Polishing Routine

**angmc** · 07-09-2016, 01:53 PM

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** · 07-09-2016, 02:09 PM

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** · 07-09-2016, 02:14 PM

For polishing I use a bristle brush mop with Tripoli compound first; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...prcode-999-CAH,
Tripoli compound;http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...prcode-998-198

then I finish with a Swansdown mop with rouge compound; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...prcode-999-AFZ
Rouge compound; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...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;

Click image for larger version.

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James

**enigma** · 07-09-2016, 04:39 PM

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** · 07-09-2016, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · 07-09-2016, 05:41 PM

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

**angmc** · 07-09-2016, 05:42 PM

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

**enigma** · 07-09-2016, 06:07 PM

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.