Polishing (metalworking)

Polishing Process and Techniques

• Different types of abrasives are used based on the condition of the material
• Rough abrasives are used initially to remove imperfections
• Finer abrasives are used to achieve the desired finish
• Lubricants like wax and kerosene can be used during the process
• Buffing can be done by hand or using specialized equipment
• Cut motion is used to achieve a uniform, smooth surface finish
• Color motion is used to achieve a clean, bright, shiny surface finish
• Pressure applied during buffing varies based on the desired result
• Brass polishing involves using a very fine grit and copper plating
• Polishing operations for tools like chisels and wrenches involve roughing, dry fining, greasing, and coloring
• Abrasive flow machining
• Electropolishing
• Knife sharpening
• Surface finishing
• Use of kerosene in polishing metals

Equipment Used

• Different abrasives are used for different types of metals
• Polishing wheels are made from various materials like wood, leather, and cloth
• Cloth wheels can be cemented together or sewn and glued
• Felt wheels are popular for achieving fine finishes
• Buffing wheels are made from cotton or wool cloth and come in various types

Types of Compounds

• Emery compound is used for removing scratches, pits, and rust
• Tripoli compound is used for general purpose cut and color on soft metals
• Blizzard compound is used for color and final finish on harder metals
• Blue wheel is designed to polish without cutting action, safe for thin plates
• Green compound is used exclusively for stainless steel

Applications of Polishing

• Polishing is used to enhance the appearance of items
• It can prevent contamination of instruments and prevent corrosion
• In metallography and metallurgy, polishing is used for microscopic examination
• Polishing can be used to remove tarnish from metal objects
• Electropolishing is an alternative form of polishing using electrochemistry principles

Notable References and Additional Information

• Oberg, p. 1439
• Deck, Clara, 'The care and preservation of historical brass and bronze,' retrieved 2009-01-06
• What is Electropolishing? (source: https://www.electro-glo.com/what-is-electropolishing/)
• Oberg, p. 1440
• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polishing
• Oberg, Erik; Jones, Franklin D.; Horton, Holbrook L.; Ryffel, Henry H. (2000), Machinerys Handbook (26th ed.), New York: Industrial Press Inc., ISBN 0-8311-2635-3
• Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polishing_(metalworking)&oldid=1172934725
• Articles with unsourced statements from January 2009
• Commons category link is locally defined

Polishing (metalworking) Data Sources