Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: Polishing conundrum

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    1,533

    Question Polishing conundrum

    I'm trying to streamline my processes and timings and would like some advice please.

    Atm, I polish the edges of 1mm thick 14mm wide ag discs using my fine sander rolls. https://www.cooksongold.com/Jeweller...prcode-999-123

    Once sanded, I usually move onto my polisher, using luxi polish, blue and white, then they get tumbled for 15mins, to finish off.

    Do I need to omit any of these processes, or are any of them cancelling each other out?

    Thanks in advance.
    Jules

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    3,392

    Default

    I’ve never used a tumbler so this may be rubbish but do you need to tumble after polishing, is it not either or?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    1,533

    Default

    Hi Caroline,

    Thanks for your reply.

    What do you use for polishing flat items Caroline?

    I use my tumbler for my chainmaille daily, so tend to just put things in there without really thinking about it. However, I am also aware that you can get pitting if you add flat items into it, which is why I thought I'd go over to using my mop with the Luxi polish.

    Sometimes after polishing with the polishing mop, it hasn't taken out the tiny marks, so maybe I need to polish for longer? (I do wash with soapy water between polishes).
    Last edited by Petal; 29-07-2019 at 07:52 PM.
    Jules

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Central London
    Posts
    8,845

    Default

    Professionals would take flat surfaces to a mirror finish using mops and compounds, but it takes skill, a light touch and constant movement to avoid tramlines appearing.

    Tumblers introduce pits, due to the needles, which become clearly visible under magnification and in photographs.

    My preferred method is to rub them on MicroMesh sheets, available from Cookson and on line. You put them flat on the bench and rub the piece on it. You only need three or four grades, and the result is mirror like.

    It might save your finger nails, to put a piece of BluTack on the back of the sheet as a handle. Dennis

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    3,392

    Default

    I’ve never used anything but a bench polished Jules. I used to use tripoli and rouge , a bristle brush with the tripoli. I now use luxi blue and white but still find myself going back sometimes to my original polishes, a lot of people use Menzerna but I haven’t tried it.
    I can understand why you use the tumbler for your chainmaille though although 8 have down that on the big one too in the distant past.
    This is the finish I can get on a flat surface but it is about moving it about constantly and just comes with a lot of practice. I find it satisfying to get to this stage but then finish was all when I did my training and it’s stuck as a benchmark

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	36FCA94B-6121-48F7-8BF7-ED89720AC71C.jpg 
Views:	20 
Size:	8.8 KB 
ID:	12095

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	F22A1147-DF4A-4833-BCFC-48CA0E7D8CEB.jpg 
Views:	15 
Size:	12.2 KB 
ID:	12096

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,844

    Default

    Tumbler will not produce the polish required for high end items tumble polishing is a process to to save time when only average results are required.
    To answer your question if you are happy with the lower quality of tumbling then you could omit the buff stage.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    1,533

    Default

    Thanks for the tip Dennis, I've got some micromesh, so will be giving that a go today, with some trial discs.

    Thanks for the tip Caroline and also the photos of your beautifully polished work. I'll be polishing some trial discs using this method too.

    Bob, I disagree with your comments about tumblers producing average results, but assume its meant regarding using it with flat items? As to using it for chainmaille, which I do 90% of my time, my tumbler produces excellent, high quality results, which I am happy with.
    Jules

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    3,392

    Default

    Tumbling won’t get a high finish as Bob says so I’d miss out that and use the luxi combo with a bristle for the first stage and swansdown for the final. If you haven’t done anything else but cut them from new sheet there shouldn’t be many if any scratches. As you have a good disc cutter the edges shouldn’t need more than a rub round with a bit of wet and dry

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    England
    Posts
    1,902

    Default

    I have always used a bench polisher, as others have said I start with a bristle brush and Tripoli compound then finish with a soft swansdown mop and Rouge compound. May I also suggest this book for your library; http://www.crowood.com/details.asp?i...d-Silversmiths

    James

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    1,533

    Default

    Many thanks Caroline and James, I'll give those tips a go and also get the book you recommended.
    Jules

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •