Buffing question

[bjbear76]

I'm curious as to when you prefer buffing (Beall system) over putting on a CA finish on woods or using plastic polish on acrylics? Are there certain woods or types of acrylics that are better suited for buffing?
I have some pens and bottle stoppers that to me look like they've become dull. If I disassembled the hardware, would buffing them be the best way to brighten them up?

 

[RichB]

If they are finished with CA they will buff up. If they are wood with a wax finish, they will buff up with a little more wax. If the wood is open grain some wax will show up in the grain as white spots. Hand buffing with the grain will work better with open grain if it is filled. Hope this helps.

 

[edstreet]

I'm curious as to when you prefer buffing (Beall system) over putting on a CA finish on woods or using plastic polish on acrylics? Are there certain woods or types of acrylics that are better suited for buffing?
I have some pens and bottle stoppers that to me look like they've become dull. If I disassembled the hardware, would buffing them be the best way to brighten them up?

Perhaps I read this wrong but

Buffing is a process.
CA finish is a bonding agent, also can be used as a finish.
Plastic polish is also a process.

You can buff practically anything, you can replace all sanding with a buffer with the right compound. You can even do 40 grit on a buffer. Most common what we see/use is the super finer grits.

One major pitfall of buffing anything is the 'out of round' via abrasion or high gloss and low gloss spots due to uneven buffing on the surface area. Having the blank turning reduces this but does not eliminate it (RPM greatly affects this due to bouncing and uneven surface area etc)

Normally after buffing the object is cleaned to remove excess compound, build up and the like.

As for certain woods or types of acrylics that are better suited for buffing that is directly related to the material in question, the compounds that is used and the buffing wheel itself. Some are better suited for specific types of materials over others. I.e. Brasso on a cloth/felt buffing wheel.