Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape
Price range: £26.53 through £140.54
Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape for Small Holes, Slots, Grooves & Precision Finishing
Best for: small holes, slots, grooves, threads, curved bores, recessed details, internal edges, jewellery work, restoration, mould tools and precision hand-finishing applications.
Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape is a flexible abrasive finishing product for deburring, cleaning, polishing and finishing difficult-to-reach areas where conventional abrasives may struggle.
- Flexible abrasive cord, string and tape for awkward-access finishing
- Useful for small holes, grooves, slots, threads and detailed features
- Suitable for precision hand finishing, polishing, cleaning and light deburring
- Can be adapted for selected drill, chuck, twisted-loop or jeweller’s saw applications
- Available in Aluminium Oxide, Crocus and Silicon Carbide options
- Choice of fine cord sizes and wider abrasive tape specifications
- Rip-resistant, clean to use and suitable for detailed precision work
Sold per spool, approx. 15m length.
Most standard variations are available on a 2–3 day lead time, although some less common specifications may be subject to longer lead times.
Need a custom specification or bulk quantity?
Please contact us and we can advise on availability.
Moleroda Product Code: ABRASIVESTRING
Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape for Small Holes, Slots, Grooves & Precision Finishing
Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape is a flexible abrasive finishing product for deburring, cleaning, polishing and precision finishing in areas that are difficult to reach with conventional abrasives. It is especially useful for small holes, slots, grooves, threads, curved bores, internal edges, recessed details and fine features where abrasive paper, files, brushes or mounted abrasives may be too flat, too rigid or too large.
Most commonly used by hand, Mitchell’s abrasive cord can also be adapted for certain controlled tool-based applications. For example, the cord can be looped, twisted and held carefully in a drill chuck for internal finishing, or cut into short sections for use in a jeweller’s saw frame when working through slots, holes or fine details.
Also known as abrasive string, abrasive thread or abrasive cord, this product can be fed, pulled, wrapped, tensioned or worked through awkward features to create controlled abrasive contact. This makes it a practical choice for precision engineering, toolmaking, mould polishing, restoration, jewellery work, guitar making, model making and detailed finishing applications.
Working on an internal burr in a curved or restricted tube?
Read our guide on how to deburr small holes inside curved tube to compare abrasive cord, brushes, XEBEC tools, RODA Bore and other internal deburring methods.
Mitchell’s abrasive cord is useful when the main challenge is access, shape or control. Rather than relying on a flat sheet, rigid file or powered abrasive tool, the cord or tape can be worked through narrow, curved or awkward areas to help remove burrs, clean edges and improve surface finish.
Flexible abrasive access
Reaches into small holes, grooves, slots, threads, internal passages and detailed recessed areas.
Precision Finishing Control
Ideal for controlled cleaning, polishing, blending and light burr removal by hand, or adapted carefully for selected drill, chuck or jeweller’s saw applications.
Rip-resistant construction
Designed to resist tearing and fraying during detailed deburring, polishing and finishing work.
Choice of cord or tape
Cord is best for holes, threads and rounded features, while tape gives wider contact for slots, channels and flatter grooves.
Multiple abrasive options
Available in Aluminium Oxide, Crocus and Silicon Carbide, depending on the selected size.
Useful for internal deburring
Helps remove or blend burrs where brushes, files or rigid deburring tools cannot easily reach the internal edge.
Related Guide
How to deburr small holes inside curved tube
Common Applications for Abrasive Cord & Tape
Abrasive cord and tape are often used where the working area is too small, too narrow, too detailed or too awkward for a standard abrasive tool. They are especially useful when the abrasive needs to follow the shape of the component or reach a feature that cannot be finished easily with flat abrasive paper or a rigid file.
Engineering & Toolroom Applications
- Deburring small drilled holes, cross-holes and internal edges
- Cleaning and finishing slots, grooves, keyways and channels
- Thread cleaning and light burr removal from fine internal features
- Finishing curved bores, small passages and difficult-access details
- Mould tool, die and precision component polishing
Detail Polishing & Restoration Applications
- Cleaning grooves and decorative details in restoration work
- Fine finishing for jewellery, instruments, models and sculpture
- Guitar making and polishing around small detailed features
- Removing light marks, residues or sharp edges from awkward areas
- Polishing recessed details where standard abrasives cannot sit correctly
Where Abrasive Cord Fits Compared with Other Finishing Tools
Mitchell’s abrasive cord and tape are best used when the finishing area is too small, narrow, rounded or awkward for standard abrasives. Abrasive paper, hand files, brushes and mounted abrasives are often better for open surfaces, heavier stock removal or powered finishing, but abrasive cord is especially useful when the abrasive needs to be fed through, wrapped around, tensioned or pulled across a detailed feature.
Use Abrasive Cord or Tape For
- Small holes, threads and round grooves
- Slots, channels and recessed details
- Curved passages and awkward internal features
- Fine cleaning, polishing, blending and light burr removal
- Areas where flat abrasive paper or rigid files cannot sit correctly
Consider Other Tools For
- Flat and open surfaces where abrasive sheets are easier to control
- Heavier shaping or stock removal with hand files or needle files
- Accessible bores and holes where a brush can make consistent contact
- Controlled cross-hole chamfering with a dedicated deburring tool
- Powered grinding or finishing where a mounted abrasive can safely reach
For many detailed finishing jobs, abrasive cord is used alongside other abrasives rather than instead of them. A file, brush or mounted abrasive may be used for initial shaping or burr removal, followed by abrasive cord, tape, abrasive paper or polishing compounds to refine smaller or more awkward areas.
How to Choose the Right Abrasive Cord or Tape
The best specification depends on the material, access, burr size, surface finish requirement and shape of the feature being worked. For most applications, the three most important choices are the format, size and abrasive type.
1. Choose Cord or Tape
Abrasive Cord
Generally best for holes, threads, round grooves, curved passages and features where the abrasive needs to follow a narrow or rounded path.
Abrasive Tape
Provides a wider contact area, making it useful for slots, channels, flatter grooves and broader recessed details.
2. Choose the Size
Select a cord or tape size that can pass through or fit into the feature while still making enough contact with the edge or surface being finished. If the cord is too small, it may not contact the burr or surface effectively. If it is too large, it may be difficult to feed through the component or may jam in the feature.
Smaller cord sizes are useful for fine holes, threads and delicate internal features. Larger cord and tape sizes are better for wider grooves, slots, channels and applications where more abrasive contact is required.
3. Choose the Abrasive Type
Aluminium Oxide
Good general-purpose abrasive for deburring, cleaning and finishing many metals and engineering materials. It is often a suitable starting point for softer metals, general workshop use and controlled abrasive finishing.
Crocus
Generally used where a finer finishing or polishing action is required. It can be useful for cleaning, refining and improving the finish on delicate or detailed areas where a less aggressive cut is preferred.
Silicon Carbide
Sharper and more aggressive, making it a useful option for harder materials, stainless steel and applications where extra cutting action may be needed. For stainless steel internal deburring, Silicon Carbide is often the best starting point.
Please note:
Not every abrasive type is available in every cord or tape size.
Use the product variation dropdowns to select an available combination, or contact us if you need help choosing the most suitable specification.
Available Cord & Tape Range
Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape is available in a range of fine cord diameters and wider abrasive tape sizes. The guide below is designed to help you choose the most suitable size range without overwhelming the page with every possible variation.
Use the product variation dropdowns above to select the exact available specification, grit and abrasive type.
Abrasive Cord Size Guide
| Heavy Cord | No. 46–50 Approx. Ø3.81mm to Ø1.78mm Best for larger holes, wider grooves, stronger abrasive contact and more open internal features. |
|---|---|
| Medium Cord | No. 51–54 Approx. Ø1.40mm to Ø0.76mm Best for small drilled holes, fine grooves, threads and general precision finishing work. |
| Fine Cord | No. 54-H–66 Approx. Ø0.64mm to Ø0.31mm Best for very small holes, delicate internal features, fine threads and precision detail finishing. |
Abrasive Tape Size Guide
| Narrow Tape | No. 56–57 Approx. 2.38mm to 3.18mm wide Best for narrow slots, channels, flatter grooves and controlled strip finishing. |
|---|---|
| Wide Tape | No. 58–59 Approx. 4.76mm to 6.35mm wide Best for wider slots, broader recessed areas and applications needing more surface contact. |
View the full Mitchell's Cord & Tape size reference
| No. 46 Cord | Ø3.81mm / 0.150″ – 120 Grit |
|---|---|
| No. 47 Cord | Ø3.18mm / 0.125″ – 120 Grit |
| No. 48 Cord | Ø2.36mm / 0.093″ – 150 Grit |
| No. 49 Cord | Ø2.08mm / 0.082″ – 120 Grit |
| No. 50 Cord | Ø1.78mm / 0.070″ – 180 Grit |
| No. 51 Cord | Ø1.40mm / 0.055″ – 120 Grit |
| No. 52 Cord | Ø1.40mm / 0.055″ – 150 Grit |
| No. 53 Cord | Ø1.02mm / 0.040″ – 180 Grit |
| No. 54 Cord | Ø0.76mm / 0.030″ – 200 Grit |
| No. 54-H Cord | Ø0.64mm / 0.025″ – 200 Grit |
| No. 55 Cord | Ø0.46mm / 0.018″ – 200 Grit |
| No. 60 Cord | Ø0.38mm / 0.015″ – 200 Grit |
| No. 66 Cord | Ø0.31mm / 0.012″ – 280 Grit |
| No. 56 Tape | 2.38mm Wide / 3/32″ – 180 Grit |
| No. 57 Tape | 3.18mm Wide / 4/32″ – 180 Grit |
| No. 58 Tape | 4.76mm Wide / 6/32″ – 150 Grit |
| No. 59 Tape | 6.35mm Wide / 8/32″ – 150 Grit |
Technical & Supply Information
Mitchell’s Abrasive Cord & Tape is supplied by the spool and is available in a range of cord, tape, grit and abrasive specifications. The details below are provided to help with selection, ordering and production planning.
| Product formats | Abrasive cord / string and abrasive tape |
|---|---|
| Common uses | Precision finishing, internal deburring, small hole deburring, slot finishing, groove polishing, thread cleaning and difficult-access detail finishing |
| Typical use methods | Commonly used by hand; can also be adapted for selected applications using a drill chuck, twisted loop, jeweller’s saw frame or similar controlled set-up |
| Abrasive types | Aluminium Oxide, Crocus and Silicon Carbide, depending on selected size |
| Grit range | 120, 150, 180, 200 and 280 grit, depending on size |
| Cord size range | Approx. Ø0.31mm to Ø3.81mm |
| Tape width range | Approx. 2.38mm to 6.35mm wide |
| Approx. spool length | 15m per spool |
| Availability | Most standard variations are available on a 2–3 day lead time |
| Longer lead times | Some less common specifications may be subject to longer lead times, typically 2 weeks or more |
| Custom and bulk enquiries | Contact us for repeat production requirements, custom specifications or larger quantity orders |
Note
If spool length, lead time or specification availability is critical to your process, please contact us before ordering and we can confirm the latest availability.
Related Deburring & Finishing Tools
Mitchell’s abrasive cord is ideal for flexible, difficult-access finishing, polishing and light deburring. If your application needs a different type of contact, control or abrasive format, these related tools and categories may be more suitable.
For Small Holes, Bores & Internal Deburring
- XEBEC Extended Deburring Tools for controlled cross-hole and back-burr deburring.
- Twisted-in-Wire Cross Hole Deburring Brushes for light deburring and cleaning inside accessible bores and drilled holes.
- Abrasive Nylon Tube Brushes for cleaning, deburring and finishing holes and bores.
- RODA Bore Abrasive Nylon Hole Deburring Tools for long-reach bore deburring and internal surface refinement.
For General Hand Finishing
- Sandpaper, Abrasive Sheets & Rolls for flat, open and accessible surfaces where abrasive paper or roll can be backed by hand, a block or a shaped former.
- Files & Fettling Tools for controlled shaping, stock removal, edge work and hand finishing using files, riffler files, emery sticks and abrasive strip tools.
| Weight | 0.062 kg |
|---|---|
| Format | Cord, Tape |
| Specification | No. 46 – Ø3.81mm – 120 Grit, No. 47 – Ø3.18mm – 120 Grit, No. 48 – Ø2.36mm – 150 Grit, No. 49 – Ø2.08mm – 120 Grit, No. 50 – Ø1.78mm – 180 Grit, No. 51 – Ø1.40mm – 120 Grit, No. 52 – Ø1.40mm – 150 Grit, No. 53 – Ø1.02mm – 180 Grit, No. 54 – Ø0.76mm – 200 Grit, No. 54-H – Ø0.64mm – 200 Grit, No. 55 – Ø0.46mm – 200 Grit, No. 60 – Ø0.38mm – 200 Grit, No. 66 – Ø0.31mm – 280 Grit, No. 56 – 2.38mm Wide – 180 Grit, No. 57 – 3.18mm Wide – 180 Grit, No. 58 – 4.76mm Wide – 150 Grit, No. 59 – 6.35mm Wide – 150 Grit |
| Abrasive Type | Aluminium Oxide (A/O), Crocus, Silicon Carbide (S/C) |
| Unit of Sale |
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