Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Which is good process: buffing vs. glass beading

we are manufacturer of Machine equipment in India we export it in Europe on body of machine we do buffing on stainless steel but some cutomers ask for glass beading so I want to know which is good process?

Eknath Suke
product designer - India
May 5, 2010

---

May 5, 2010

Hi, Eknath. Some customers may also ask for red trim and some for blue; it doesn't mean that one is better than the other. Buffing is for a highly reflective surface; beading is for a satin or matte or frosty surface. Sometimes you'll even see a mix, with glass beaded decorative patterns within a larger reflective surface.

Regards,

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

---

A friend of mine said it best. The customer is always right even if he's really really really wrong! If he wants it buffed tell him buffing is 10 percent more and give him what he wants. If he wants it bead blasted tell him bead blasting is 10 percent more and give him what he wants. The 10 percent is your aggravation fee!

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
May 6, 2010

---

May 7, 2010

Now, Rod . . .

You can't have each finish 10 percent more expensive than the other!

The customer will instantly see through your ploy. While the second finish can be 10 percent more than the first, okay, the first must be 14 percent more expensive than the second if you want to properly bamboozle him :-)

Regards,

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