Emery flour for gun cleaning?

[Andrew Engel]

"For the mountings, and all of the iron and steel parts, use fine flour of emery moistened with oil, or flour-of-emery cloth."
The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army, 1862, p.203, Cleaning of Arms.

I'm searching online for a good source for fine grit emery powder. Emery sand is easy to come by, it's used in pincushions to keep needles and pins sharp and rust free. But it seems to come mostly in a 60 grit consistency, and I'm assuming that the term "flour" implies a much finer grit - and 60 grit is not something I care to use on my gun, if possible.

Suggestions?

[Silas]

Re: Emery flour for gun cleaning?

Try rottenstone. I know a guy who sells it : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...81-Rottenstone

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Emery flour for gun cleaning?

You can get rottenstone from local hardware or painting supply stores for considerably less, usually by the pound, but it's much better suited for brass than iron or steel gun parts. If you don't have a nearby store that carries it, you can order online: http://www.rockler.com/rotten-stone-...FZOFswod6F8BZw

Emery cloth is also available in hardware stores and comes in a variety of grits up to, I believe, 300+. Finer grades of emery powder (not cloth) are available, but I've only seen them offered in industrial quantities. The finer grades have applications in dentistry. Used carefully, pumice stone makes a good substitute (for the musket, not the teeth).