Polishing 101: How to Buff and Polish Metal

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Күн бұрын

In Polishing 101, the first video of this series, I discuss how to buff and polish metal. This video covers the theory behind buffing and polishing. Future videos will go into the application of the theory I cover here.
Some of the supplies I use... (Amazon affiliate links)
Baldor Buffer amzn.to/2JwBqDz
Tripoli Polishing Rogue: amzn.to/2XtENoO
10" Buffing Wheel: amzn.to/2S2P6u2
Some of my products, I polish metal to mirror finish (for things such as polished bowls). I learned polishing techniques metal from Wayne Apgar, one of the blacksmithing instructors I studied under.
Sandpaper polishing is a good way to work down the surface of the metal. Polishing metal with sandpaper is a standard polishing technique and requires very little supplies.
You can use what I cover here as copper polishing tips, or use it to polish steel as well. If you're a blacksmith, you may not need to polish copper to mirror finish, but I hope you still find the polishing techniques handy.
If you'd like to see more about blacksmithing, make sure to check out my channel! I have lots of forging videos at Christ Centered Ironworks. And make sure to watch for my upcoming videos on the topics of "how to buff and polish".

Пікірлер: 60

@slash100588 4 жыл бұрын

I’ve spent countless hours trying to understand what I was doing wrong. Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate this.

@grayem76 7 жыл бұрын

i used to sand aluminium bull bars for a job and all the sanders were air powered circular motion and that made the next finer grit sanding easier and the mirror finish at the end was amazing thank you roy love your chats

@ChristCenteredIronworks 7 жыл бұрын

+grayem pepper that is a great piece of information I also use a angle grinder in my bowls with a sanding disc to remove a lot of the dings in there as it is not a flat object. I'm glad you enjoyed the video my friend God bless

@timjackson5555 7 жыл бұрын

grayem pepper yes, and the proper technique with a dual action sander is to not let it spin just oscillate. If you would draw a line with a sharpie it should not move. I used to weld, repair, aluminum panels and other pieces to a mirror finish. You could never achieve this with going across the grain. Only with the grain. Some guys doing plastics, use the same technique in this video, might work for them. Although if I go the same way can get the same results that is so deep it nearly sets off a halo. I think how ever you are taught plays a big role but in all the fabrication shops i've been in the last near thirty years practices what i have attempted to explain.

@willlloyd-williams9709 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for showing us. I've been struggling with multiple pieces I want to restore. I tried everything under the sun to get what you explained. Diolch

@Ra1276 5 жыл бұрын

Yes I watched the whole thing... very informative

@JG-gy1jk 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent teaching thank you

@backdoor5993 7 жыл бұрын

Nice, that was really useful. thanks!

@ChristCenteredIronworks 7 жыл бұрын

+bmud first you're welcome thank you for taking the time to watch God bless you

@ericmorriscompany9648 7 жыл бұрын

When we polish (material removal) and buff (not removing material) we have found that it's very important to work out all the grain from coarser grits before moving on to finer. Slightly switching directions allows the deepest score lines from coarser grits to be visible when working on the next finer grit. If you polish or grind in the same exact direction it's difficult to see the deep score marks. It's easy to make something shiny but not flat. We sometimes use belts and add Tripoli compound to a 600 grit belt to make it a bit finer. We also find that once buffing, the metal has to get really hot. Going to the finer compounds on a cold part just smears the compound on the part where it then solidifies. So the last stages in buffing are done 1-2-3 on the same part to keep it really hot. The hotter it is, the higher the polish. And the last two stages resist the temptation to load up the wheels with compound. A little goes a long way.

@erikabodine6230 6 жыл бұрын

Hi there! I am trying to polish bronze plate for door pulls. So very flat surface and need a high polish on it. We have started with 240 grit and worked our way up to 3000 used tripoli and a rubbing/polishing compound. Cannot get the swirls out from the grits. SO frustrating not sure what I'm doing wrong.

@illumiNOTme326 2 жыл бұрын

@@erikabodine6230 just curious if you ended up resolving the issue?

@girliedog 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Professor Christ, this is the best explanation of metal finishing I've listened to.

@scragglewaggle4109 3 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for this. I needed this video because I am working on a metal arcade control panel that I am trying to restore. I have the material I need but still lack some knowledge. This is a great introduction into do my project.

@lydiaajohnson 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the good information.

@ChristCenteredIronworks 3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

@scotthummel4248 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Good stuff to know!

@fern8580 5 жыл бұрын

🥇 6:34 the best explanation "ever" on youtube about Polish Metal ! Best regards !

@amandathompson4692 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing. I love the science that explains why certain techniques work. I am a jewelry maker (self taught) and have struggled with polishing and buffing. This will really help me now that I understand it better. Have you ever used radial discs on a dremel or flex shaft? I know everyone in the jewelry field loves them. I am curious if they are more for buffing or polishing.

@jimmyfavereau 6 жыл бұрын

thanks for the share , God Bless you sir : )

@robcollins2017 4 жыл бұрын

Im a crude welder with 9"grinder.looks shiney when im done but never learned polishing. Thx x

@bryanleibe2298 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent

@joedmac78 6 жыл бұрын

Have you ever polished a brass bell? I'm trying to polish a brass locomotive bell

@algreenejr.8330 6 жыл бұрын

Hi, I watch both videos 101 and 102. My hardwear store has 6 different compounds, 3 for soft metals and 3 for hard, can all 6 be used in a 6. Step cycle of buffing and polishing for hard metal? How do you know how high # of buffing with sandpaper do I go up to before polishing with compound? Is it all experimental or is there a formula, like your second video you sanded to 600 grit then you went to compound, and then how many compounds to get a mirror finish, I understand the theory more now from your videos but just trying to get a good system thankyou!!!

@flavacreations 4 жыл бұрын

So if I'm using 600 grit one way do I use 600 the other way? Then repeat with 800, 1000 e.t.c? Or do I use 600 one way and 800 the other way?

@AndrewFerranRcjourneyz 4 жыл бұрын

That was awesome but I don't see the 2nd part to this video

@miketownsend6108 4 жыл бұрын

thanks

@piparangtung 3 жыл бұрын

Criss crossing with the same grit or changing the direction only when you move to a new and higher grit? Which one are you talking about here?

@czr7j9 6 жыл бұрын

Good explanation, I am using it at work, ignore arrogant comment

@Eli-gx7jc 4 жыл бұрын

Do you recommend going both ways polishing the piece? i understand the grit just was seeing how u sanded your pieces.

@Bing457 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting I will try this with my knives I will leave the edge alone though.

@mindmythfilms1428 2 жыл бұрын

Does anyone have a link to the video that follows up on this with him polishing bowls?

@dragan3290 2 жыл бұрын

I decided to practice polish my Estwing hammer! I sanded in multidirection pattern. In no time it came up very nice. But I need to sand some more then buff?

@stevenkbkvapes8104 6 жыл бұрын

Hi, I like to use copper sheet to cut out L bar style electrical contacts for Mechanical Mods (Vaping devices for those wishing to quit smoking) my question is this: I have two flat surfaces, one is copper, the other is stainless steel (unknown grade). How important is it for those electrical contacts to have a mirror finish for the connection areas? Basically can the electrical connection area have a well sanded and polished matte finish and still function well electrically? The maximum voltage load that will be traveling through them will be extremely small: no more than 4.2 Volts, usually around 3.8 V. I seem to be getting the same "performance" that I've gotten from very well polished sheet copper, and I would like to avoid doing any unnecessary work. Your, and anyone elses input is *greatly* appreciated. Thanks! ✌

@wanderingmadman558 5 жыл бұрын

A year late but anyway... any finishing you do beyond deburring (don't want one part to contact sooner than the main area, it'll arc), flattening (maximise surface contact area) and a light sanding (to remove oxidation and dirt), would be purely cosmetic (or quality of workmanship, depending on how you see things). Polishing and buffing won't make much difference electrically, not on a vape.

@Jiminycroquet 7 жыл бұрын

When you say that you should run the buffer the opposite way to the sanding scratches, are you referring to the first set of scratches from the low-grit sanding, or the last set of scratches from the highest grit?

@ChristCenteredIronworks 7 жыл бұрын

+hellbirdsflight the last grit that is applied or your highest grit is the one that you run opposite to when buffing.

@s.annhupka1339 3 жыл бұрын

I had a kitchen Island made at a metal shop. The maker said he tumbled the piece. It is not the same finish as the corbels I had made by someone else. My husband wants me and him to correct the finish . I can send pictures I want a buff finish.

@a.o.647 6 жыл бұрын

2:24 Lumpies or Bumpies, are those scientific terms? :)

@MikeTrieu 4 жыл бұрын

Or when he gets "scientifical" about "refracting" light off a parabolic surface 😏

@jdk3207 3 жыл бұрын

You mentioned, grind one way, buff the opposite and then polish the same way you ground. Do you alternate the direction through the different grits and then just buff the opposite way of the last grit?

@humeanity2393 6 жыл бұрын

👍❤

@christinenorriss9675 2 жыл бұрын

Pretty difficult to sand a knifeblade across the blade, I can see where youre coming from, perhaps you'd now like to tell me how to sand 'across' a blade!

@drewmorama Жыл бұрын

On the naked eye of the human level. Прекрасная фраза.

@keithwhipple9048 7 жыл бұрын

great information

@rockyroshan9554 3 жыл бұрын

Respect who taught u

@algreenejr.8330 6 жыл бұрын

How many compounds do you use to buff and polish hard metal, and how high number sand paper do you go to, I ask you some questions before and i didn't get a response, just want to collect as much knowable information as posible, thankyou!!!

@ChristCenteredIronworks 6 жыл бұрын

Hard metal compounds come in about three grades made for the purpose same as the copper or soft metal ( i.e coarse,medium,fine...). with hard metals you need to bring the peice up to as high a grit as possible with grinding before going to buffing and polishing compounds..usually about 800-1,000 grit to get a really nicely polished peice. Hope this helps God bless

@tistab 3 жыл бұрын

@frenchfrysz6695 2 жыл бұрын

lol Just use EXL nylon wheels itll knock everything down and leave a great finish. no matter the direction. Then finish it up with hi-grit sandpaper or rouge and cotton wheel.

@frenchfrysz6695 2 жыл бұрын

im a microfinishing technician and I can make mirror finishes on anything. 2> surface finishes.

@joshuamount5832 Жыл бұрын

A bit long winded are we?

@ChristCenteredIronworks Жыл бұрын

You have no idea 😉 lol

@themeziccos1603 6 жыл бұрын

Brad Pitts brother Stu?

@justinporterproductions 3 жыл бұрын

Jesus. Just polish something.

@lissamcbride8214 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Justin. It took 15:52 to teach that. Dar n! Guy knows a lot and takes forever to say it. Good speaking voice and easily understood but could have been done in half the time making it much more interesting thereby leaving us more time to watch some of his other vids. Lordy, mercy. Love ya.

@romerock1957 3 жыл бұрын

This video is so flawed, we don't bend nothing we remove, polishing and buffing are synonyms, you don't need to crosscut when sanding only last grit you using...