[Jewelry making - Article 00638] - Re: [Orchid] Polishing Problems

[Dave Sebaste]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


>      problem with polishing silver, in that, I can't seem to get the
>     mirror finish I want, especially on flat surfaces. 

    My understanding is that traditional European apprentices can spend
    a year, or more, just on this one aspect of the craft... before they
    get to do anything fun. 

    On silver, I "always" use the finest abrasives followed by tripoli
    and rouge. Interestingly, I have a monumental piece I've finally
    finished, and wasn't happy with the polish. Went over the whole thing
    with Zam and was surprised to find the results were superior. Was it
    just due to the additional polishing time, or did the compound make a
    difference? Hard to tell. 

    Flat surfaces are especially challenging. Once you get a ripple,
    gouge or depression on a flat from a polishing wheel, you're sunk.
    You either have to live with it, or go back and re-sand to flat.
    Continued polishing with a buff will only aggravate the situation,
    and will never fix it, increasing frustration. The problem stems from
    trying to polish a flat surface with a round, rotating wheel. The
    smaller the wheel (like on a flex shaft) the worse it gets. 

    Ideally, flat surfaces are polished on a flat lap. Usually hard
    felt, often a "split lap." A split lap has radial slots cut through
    so you can see the work somewhat as the wheel goes around, and you
    are holding the work to the flat underside. 

    Choice of buff material may also have a bearing. I use one of those
    "stringy" mop buffs for something with surface relief, so the little
    strings can get into the texture, into corners, etc. For flat, convex
    or more uniform surfaces, I tend to use a solid felt buff. 

    I do a lot of the delicate polishing on my flex shaft, reserving the
    big buffer for larger pieces or those that are not prone to being
    snagged. The last thing I want to have happen is have a piece
    destroyed at the last moment by the power of the big buffer. Has
    happened....  :( 

    As with the thread on stone polishing, you'll never get a fine
    polish on a poorly prepared surface. 

Hope this helps,
Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio and
Carolina Artisans' Gallery
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave AT sebaste.com 
http://www.CarolinaArtisans.com 

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________