How to wrap your Polishing/Emery papers for daily use? - 12 photos

 This can be an "exercise in frustration" as not everyone feels confident with the fine skill involved. Honestly, this can be quite a challenge for the 'absolute beginner'. In the earlier days of my apprenticeship, this too was the very first thing I had to learn.

The very first stage in 'wrapping', I use my pointed AWL that will score, but not cut the paper. This awl will give the paper freedom to be wrapped at straight lines around the wooden stick. 

   The wooden board has another name, "Paint Stirrer Stick. It is a great new tool and without it I couldn't manage to polish my gravers, it has the necessary length and as well the width.

 My finger tips are holding the paper against the board very tightly. This is the first of many wrapping around the edges, this has a "Rating of 8 out of 10" on the Difficulty Scale. There are no SHORT CUTS in wrapping your polishing papers.

  At the first 'bend' the paper MUST BE WELL ALLIGNED against the edge of the wooden stick. What are we aiming for is that the next many wrappings have a sharp edge. There must not have any rounded edges, why not? The paper must always have a FLAT SURFACE, this paper must polish the graver.

 If the paper has a 'balloon appearance' on the polishing paper, then the graver won't get an opportunity to get polished on any flat surface.

  

  We can now officially wrap the paper around the edges of the wooden stick. At each 'turning', the paper must be 'scored' by the metal AWL.

 If during the tight wrapping you notice that your 'scoring' is cutting too deep into the paper, there will be problems. It is advisable to just stop what you are doing and discard that remaining paper. It's better to continue with what's remaining than to repair, it's only paper at $?? a sheet.

 

 Keep turning until the very end of the sheet of paper has been wrapped around the stick. Hold the Awl against the paper at all times, keep your fingers held against the paper TIGHT as its being turned.

 THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS IN THIS WHOLE WRAPPING PROCESS. When the wrapping has been completed, there might be extra paper, no need to worry!!!

  

  When the "last wrapping" shows an extra line of paper, just get your scissors and cut off that extra piece of paper. I use a length of tape to hold the paper to the wooden stick.

 

  I use this tape to wrap around the ends of the paper to the wooden board. Avoid any elastic band as the rubber bands will get worn and break off.

   I want to have a 'tight tape finish' to the wrapping process. Just as its being shown here. All of the edges MUST BE WRAPPED VERY, VERY TIGHT. 

 

 For quick 'paper identification' while working at your bench, write the paper grit on all sides and ends of the wooded board.

 

   These will be your "new tools", as these papers will so useful in polishing your gravers.