Our family will all be here for Thanksgiving, which includes a two-year-old and three infants (all about 8 months old), so I’ve been busy trying to “baby-proof” the house and preparing for all of these houseguests at one time. 

It’s been a very long time since I done any work, and even though I’ve got all tools required to do nearly anything, it’s been so long since I’ve used them that I can’t find most of them.  (Which is probably just as well, since I probably won’t remember how to use them anyway.)  Some of the ones that I can find are rusty and “froze up” (just like me) and need some attention before they will work (also just like me).

I’m telling you all of that to tell you this:  I also could not find my big old roll of emery cloth. (For those of you that may not be aware, “emery cloth” is a sandpaper-like material used for removing rust from metal parts, “dressing” steel or machine components, and for a variety of other uses, and has been a staple in my tool box ever since my dad introduced me to it, way back when I was a lad.)  So I went over to the local hardware emporium last night to buy a new roll.  I couldn’t find it, and the sad part is that the first four employees that I asked had no idea what I was talking about.  Granted, they were all younger than I (isn’t everyone?) and I must add that they seemed knowledgeable in the help that they were providing other customers.  As I was on my way out, I saw an older employee (not as old as I, but who is?) in the tool department.  I asked him if he knew what “emery cloth” was, and he looked at me and replied “Of course!  I used to be a machinist!”  I asked if they carried it because the others that I asked had no idea what I was talking about, and he said that he’d never seen it there.  We looked at each other, he shrugged, I shook my head, and we both began to chuckle.

Don't know what grit/grade you were looking for, but often times the plumbing department carries strip emery in small rolls. Usually about 120 grit, I believe.