Follow Me On:
The Adventurous Silversmith
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Portfolio
    • Metal Work >
      • Chasing & Repousse
      • Holloware
      • Jewelry
      • Other Wonderful Items
    • Fiber Arts >
      • Temari
      • Yubinuki
  • Resources
    • Library
    • Tools & Equipment
    • Links
  • About
    • Artist Statement
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • How it is Made
    • Contact

Pondering Polishing

9/15/2019

1 Comment

 
I was taught to polish my work in a few random classes I took over the years but I have never really taken a class on POLISHING.  In my private raising class with Nechamkin Silver Studios, Liza walked me through a 3 step polishing process when I finished the tumbler.   

I thought, up until then that I was "polishing" - oh, was I wrong.  

It was after that workshop that I bought an assortment of the Rio Grande polishing compounds, for silver a bunch buffs and taught myself how to polish.  I then added a few courser compounds for tools (brown, yellow and white).   I keep all the buffs and compounds marked and separated in plastic bags since you don't want tool steel bits to get into copper, silver OR gold!  I also clean my piece after each compound so they don't transfer to the next buff!

To clean the Rio Sunsheen compounds I found the Formula 409 cuts the grease and I then use a soft toothbrush to scrub it, then I put it in warm soapy water in an ultrasonic cleaner for at least 15 minutes. Of course has to be changed after each stage of polishing too.  Yes, this takes a lot of time and is a PITA (pain in the a**)

A few weeks ago, on Rio, I stumbled up a video about some compounds made by Luxi - these use a vegetable fat vs. a grease making it easier to clean.  I bought the assortment, which has all the compounds in mini-bars along with some new buffs and started to try them. 

Let's just say I will be switching - The polishing seems to go faster and the clean up is so easy.  

Today I finished my 2nd dragon scale cup and here are 4 pictures - no polish to final polish. I used the green, purple/pink, and red compounds and gets brighter and more reflective in each step.

So how can you learn to polish get 3 or 5 compounds. I can't give you colors because that varies by manufacturer but  with 3 compounds it should be a bobbing, medium, and final grade. With 5 you want course for scratch removal, bobbing, pre-polish, polish and final. 

Then I suggest taking a large piece of copper and scratch is with 220 grit sand paper. Then cut it in to even squares; 4 for a 3 phase polish or 6 for a 5 phase polish.  Set one square aside as this will be saved for your starting sample. Then take your first polish and polish all the pieces and clean and dry your metal and set one aside. Repeat with all of the compounds your bought - polish all the remains samples, clean, and set one aside; repeat. When you are done you will have a set of samples worked with each compound and through all the phases. 

And to help you get started, this is the book I recently found that I added to my library: Polishing and Finishing for Jewellers and Silversmiths
1 Comment
Debbie H
11/19/2019 05:45:05 pm

Great info! I will definitely get the compounds and make some samples. Your dragon scale cup is scrumptious!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    How to Aquire Your Own Shop Elf

    Archives

    October 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    Jan - Nov 2010 History
    File Size: 2272 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    Jan - Dec 2009 History
    File Size: 2332 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    Categories

    All
    42
    A Year Of Repousse
    Blacksmithing
    Blogoversary
    Box Project
    Business
    Chasing & Repousse
    Commission
    Education
    Embroidery
    Enamel
    Entries
    Entry
    Exhibition
    Facebook
    Filing
    Fold Forming
    Gold
    Holloware
    Hot Forging
    Hydraulic Press
    Jewelry
    Keum-boo
    Learning
    Leather
    Market
    Metal
    Patina
    Photography
    Polishing
    Publications
    Raising
    Sanding
    Santa Fe Symposium
    Shop Elf
    Sinking
    Social Media
    Soldering
    Store
    Studio Visits
    Superbowl Challenge
    Teaching
    Teapot Project
    Technique
    Temari
    Tin
    Tools
    Vessels
    Visiting Workshops
    Weaving
    Website
    Workshop
    Yubinuki

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.