Abstract: A woven cellulosic cloth backing of cotton or rayon yarns for the manufacture of coated abrasives, particularly for the manufacture of coated abrasive belts for wet grinding, includes a backsize, of phenolic resin which may be admixed with a polymer having a glass transition temperature between 10.degree. and 40.degree. C, said backsize being directly adhered to the yarns of cloth, a polymeric film forming resin adhered to the yarns of cloth to which the backsize is not adhered, said resin having a glass transition temperature between 20.degree. and 50.degree. C, and a front size of a mixture of phenol-formaldehyde resin and the film former resin coating above referred to. An additional front coating of phenol-formaldehyde resin may be employed to provide a smooth surface for the application of a fine grit abrasive.