{"id":255,"date":"2015-10-16T14:59:48","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T14:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.polishingjewellery.co.uk\/blog\/?p=255"},"modified":"2016-05-11T16:10:56","modified_gmt":"2016-05-11T15:10:56","slug":"faqs-about-polishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.polishingjewellery.co.uk\/blog\/2015\/10\/16\/faqs-about-polishing\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs About Polishing – Why am I not getting a Good Finish"},"content":{"rendered":"

It dawned on me that whilst putting together an FAQ section for our new Ebay shop that actually it would be very useful here. These points cover some of the simpler questions but is by no means exhaustive…you’d be exhausted after reading all the possible questions!!<\/p>\n

\"FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n

FAQs About Polishing<\/h2>\n

What is Ferrous Metal? <\/strong>\u00a0Ferrous metal generally contains Iron and is usually (not always) magnetic. Examples are Mild Steel, Carbon Steel, Wrought Iron, Cast Iron, Surgical Steel and Stainless Steel.<\/p>\n

What are Non-Ferrous Metals? <\/strong>Non-Ferrous metals are mainly metals or alloys not containing Iron such as Aluminium, Copper, Lead, Pewter, Titanium, Nickel, Tin and Precious Metals such as Silver.<\/p>\n

How do I get compound onto the mops\/bobs? <\/strong>Our compound is a made of oils and wax therefore it needs heat to melt. To load it onto a mop or bob you simply need to spin the bob or mop against the compound bar. A thin head of compound is needed with regular top ups as you go along. Too much compound will reduce the effectiveness of the abrasive action and create lots of residue.<\/p>\n

What is all this black stuff? <\/strong>That black stuff is a good sign\u2026you don\u2019t want too much of it (you could be using too much compound) but it is a sign that the polishing is working. You\u2019ll always get this residue. It is best to always remove it quickly before the metal cools. To do this use Vienna Lime and a soft lint free cloth to wipe over the surface (available in our shop). The other method is warm soapy (washing up liquid is best) water and a bit of elbow grease being careful not to scratch the metal.<\/p>\n

Spindles, Collets, Chucks I\u2019m Confused! <\/strong>This can be the biggest area of confusion in polishing. Rotary tools such as drills, hobby drills, pendant motors etc take items on a spindle (the metal shaft that goes into the drill).<\/p>\n

A chuck will clamp down onto the spindle so the important thing to consider is the maximum and minimum size you can fit in when choosing a kit.<\/p>\n

Collets sit inside the hand piece and come in specific sizes the most common of which are 2.35mm (3\/32\u2019\u2019), 3mm, 1\/8\u2019\u2019, 6mm in order of size. It is important that you know what size collets your tool comes with as the same size spindle is needed.<\/p>\n

We often find that our customers can make mistakes finishing the right size. If you do get the wrong size, no problem just let us know within 48hrs and we\u2019ll arrange an exchange for the correct size spindle. If in any doubt, please contact us before purchase.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t find the right size!<\/strong> We manufacture a large percentage of our items, if you can\u2019t find the right size please contact us as we may well be able to supply it in the right size.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t find what I\u2019m looking for!<\/strong> We have a huge range of products (not all on ebay), if you can\u2019t find exactly what you\u2019re after please contact us.<\/p>\n

Why am I not getting a very good finish? <\/strong>Polishing is incredibly dependant on a number of factors, technique, pressure, heat, preparation. Our kits are designed to be as simple as possible, we know they\u2019re good as we\u2019ve sold thousands over the years. However we know that not everyone polishes the same. There are a few points to consider if you aren\u2019t getting a great finish.<\/p>\n