I still HATE polishing

[Walsheng]

I just spent about 2 or 3 hours over the last two days polishing the connecting rod on the Stuart No. 9 I am building. The problem is I saw a picture of a No. 9 with a polished connecting rod and really liked how it looked with all the polished brass and bronze.
When I was building molds for a living I can't tell you how many hours I spent polishing molds.  Everything from just draw stoning so the part would release from the mold to literally 100+ hours on a mold getting an optical polish.  Now I have more patience but it kills my 60 year old thumbs.
Maybe next time I will just paint the whole darned thing and convince myself I like it.

Anyone else hate polishing?

John

[stevehuckss396]

I like a polish on my parts. I hate maintaining it.

[zeeprogrammer]

Anyone else hate polishing?

Yes. For a number of reasons....

1) I'm never satisfied with the result. Don't think I ever could be.
2) It's near the end and I'm lousy at 'finishing'
3) It's often not appreciated except by those who know what went into it
4) Seems like it takes the most time of any operation
5) Like you mention...it can hurt after a while

Still...a fine polish can really show attention to quality.
As for number 5...take frequent breaks.

Ah yes...what Steve just said.

[swilliams]

6) the guys who used to work in toolrooms polishing dies were always crazy 

Steve

[Walsheng]

"1) I'm never satisfied with the result. Don't think I ever could be."


I especially agree with this one.  I was going to post a picture, but I am not satisfied.  I bet I could spend another 6 hours on it and not be satisfied.

John

[Walsheng]

6) the guys who used to work in toolrooms polishing dies were always crazy 

Steve

Got that right, but not as crazy as the welders!

John

[peatoluser]

I get fed up very quickly with polishing. I'm afraid I am a fully paid up member of the 'deeply scratched highly polished' school

and yes John, iv'e never met a sane welder yet. must be the fumes!

peter

[Deko]

Spare a thought for me gents, when i finaly get my fibre optic clock mechanism working i then have to strip it down and polish every little bit.

Cheers Dek.

[Swifty]

I'm not a great fan of bling on models, the originals weren't polished. A nice "scratch" finish with some emery paper looks good. Sandblasting hides a lot of blemishes if you have one. I feel that polishing shows up any small imperfections that lead to more polishing again.

Paul.

[b.lindsey]

I agree Paul...I much prefer a lightly bead blasted finish to a high polish. The other think I don't care for with polishing is how it tends to round otherwise nicely machined square edges. Other than bead blasting, I find fine grit emery paper for flat parts or scotchbrite used in the lathe with round parts impart a nice matte finish.

Bill

[divided he ad]

Just found this thread.... Personally I like the bling (as anyone familiar with my work will know)

I made a video a while back to help with polishing... Would you like a link?

It is using my lathe. Which I know is heavily frowned upon. 



  It was more about showing technique than what to use.

If the lathe thing is going to start issues I'll not post the link 





Ralph.

[b.lindsey]

Ralph,
I for one would like to see the link for the purpose of learning more as to your technique and not the equipment being used. I have a small Foredom buffer (they call it a bench lathe but it isn't a lathe in the sense that most of us think of). I would like to learn how to use it more effectively and your link could possibly help in that regard.

Bill

[divided he ad]

Ok Bill, I'll post it....

It's the way I do it and it gets fairly good and consistent results.... the technique is exactly the same when using Dremel sized polishing kit too.



Please read the warning at the beginning of the video.

Possibly also watch the video response, which is the 4th video in my torch build series. It shows the mod' I made to make this process safer.


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRoblphSeY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRoblphSeY</a>




Ralph.

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Ralph.  Can you elaborate more on the names or specifications of the compounds you use for the various steps. I think maybe I am not using an abrasive enough compound in the first step.

Bill

[divided he ad]

Bill,

I have been called into work... I will look the links etc up later and get back to you.

If I don't get it posted tonight try a PM    Memory like a black hole!! 







Ralph.