Final Polishing - Want to up my game...

[Sugar Creek Pen Co.]

Below is the cap for one of my current projects. Overall I'm pretty happy with my finish. However, I think when I do an inlay on the finial it doesn't polish as well on the lathe as the abrasive is "spinning in place" instead of crossing the surface being polished (I hope that description makes sense). What tools and techniques does the group recommend for removal of that final slight haze?

The cap below was wet sanded from 320-600 with Abranet and then Micromesh through the full series of pads. What would you do next?

 

[d_bondi]

Hey Frank,

In general, I have stopped using MicroMesh or Zona Paper (3M).

I sand starting with 400, then 800 and then a Mirka MirlonTotal 1500 pad.

After that, I use buffing wheels with 4 different compounds beginning with Tripoli, then White Diamond, and then two more very fine and fine plastic polishing compounds.

Finally blue jewelers rouge and then Renaissance Wax and a clean buffing wheel.

Easier, quicker, and I get an amazing finish.

Warning: Hold on to the parts, those buffing wheels like to grab stuff and throw them against the floor!

 

[Sugar Creek Pen Co.]

Hey Frank,

In general, I have stopped using MicroMesh or Zona Paper (3M).

I sand starting with 400, then 800 and then a Mirka MirlonTotal 1500 pad.

After that, I use buffing wheels with 4 different compounds beginning with Tripoli, then White Diamond, and then two more very fine and fine plastic polishing compounds.

Finally blue jewelers rouge and then Renaissance Wax and a clean buffing wheel.

Easier, quicker, and I get an amazing finish.

Warning: Hold on to the parts, those buffing wheels like to grab stuff and throw them against the floor!

what kind of wheels do you use with each of those?

 

[d_bondi]

I use a Canton Flannel Wheel 8" x 1/2" w/ 1/2" hole, but I triple them up so for each compound I have 1 1/2" of buffing surface.

I used These Instructions from the library that were posted by @TonyL to build my buffing setup.

Here is a photo of my setup.

 

[Sugar Creek Pen Co.]

I use a Canton Flannel Wheel 8" x 1/2" w/ 1/2" hole, but I triple them up so for each compound I have 1 1/2" of buffing surface.

I used These Instructions from the library that were posted by @TonyL to build my buffing setup.

Here is a photo of my setup.

View attachment 389750

thanks for the picture! i inherited one of the penn state three wheel setups, i may see if i can modify it.

 

[d_bondi]

thanks for the picture! i inherited one of the penn state three wheel setups, i may see if i can modify it.

I built the housing with cardboard as a mock-up with plans to build it from baltic birch plywood, but... it worked too well, I am still using it as you see it!

Another thing to think about is that wheel diameter makes a huge difference in effective relative velocity against the pen parts and therefore heat generation. I run my 4" wheels (PSI Barry Gross 2 wheel system with the blue rouge and Rennaisance Wax/Clean Wheel) at maybe 1700 RPM, but these 8" wheels, that would be WAY too fast.