Fine abrasive tool and method of making same

Abstract

An abrasive handheld tool and method of making same are provided. The hand-held tool can be used to finely sand and/or polish relatively small-scale working surfaces having various contours such as those found on miniatures, models, dollhouses, and the like. The substrate can be a unitary one-piece substrate including a handle and a working portion. The working portion can be continuously tapered along a length thereof from the handle to a tip end. An abrasive surface can be provided on the working portion of the substrate.

1 . An abrasive tool comprising: 
 a unitary one-piece substrate, the substrate including a handle and a working portion, the working portion being continuously tapered along a length thereof from the handle to a tip end; and    an abrasive surface provided on the working portion of said substrate.    
   
   
       2 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tip end of the working portion has a sharp point.  
   
   
       3 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is at least about 80 grit or finer as measured by the Coated Abrasives Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) scale.  
   
   
       4 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is arranged adjacent to the working portion and forms a continuous surface therewith.  
   
   
       5 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the working portion has a circular cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . The abrasive tool of  claim 5 , wherein the circular cross-section is curved.  
   
   
       7 . The abrasive tool of  claim 5 , wherein the abrasive tool has a length and the handle of the abrasive tool has a diameter, the ratio of the length of the abrasive tool to the diameter of the handle being from about 4:1 to about 8:1.  
   
   
       8 . The abrasive tool of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the length of the abrasive tool to the diameter of the handle is about 6:1.  
   
   
       9 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the working portion has a triangular cross-section.  
   
   
       10 . The abrasive tool of  claim 9 , wherein the abrasive surface includes a first section having a first grit, a second section having a second grit, and a third section having a third grit, wherein at least two of the first grit, the second grit, and the third grit have different grades.  
   
   
       11 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the working portion has a rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       12 . The abrasive tool of  claim 11 , wherein the rectangular cross-section is curved.  
   
   
       13 . The abrasive tool of  claim 11 , wherein the abrasive surface includes a first section, a second section having a common edge with the first section, a third section having a common edge with the second section, and a fourth section having a common edge with the third section and a common edge with the first section, the first and second sections having a first grit, and the third and fourth sections having a second grit wherein the first grit and the second grit have different grades.  
   
   
       14 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the working portion has an ovoidal cross-section.  
   
   
       15 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the working portion is continuously tapered along the length at a substantially constant angle of from about 5 to about 30 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . An abrasive tool comprising: 
 a unitary one-piece substrate, the substrate including a handle and a working portion, the working portion being continuously tapered along a length thereof from the handle to a pointed tip end; and    an abrasive surface provided on the working portion of said substrate;    wherein a density of the substrate in the working portion is greater than a density of the substrate in the handle.    
   
   
       17 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a support member embedded in the working portion of the substrate.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An abrasive tool for fine-finishing small-scale working surfaces comprising: 
 a unitary one-piece substrate, the substrate including a handle and a working portion, the working portion continuously tapering from the handle to a pointed tip end; and    an abrasive surface provided on the working portion of the substrate, the abrasive surface being defined by at least about 200 grit or finer by the Coated Abrasives Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) scale;    wherein the working portion provided with the abrasive surface continuously tapers at a constant rate to the pointed tip end.    
   
   
       22 . The abrasive tool of  claim 21 , wherein the working portion is arranged adjacent to the handle and forms a continuous surface therewith.  
   
   
       23 . The abrasive tool of  claim 21 , wherein the abrasive surface is provided exclusively on the working portion of the substrate.