Finishing Acrylic Pens

[jtrusselle]

What's your prefered method for finishing acrylic pens. Sand, micro mesh up to 12000 grit or so and high build friction polish, or wet sand up to 400/600 grit and finish with a polishing wheel?

I've talked to a few folks and get differing opinions. Does one versus the other result in a better finish?

PS. your answer could cause me to buy more stuff for the shop...

 

[mrcook4570]

Just polish them. They are plastic - no need to slop a bunch of gunk on them.

 

[CaptG]

After sanding to 600, then Micro mesh to 12000 or so, I polish with Hut plastic polish and then Ren wax.

 

[ed4copies]

Sand to 1000 or so, use tripoli and white diamond buff - BEAUTIFUL.

(except bowling ball and a couple other nasties)

 

[NewLondon88]

I usually just sand up to 600 or so and switch to MicroMesh to 12,000.
I sand wet. Keeps the blank cool and the dust down. Usually finish with
a plastic polish (Novus 2) which is pretty much ultra-fine sandpaper without the paper :tongue:

 

[GouletPens]

MM up to 8000 (or 12,000 if you feel like spending more time than you have to) and Hut plastic polish. Friction polish is for wood, keep it off the acrylics.

 

[monkeynutz]

MM to 12000, then plastic polish. Never needed more.

 

[theturningcircle]

The same as Ed - 1000 or 1200 then onto the Beal Buffing system. Great finish which lasts!!

Ian

 

[rherrell]

Wet sand 600, 800, 1,000, buff w/ tripoli and WD, polish on HIGH w/ Hut Plastic Polish. Overkill and going backwards, I know, but that's how I do it.
You'll notice that all these guys have a "system" that works for them. In general, they all get you to the same place so, "whatever floats your boat".:wink:

 

[THarvey]

I wet sand up to 12000 MM, then polish with Novus plastic polish.

 

[Glenn McCullough]

I wet sand to 1000 or 1200 then onto the Beal Buffing system.
Before I got the polishing system, I used " finesse it" car polish. Worked great!

 

[bad]

I know I didn't submit this question but thanks for the advice everyone. I got a couple of acrylic blanks thrown in with my last order of pen kits. I'm planning on turning them sometime after Christmas - too many back orders to fill now. Yes it's a problem, but it's a good problem to have : )

 

[jtrusselle]

Bruce - I agree. Great advice everyone and I second the thanks. Looks like I need to get the check book out again to buy more stuff... which is not a bad thing!

 

[CHICAGOHAND]

I have bought the HUT polish and it is not as good as micro mesh to 6000 - 8000 and then use "MEGUIARS" "PLASTX" clear plastic cleaner and polish sold at automotive parts stores.
I have tried a few different plastic headlight polishers and this seems to be the best. I have tried this method and After I used the MEGUIARS I went and used the HUT polish and it took the shine right off, Which tells me that MEGUIARS is a finer polish. Let me know what ya think.

 

[DurocShark]

I wet sand to 2000 then Meguiar's Plast-X. I do the same thing with CA finishes.

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

I sand to 320 (Abranet) to make sure everything is level, then use the Beall buffing system. My label pens come out glass clear. Only takes me 2-3 minutes to "finish" an acrylic pen.