Polishing Routine

[angmc]

Just wondering what other people do to get a nice shine. Up to now I've just been using rouge with a Dremel and felt wheels then rinsing in warm soapy water but I'd like to get a better shine. I've just bought some Micromesh and radial disks but not sure in what order I should use them, I'm guessing Micromesh first then radial disks & final polish with the rouge?

I have been reading through the other polishing threads but getting myself more confused!!

[enigma]

I use ever flex rubber in various shapes.
Tbh I find once Ive got a good finish from the green ever flex ( the finest one) it barely needs polishing so I now just wash off and then rub over with a silver cloth as I find the result as good as I was getting with various different polishes and it takes less time.
The key is in getting a good enough finish with the green ever flex for me.

[Goldsmith]

For polishing I use a bristle brush mop with Tripoli compound first; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Plastic-Centre-Lathe-Brush-3-----Stiff-Black-Bristle-prcode-999-CAH,
Tripoli compound;http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Lustre-Tripoli-Initial-Polishing---For-Most-Metals-700gms-prcode-998-198

then I finish with a Swansdown mop with rouge compound; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Swansdown-Mop-2.5---Soft-And-Fine-With-Metal-Centre-prcode-999-AFZ
Rouge compound; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Jewellers-Rouge-Bar-120g-Pure-Rouge-prcode-998-189

I also find it useful to dap a little paraffin oil on the swansdown mop before adding the rouge compound, I have an old jam jar full of paraffin oil next to the polishing motor, and I use a length of round wooden dowel about the size of a pencil to dab on the paraffin lubricant while the mop is spinning, I find this helps me get a mirror shine finish, a useful hint taught to me by a professional silver polisher way back when I was an apprentice.

This is how I like to see my pieces finished;
9372

James

[enigma]

There you go, top tip from a professional !
Having finally bought a polishing motor I will give that a go myself now thanks James .
How often do you find you need to change the brush and mop?

[Goldsmith]

There you go, top tip from a professional !
Having finally bought a polishing motor I will give that a go myself now thanks James .
How often do you find you need to change the brush and mop?

Sarah, I keep all of my old mops in a box, all that happens through usage is their diameters decrease and some smaller diameter mops are useful to get inside tight spaces. If you have a bench polisher try and buy larger diameter mops, my soft swansdown mops start off at 5 inches diameter, I find that the larger mops are better for polishing flat surfaces. I forgot to mention that I have an old blunt knife which I hold against the spinning soft mops now and then to remove any excess polishing compound or anything else stuck to the mop.

James

James

[angmc]

Wow that's a shine!! Interesting info I presume that's using a bench polisher?

[angmc]

Yes I was looking at the everflex ones, might get some of those, there's a lot of them to choose from though!

[enigma]

Thank you James, much appreciated!

Ang, there are 4 grades, blue is coarse then grey then red then green.
Other than that its just a question of what shape and size depending on what area you need to work in- the 520 is the standard shape and size with the points and wheels being used as needed for tighter spaces.

[Goldsmith]

Wow that's a shine!! Interesting info I presume that's using a bench polisher?

Yes I use a bench polisher, this is my well used trusty old machine.

9373

James

[diamonddan121]

Co-sign on the bristle brush mop. Never heard of using the paraffin oil though that sounds like an interesting tip. I'll have to try.

[Patstone]

Sounds a bit messy for a spare bedroom, sticking to the everflex method i think.

[CJ57]

I also polish more less like James, minus the paraffin. I've also moved on to Luxi, blue and white but find myself going back to rouge and Tripoli at times which defeats the purpose as Luxi is a bit cleaner. I've also tried the synthetic suede mops from Cookson which are good when doing larger surfaces but a bit big for me
This is the finish I get

9374

[Susie]

I find my mops get really clogged up with Tripoli and Rouge and from a previous tip on this forum, I tried using the blunt knife method to clean them, and I couldn't shift it. I must be doing it wrong. I also remember someone talking about singeing their mops. Is this something any of you do? And if so, what's the technique. I seriously need to find a way to de-clog.


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[Dennis]

Hi Susie,
When mops are new, any threads sticking out can cause tramlines on your work and can be singed off with a taper. Hoever, scissors will do too.

If you mops are so heavily loaded you are probably using too much compound and need to just add a little paraffin to soften it, until it is used up.

You might also consider starting again with water soluble compounds like Luxi, or even Menzerna a car polish , which are more user friendly.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mezerna%20polish&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=np&source=hp#client=firefox-a&hs=0Wi&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&q=menzerna+polish&spell=1&sa=X&ei=nsbGUe-6I4r40gW5ioHgCQ&ved=0CCoQvwUoAA&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48293060,d.d2k&fp=1fcd42495e594388&biw=1280&bih=697

[Susie]

Thanks Dennis. I'll try the paraffin.


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[CJ57]

Sorry my post seemed to add twice, it wasn't me:/

[Susie]

Yesterday, I went to buy some paraffin and couldn't get it anywhere. Not even the hardware store. So i went to homebase - that was a mistake. When i explained what i needed it for, a little spotty boy said to me "Nah mate. Paraffin is for BURNIN! Not Jewlry. Nah mate, you don't know what you're talking about..." Ha ha.

[trialuser]

Try asking for kerosene, or get some from ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barrettine-Premium-Grade-Paraffin-4-Litre-Kerosene-Heater-Lamp-Oil-Fuel-4L-/282028400658?hash=item41aa33e012:g:NMYAAOSwu4BV6Cg 8)
Edit: forgot - if you or neighbours have oil heating, grab a cupful, that's the stuff.
Or even diesel

[Dennis]

Or if you just want a small amount, Lamp Oil is the same stuff https://www.amazon.co.uk/1litre-Quality-indoor-burning-lanterns/dp/B005LFQNL4
Dennis.

[Goldsmith]

Yesterday, I went to buy some paraffin and couldn't get it anywhere. Not even the hardware store. So i went to homebase - that was a mistake. When i explained what i needed it for, a little spotty boy said to me "Nah mate. Paraffin is for BURNIN! Not Jewlry. Nah mate, you don't know what you're talking about..." Ha ha.

That's a strange answer from Homebase when they have it for sale on their website;http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/bartoline-premium-paraffin---4-litre-425391

James

[Aurarius]

I usually get my paraffin, white spirit, thinners, wood glue etc. from Rest Express (https://www.restexpress.co.uk/acatalog/oils_spirits_and_solvents-p1.html)

[Susie]

Thanks for the links everyone.


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