A gold ring held on a bench peg while its edge is worked by hand

It scratches

Polishing

Felt does not cut. It carries the compound that cuts, and holds the shape of the work while it does — which is the difference between a polished edge and a rounded one.

A felt wheel is dense enough to hold its form under pressure but soft enough that it leaves no marks of its own. The compound does the cutting; the felt only carries it and presses it where it is wanted.

Because it keeps its shape, it keeps detail crisp. A cloth mop or a loose buff follows the contour and softens every edge it touches. Felt holds a flat face flat and a corner square.

Hard felt for flat work, edges and stock removal with compound; softer felt for contours and detail. Most shops run rubber emery first to take the material down, then felt to bring the surface up.

Where it is used

Already doing this job

Felt rarely appears on a drawing by name. These are the places it is already fitted, doing exactly this.

01
Jewellery
Rings, pendants and chains taken to a mirror finish without softening the edges or losing the engraving.
02
Cutlery and hand tools
Final finish on blades, bolsters and handles.
03
Glass and optics
Edge work and surface polishing with cerium compound.
04
Metal fabrication
Brass, stainless and aluminium fittings, and welded work after dressing.
05
Moulds and dies
Mounted bobs and cones for reaching into a cavity.
06
Watch and instrument work
Small mounted bobs where the part is too fine for anything looser.