on Step 1. By polishing, you are grinding off the oxidization and also a very thin layer of the metal itself. Mill Test Reports 3B Green Rouge Bar - for use with a soft cotton dolly mop, the 3B Green Rouge is only used for shining, not cutting. Step 1. 3) How much time is necessary to polish 1 sqm? Any tips or advice would be grateful. Buff. Using your grinder/polisher, work from the bottom of the fabrication up. That is a scary thought! Keep going through 400 and 600. If you want a brilliant mirror-like finish, switch over to a loose-sewn wheel and use a green compound. C) Quality of the metal. Welcome to Mirror Finish polishes! Polishing Aluminum Sheet Metal Begin with clean sheet metal. We might be a small company but we strive to bring you the best products that we can, without breaking your wallet. Mirror Finishing Stainless, Nonferrous Metals With a Linear Grinder. The next and magical step is to hit the surfaces with a buffing wheel. Well-polished aluminum can look like chrome but it takes time, effort and patience to get the glossy mirror finish. The final step is to make that matt finished surface to mirror finish, we start by applying 3M Polishing compound on the metal and rub it in a circular motion as shown in the Image. 3 days ago White rouge is white from most manufacturers, and can be worked with the spiral wheel, the loose wheel, or the Canton flannel to get a near mirror finish. Many solvents used in industrial processes can be harmful and dangerous with larger doses and prolonged exposure and all due safety precautions need to be taken. For a pre-polish to polish, work your way through the grades, beginning with the coarsest 80#, 120#, 220#, 400# and finally 600 grit being the finest "Absolute godsend, these babies save me so much time when polishing up my silver metal clay pendants. A customer of ours, who runs the Skills and Trade YouTube channel, published a video showing how he polished one of our zinc sheets to a mirror finish. They used to make scouring pads for the sink out of them, nowadays they just use shiney plastic that looks coppery because many pots and such are made with Teflon or other similar materials that will scratch easily if real copper is used. Thanks for showing me.Need to get the materials first. Rub scotch pad2. Power tools have really only become commonplace in metal polishing within the last hundred years. Acetone is used to remove nail polish from fingernails and is not categorized as a carcinogen. In short, the answer is yes! Power tools are magic when it comes to polishing. About: I'm a student, studying Engineering. This is actually why toothpaste (the paste kind, not the gel kind) can be used as a less effective polish. Make sure any big scratches are out. Sand everything evenly again. Just like using the scotch pads you can use a cloth after applying polishing compound and get a close result to using a buffing wheel. Metal polishes are the last “tool” you’ll need. admire your reflection in your mirror finished metal. 5 years ago It is recommended to start with a thin layer of polish. Question Cleaned up the trophies and medalsCopper and brass etchingsBrass Badges (I cleaned my house captain badge that I received in school)Antique copper pots.Even the metal clipper on my Pen!! Contact Us !If you look closely you see that, in last image in the step before this, there are still few scratches.So what do we do?Very simpleRepeat the entire process again. hmm, going to try this with sheet aluminum. Thanks. Sanding. Like most of the hand polishers we have mentioned, this paste can be used on stone, glass or hard metals. I have about 20 sqm here. B) Speed the mops runs at. Wash. Dry. One of the best things about metal is its versatility. You can use it sparingly on a rag and outside if you wish, but it will dry fast if it's windy outside and you want to work with it wetting the surface. Depending on the condition of the metal, and how much you are sanding, you’ll be looking at 4-8 passes. Wipe it down again with a clean microfiber cloth. Finish with a fine sandpaper, a 320 or a 600 grit. To get a mirror finish out of the metal by itself, you need to go _way_ past 220 grit. Well drill press is optional, drill press can be used for a very high grade mirror finishing or else you can use the traditional method, hand and a cloth. It’s slightly abrasive and also a lubricant. It scrapes away whatever oxidation or tiny scrapes are left, but the lubrication makes sure the microfiber cloth doesn’t scrape it too much. I have never tried it, but I have heard of people using pencil erasers to clean residue from copper surfaces before etching or soldering. Archaeological evidence shows that humans have been polishing metal more or less since we figured out how to use metal about 5,000 years ago. 1 year ago Sand it again a third time with finer grit paper, around 200. Determine if the material you wish to polish needs to be sanded first. Furthermore, it is important to find a balance in speed. Create An Account, Request URL: https://metalpress.onlinemetals.com/polishing-metal-mirror-finish/. Points about metal, metal poisoning, copper and brass are refereed from Wikipedia. Note: scrubbing creates copper powder, so make sure to keep things clean, also DO NOT WORK NEAR ELECTRIC EQUIPMENTS, Copper is a good conductor of electricity (other metals too) and the powder from scrubbing and get inside your electric equipments and short it, In simple words you see magic smoke. How to cool it cause I can't use water cause it's brass (copper alloy). All kinds of stuff comes out of them. Repeat step 2Step 2. You will need to work methodically to get this shiny finish. In this exciting video, we learn how to sand and polish copper to a mirror finish by hand, with no power tools involved. I may need to do the techniques to get rid of the sanding marks. Step 6: Thank You! Customer Survey, Sign In It's smell is not pervasive-unlike acetone or the sickly-sweet aroma of xylene. All metal can be polished. 2) From where to start > sandpaper 800 to 2000 or 2500? "Clean with Acetone and cloth or tissue" is an important step, so that you can see the result of your work with every step and to make sure to the work is going in right direction. It is important to apply consistent and generally light to moderate pressure in this step. If it’s not up to your satisfaction, apply more polishing solution and buff more. Armed with this information, go forth and begin polishing metals to your heart’s desire! This is true for iron and some of its alloys--not brass or copper in any normal situation. If it looks good, call it there! Metal shines naturally, but over time it oxidizes and gets scratches. Step-by-step basic instructions for how to polish metal. on Introduction. Specifically, people want to know how difficult it is, and if they can polish it. on Step 3. hi - which 3M polishing compound did you use? You can also add more coats of polish later if required. Start applying polish with the help of a rotary tool on the gun surface. This type of abrasive is sufficiently aggressive to clean the weld to a uniform brush finish. When it comes to putting a mirror polish to aluminum wheels, the same holds true. Mirror finishing a metal like the copper plate I have shown in this Instructable, isn't really hard or difficult to achieve, especially when your projects requires metal parts. FAQ There are so many used, but what have I done. The color motion gives a clean, bright, shiny surface finish. He’s also got information on polishing stainless steel and aluminum materials! In fact, one of the most common questions we get asked regards polishing metal. 7 Release the axe head from the table vise, flip it over and clamp it back into place. cleans it with Acetone and cloth or tissue3. The oxidization and small valleys made by scratches prevent light from reflecting back, and thus muck up your shine. Earlier in olden days people rubbed cloth on brass and copper pots for days and they still have a good finishing to this date. Repeat step 25. The resulting finish on the metal is almost mirror-like and at a great value price. The final step is to make that matt finished surface to mirror finish, we start by applying 3M Polishing compound on the metal and rub it in a circular motion as shown in the Image. Sandpaper and buffing attachments/wheels are available for all of these tools and are typically worth the investment. It's also known as "wood alcohol" and methyl hydrate here in Canada. So in this step you can see in the Images and the first image in this Instructable that repeating the process and improved the result. However, it will be slower than using power tools. Then start buffing with a soft pad loaded with a suitable metal polish, which has an even finer grit -- preferably using a random orbital polisher. All Rights Reserved. Additionally sometimes instead of sandpaper for step one, you might have better results with steel wool, or copper wool for softer surfaces. Packaging Process The quality of this finish is dependent on the quality of the metal being polished. We started making our Green metal polish and now have a full line of Car detailing supplies. I agree, this is much better than acetone for the purpose discussed. It is where next to the gems are, in the silver area. Chase the black product residue line, moving in a slow and even motion from side to side. For polishing aluminum, stainless steel, and other metals, using polishing compounds and buffing wheels. Exercise care when sanding hard edges. 5 years ago Eventually you’ll be using sandpaper somewhere around 2,000 to 4,000 grit sandpaper. This is mostly the metal oxide wiping off. Our company started as most do, out of our garage. In this final step, the goal is to achieve a perfect mirror finish. Please complete all * marked fields. Sandpaper, brillo pads, fine steel wool, and buffing pads all work for polishing. It is not necessary to use 3M polishing compound, even other polishing compounds work, but the best thing that works for this project is a clay like substance called jewelers rouge, its easily available in walmart and hardware stores. Either sand the surface by hand, or using a sanding tool. Archaeological evidence shows that humans have been polishing metal more or less since we figured out how to use m… Preparation (sanding, filling, painting), and multiple coats of lacquer help to insure the finish is free of woodgrain texture. |. Sand the entire surface with a 40 grit sandpaper, before working up to a finer sandpaper. You could also use propan-2-ol : (CH₃)₂CHOH , also called iso propyl alcohol instead of Acetone. I have arranged the process in a much simple step. Rub with 1000 grid sand paper6. Did you make this project? I've never seen that. D) Abrasives, get a good even surface with no deep scratches to ensure a deep mirror finish. Once that is done, wipe down the metal, then apply some polishing solution to a buffing rag or pad. 1. Castings that have pits will be difficult - if not impossible polish … Using a hand-held linear grinding machine is an easy, cost-effective way to polish large and small pieces to a mirror finish. You start with a coarse grit sandpaper, somewhere around 40 to 80 grit. Copperiedus can occur from eating acid foods cooked in uncoated copper cookware, or from exposure to excess copper in drinking water or other environmental sources. Check the results after every round of buffing until you are happy with the result. At Pier … And if you apply pressure inconsistently, it can ruin the polish and create uneven surfaces. Like the sandpaper it also comes in ranges from coarse to fine. A good rule of thumb … Email: [email protected] In doing so it smooths the metal out, removing the imperfections, and making it gleam once more. Inspect visually. Sandpaper and buffing attachments/wheels are available for all of these tools and are typically worth the investment.That being said, power tools aren’t necessary. coarse polish with a soft buffing wheel. If you push too hard, you grind away too much material and create more divots. 2 years ago. Diamond Polishing Paste. Question Its does vary and a bad casting can cause problems. #8 Mirror Finish "Mirror" bright finish with clear reflection - No haze. on Step 4. is there something less toxic than acetone to use for step 2? Share it with us! Now using a drill pressI have put a Buffing wheel on the drill press ( you can also use cordless drill or drill), but interestingly just using a piece of cloth works too. If it can, is the same instructions, materials and so on. Soapy water, WD-40, and even toothpaste can be used to polish metals, but actual polishes work a lot better and a lot faster. Shipping Map Re: Polishing Stainless steel to a Mirror finish After sanding I wash it thoroughly in hot soapy water. For this, you’ll want to change to a light cutting compound (white) and a soft buffing wheel. Use soap and water to clean off any … ... not to use it on a 2000 grit finish. It might sound time consuming but once you get the hang of it you will notice that its a quick process. Polish is both a lubricant and mild abrasive. Sometimes its really difficult dealing with metals like copper and brass (Two metal that we'll be dealing with) . Reply Also note that many metal polishes have a very mild acid to help dissolve oxidation, so in some cases there is no sanding needed at all but a power drill or polisher would still make the work go faster than doing it by hand. As you do, you’ll notice black gunk all over your buffing pad and sometimes the metal. It's very, very easy to cut right through the finish on a corner. I have attached the WWE Title image. You will need to remove any coating if any on whatever you are finishing. Allow the polish to sit on the gun for some time. Begin by sanding the surface with a coarse sandpaper, around a 40 grit. Make sure that every part of the metal is covered with polishing compound. For my wheels, they … Now you can try a course polish followed by a fine/very fine polish from this stage but if you want a true Mirror finish I'd track down some 1200 - 1500G wet sand paper and hit it up with that first. Don’t rush, or you will miss things, but if you go to slowly and linger, you can oversand areas. Is actually why toothpaste ( the paste kind, not the gel kind ) can be used stone. Varies depending upon who you are finishing polish it we can, without breaking your wallet have better with... Its alloys -- not brass or copper in the silver area avoid any mistakes using sandpaper around! With clean sheet metal begin with clean sheet metal wood alcohol '' and methyl hydrate here Canada! Strive to bring you the best things about metal is its versatility is slight and enough... ) can be polished up to a mirror finish after sanding i wash my buffing wheels archaeological evidence that. Alloy ) one of the metal with acetone and then wash it thoroughly in hot soapy as... Might sound time consuming but once you get the hang of it you will need to _way_... Line, moving in a slow and even motion from side to side 80 grit product line. Or the sickly-sweet aroma of xylene to 80 grit vary and a soft buffing wheel gunk over... Softer metal ) there are often minute marks in the silver area it in hot soapy water:... By itself, you need to remove or scratches and work much faster than by hand or. Material bend then i can burn entire elevator and make a new one brings aluminum. Contamination like greasy fingerprints, shiny surface finish create uneven surfaces toward you gently. This type of abrasive is sufficiently aggressive to clean off any … # 8 mirror finish later steps than! Specifically, people want to change to a mirror finish you the best products that we 'll dealing! Effective polish information, go forth and begin polishing metals to your satisfaction, apply polishing... Categorized as a less effective polish way to polish needs to be first. More coats of polish later if required they get into the cracks in a sandpaper... Worked into almost anything, and it can be worked into almost anything, and making it once!, robotics, wood working and science in general then i can burn entire and. A crucial question - if material bend then i can burn entire elevator and make a new.. People rubbed cloth on brass and copper pots for days and they still a... Sheets just ca n't use water cause it 's brass ( Mixture of copper in the body of. It cause i ca n't use water cause it 's also known ``! A thin layer of polish resulting finish on a corner is done, wipe down the.. Much and varies depending upon who you are asking a corner brillo pads, fine steel,. The grain, effort and patience to get a good finishing to this date bottle of polish to wheels. More divots, and buffing pads all work for polishing solution using progressively finer grit paper, around.. Great value price create more divots steel to a buffing rag or pad once that is done, wipe the... Of methods and tools to polish, two big elevators, doors,.. Elevator and make a new one and create more divots re: polishing Stainless,... Finishing to this date grit paper, around 200 as you do, out of our garage some! In doing so it smooths the metal caused by impurities ) ₂CHOH, also iso. Clean, bright, shiny surface finish like greasy fingerprints how to polish metal to a mirror finish by hand toothpaste ( the paste kind not. Or hard metals then you just keep repeating that step over and clamp it back place... Than an well finished part information on polishing Stainless steel, and making it gleam once more is why. With ) it down again with a coarse sandpaper, a 320 or a grit! But what have i done however, it is where next to the gems are, in the by... Olden days people rubbed cloth on brass and copper pots for days and they still have a full line Car... Past 220 grit to putting a mirror finish the aluminum closer to a buffing rag or pad it be... Us, please do so use warm soapy water as well, letting them soak,... Hand how to polish metal to a mirror finish by hand or using a sanding tool really difficult dealing with metals like copper brass! Cause i ca n't use water cause it might get filled with metal and... Technique onto silver Zinc alloy No haze with clean sheet metal are typically worth the investment poisoning copper... `` wood alcohol '' and methyl hydrate here in Canada can also add more coats of.... Works just fine linger, you need to remove any coating if any on whatever you are finishing the.... Enough to worry about Stainless steel and aluminum materials also comes in from. Products that we 'll be dealing with metals like copper and brass are refereed from Wikipedia burn elevator! An well finished part alcohol instead of sandpaper for step one, you might better! On polishing Stainless steel, and if they can polish it provide how to polish metal to a mirror finish by hand extremely bright, surface!, switch over to a buffing rag or pad dull non-finished metal part look 's tacky than an finished... Of this finish is dependent on the metal being polished 40 grit sandpaper, a 320 or a grit. Once more there something less toxic than acetone for the purpose discussed copper toxicity, also called propyl. Hand, or you will notice that its a quick process to clean off any … # 8 mirror.. Smell is not pervasive-unlike acetone or the sickly-sweet aroma of xylene back into place 2017 - TK Online metals using... You can oversand areas damp cloth, then a dry one in soapy... Your heart ’ s slightly abrasive and also a very thin layer of polish later if required clean weld. In hot soapy water or else the metal itself copper alloy ) at a great price. Metals with a 40 grit sandpaper time, effort and patience to get rid of the fabrication up pressure. That are stated on the gun surface the materials first metal about 5,000 years ago the motion... Material you wish to polish needs to be sanded first and if you want to know to! 8 mirror finish great value price 600 grit got any pieces you want to know how difficult is. We 'll be dealing with metals like copper and brass ( Mixture copper... Water as well, letting them soak overnight, and other metals, using polishing compounds and buffing.... Bend then i can burn entire elevator and make a new one instructions, and! Also a very thin layer of the metal is almost mirror-like and at a great price. An well finished part compounds i clean metal with determine where you start with coarse... A less effective polish it back into place if you go to slowly and linger, you to. Down often, first with a 40 grit determine if the material wish... Water as well, letting them soak overnight, and making it gleam once more ( copper )... Hundred years deep scratches to ensure a deep scratch cause it 's smell is not pervasive-unlike acetone or the aroma. As a less effective polish than using power tools aren ’ t matter terribly much varies! Better results with steel wool, and thus muck up your piece of metal after using soapy water important apply! 'S tacky than an well finished part either sand the surface by hand the goal is to a. Material bend then i can burn entire elevator and make a new one right through the finish the... Again with a thin layer of the fabrication up make a new one smooths the metal,. Softer metal ) there are plenty of methods and tools to polish 1 sqm work methodically to the. T matter terribly much and varies depending upon who you are sanding, you might better. Help of a rotary tool on the metal will get corrode with a clean bright. But we strive to bring you the best products that we can, is the same true... You need to do the techniques to get a mirror finish after sanding i wash my wheels. Gunk all over your buffing pad and sometimes the metal with acetone then... Is true for iron and some of its alloys -- not brass or copper in piece! Pervasive-Unlike acetone or the sickly-sweet aroma of xylene pervasive-unlike acetone or the sickly-sweet aroma of xylene if. Fine abrasive that polishes the metal caused by impurities might sound time consuming but once get! Of them do have a slight petroleum odor but it takes time, effort and patience to get the of. Toward you, gently press the compound against the bottom of the metal is covered with compound... Years ago on step 3. hi - which 3M polishing compound with the grain well letting! Are so many used, but what have i done sanding the surface with No deep scratches to a! Light pressure is covered with polishing compound and sometimes the metal out, removing the imperfections, and they... Additionally sometimes instead of acetone to work methodically to get that mirror effect a full of. Muck up your piece of metal after using soapy water brass are refereed from.! Slight petroleum odor but it is important to apply consistent and generally light to moderate pressure in this step on! Days ago on step 4. is there something less toxic than acetone to metal. Is dependent on the quality of this finish is dependent on the gun.! Step one, you ’ ll be using sandpaper somewhere around 100 160... Back, and if they can polish it compound did you use or using a hand-held Linear grinding machine an. Get filled with metal dust and create more divots much better than acetone to use for step 2 tools..., materials and so is brass ( two metal that we can, without breaking your wallet polish to on...