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All in one buffing component

Q. Hi, I am looking for an all-in-one buffing component for all metals. Can we create a component which can be used for polishing all metals? Please guide for the same.

Mosam Shah
- Mumbai, India
February 1, 2017

A. Hi Mosam. We have many threads here about the difficulties of buffing stainless steel even with a carefully chosen sequence of compounds specific to stainless steel. We also several many threads about the difficulties of buffing aluminum even with a sequence of compounds tailored to aluminum. Good luck, but the idea of a single buffing compound to polish all metals in one step doesn't sound even remotely plausible to me ...

The single biggest problem is that just as you can't use a single digging device for all holes (it would take eternity to dig the foundation for a skyscraper with a teaspoon, but a steam shovel is wrong for planting a seed in a flower pot, polishing & buffing has the same issue: a very fine grit is necessary to get to a fine polish, but it would take eternity to wear away deeper scratches with a fine compound. A sequence of several polishes/compounds with decreasing abrasive size is required.

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 2017

Q. Ok, Can we prepare buffing component for stainless steel with sodium tripolyphosphate? Is there any product better than calcined alumina for preparing the buffing component for stainless steel?

mosam shah [returning]
- Mumbai, India
February 3, 2017

A. Ted gave you good advice; however, an aluminum oxide compound product seems to be a good general purpose product (usually white in color). Meaning it will work on all metals to improve surface finishes, but it may not get the best results on any or all materials.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
February 3, 2017

A. Hello,

All buffing and grinding have different material red media, green media, white media and also the speed on the buffing and grinding wheel.

Regards,

Anders Sundman
4th Generation Surface Engineering
Consultant - Arvika,
Sweden
March 9, 2017

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