Extraction & PPE When Polishing

As you polish a piece of jewellery using a pendant motor or polishing motor, dust and particles are created and released into the air – creating a potential health problem. You will also end up with a messy workshop. In this blog we will look at the ways to reduce this.

There are lots of products to help which come with full instructions but if you’re a beginner to jewellery making and silversmithing, how do you know where to start?

PPE – Personal Protection Equipment – The basics to ensure safety whilst creating and polishing.

1. An apron will keep dust from your clothes to ensure debris isn’t transferred into food or onto others via clothing.
2. Safety glasses are useful for all sorts of jewellery making, polishing included. Small pieces of jewellery can be thrown off your bench as you polish and safety glasses ensure pieces don’t enter your eyes.
3. Dust masks not only keep those dust particles out of your lungs, but they also keep your face clean as you polish. You can buy disposable ones, which are good for occasional use. If you start to produce jewellery on a bigger scale, or feel you need maximum protection, you can also buy respirator masks which you can re-use and replace the filters.
4. Finger protectors, such as finger tapes, are useful when polishing. Jewellery gets hot as you polish, so these are designed to stop you getting burnt. They also keep your fingers clean. However, DO NOT WEAR GLOVES to polish, if the glove gets caught it could cause a nasty injury.

Using a Polishing Motor

Polishing motors are brilliant for getting a good polish on jewellery and silversmithing pieces, however they produce a significant amount of dust in just a short while. Without a dust hood and extraction dust goes everywhere!

Dust hoods for polishing motors

If you are just starting jewellery making, and only need to use your polishing motor occasionally, then a dust hood will catch a lot of the dust for you. They are designed so you can easily vacuum or clean it out when you’ve finished. This is cheaper than investing in an extraction system. The dust hood will also catch your jewellery if it’s been thrown off the polisher (remember to switch the motor off before you collect your piece of jewellery from the dusty pile at the back of the dust hood!)

Some dust hoods are designed so you can attach a vacuum cleaner to the back. This will give you extraction and is a popular solution for home jewellers.

If you decide to invest in a polishing motor with a built in in extractor there is a range available in different sizes and prices. Have a good look at what’s available and best fits in with your jewellery making needs and budget.

Finally ensure that you read the instructions given with all equipment, enjoy creating!

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