choosing polishing mops and compounds.

[Leo]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone may have some advice..
I'm about to purchase a single speed polishing motor.

I would like to buy the correct mops and compounds.
I work with silver and small amounts of gold, so I understand ill need rougher calico mops with tripoli, then sofetr mops .

Are there any mops and compounds that I should try to achieve a nice finish?

Thanks for reading

[knucklehead]

im also new to learning polishing skills and techniques, but have a look at the 3m radial discs
https://www.moleroda.com/product/sma...scs-19mm-25mm/
dont need compound to use with them

[china]

For a polishing motor I would go with black bristle brush, for the rough stage, a stitched calico mop for intermediate stage and a loose leaf swansdown mop for final stage
every body has their favourite compounds a good start would be Dialux it is inexpensive and many jewellers swear by it.
I have a different set of mops for each metal.
3m discs are good for pre finish, they are expensive and require a pendant motor of some kind, personally I do not believe they will produce the quality of finish you will achieve with a polishing motor mops and compounds.

[CJ57]

In many cases it’s a matter of preference for compounds. Some still use tripoli and rouge, some have moved on to luxi and others swear by menzerna. I’m thinking about trying the latter as I still go between the other depending what surface I’m polishing
Like Bob I use a bristle brush for tripoli or luxi
I use calico or have recently found the synthetic suede mops which I’ve found give a really good finish and don’t need the preparation required of new mops then a soft wool for a last finish

This is the finish I expect to get

[china]

I find the Menzerna question interesting, in Australia you simply can not buy, a few suppliers obtained some and put it out to customers to try the feed back was so bad that no one will have any thing to do with it here.

[alastairduncan]

I can recommend a really good book on polishing for jewellery and silversmithing which is quite comprehensive and easy enough to read. You can get a copy from cooksongold or a google version for around a fiver. Here is a link to a preview of the book.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/abo...on&redir_esc=y

[CJ57]

I find the Menzerna question interesting, in Australia you simply can not buy, a few suppliers obtained some and put it out to customers to try the feed back was so bad that no one will have any thing to do with it here.

I haven’t tried it Bob as I find myself still going back to rouge and tripoli from luxi mid polish. Lots of people do seem to think it’s the bees knees though