Sanding cord ...

[danielcsan9592]

Does anyone else use sanding cord to polish out the inside of your stem? For a 5/16 bore, what diameter of cord are you using. Shopping on Amazon ...

[sandahlpipe]

I just use sandpaper for that task.

[DocAitch]

I think he is talking about the airway beyond that which can be reached with folded sandpaper. I read that some one was using a shoe lace with polishing compound to polish the entire airway.
I am not sure of the utility of polishing this area, any thoughts on that Jeremiah?
DocAitch

[sandahlpipe]

I use sandpaper wrapped around a 1/16" drill bit to do any fine sanding inside the airway. If I want to polish the inside of the airway, I rub a bit of polishing compound on a pipe cleaner and pull it through a few times.

[jthomas]

You can use a clamped churchwarden pipe cleaner loaded with with red then white compound. Just slide the stem up, down, works pretty well.

[DocAitch]

I also use the pipe cleaner with compound method. I sand with sand paper glued to a ground down hacksaw blade, but I never specifically tried to polish anything beyond the funnel.
Is there a reason to do so? Like a smoother surface has less chance of condensation or something? I don't think that they make bore scopes that small, so even the most anal customer is not going to see much beyond the outer funnel.
DocAitch

[dogcatcher]

Sanding cord. https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/mi52000/

[sandahlpipe]

I don't see how sanding cord would do any good at all, especially not in coarse grits. Maybe if it were in 320 or finer. Proper drill sharpness should make airway sanding virtually unnecessary. 220 grit would only be making it rougher.

[danielcsan9592]

Thanks, guys, good advice. Sounds like a simpler approach is better ...

[Sasquatch]

I fold cloth-backed material (at 320 and 400) in tiny strips. You can rip about a 3/16" strip and make a tiny roll. Works really well.

[Tyler]

I use it. Not for polishing, per se, but to clean up the edges of the v-slot.

[Sasquatch]

For sure it's wrong then.

[wdteipen]

I use it every now and then for diffferent things like getting rid of catches in a bent airway. I don't know that it would be all that useful for polishing the airway because I think the grit is 220. I use jthomas's method of a churchwarden pipe cleaner with read and white compound.

[pipedreamer]

I use cloth also with red compound, also pipe cleaners in diff sizes. Works !!!