Mesh?
Micro-Mesh™ is what we like to call a non-abrasive abrasive. It is considered a cushioned abrasive.
Conventional sandpaper is designed to be aggressive so that it will dig deeply. In its manufacture the crystals are electrically charged so that they will stand up. They are locked into a hard resin and when you apply the paper to a surface it will literally tear in and remove the substrate of the material you are sanding. The crystals cut in a negative raking motion, leaving inconsistent scratch patterns.
Micro-Mesh™ does the opposite. The backing is long lasting cloth to which an ultra-flexible cushioning layer is applied. This cushioning layer will determine how far forward you can push crystals before they will penetrate the cushioning layer. On top of this layer, we have a very resilient glue, not a hard resin, but a completely flexible glue that will hold the crystals while allowing it to move and rotate. The crystals can turn in any direction without coming loose. When you start to apply pressure to sand with Micro-Mesh™, the crystals will go into the cushioning layer while beginning to cut a bit. If you push harder, they will go further into the cushioning layer, which serves as a safety valve. It determines how much pressure you can exert in a downward direction. Instead of a deep scratch that sandpaper makes, Micro-Mesh™ produce a refined scratch that is close to a RMS of 1.0. The cushioning layer also allows the crystals to cut with a planing motion that leaves an extremely consistent scratch pattern and allows you to achieve extraordinary levels of gloss.
Where conventional abrasives will take surfaces down 2 or 3 thousandths (.002 or .003), Micro-Mesh™ will take it down one ten thousandth (.0001) or less.
What are Ultra-Flex Micro-Mesh MX grits?
Use the Micro-Mesh™ MX Grit products for finishing metals, hardwood, cutlery, medical instruments, engine components, tools, dies and more.
All Grades are Silicone Carbide except MX 800 and 1200 which are Aluminium Oxide.
This material is made to be used wet or dry, is made with a flexible cotton backing with polymer emulsion cushioning layer and large micron graded silicon carbide crystals suspended in a flexible resin bond. These have a harder cutting action, making them superior for hard surfaces like metal.
