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Buffing down to mirror finish on stainless without grease or oil

Hello All

I'm looking for an oil/grease free technique of buffing down to Ra<0.1 µm (mirror finish) of stainless steel (321) tubes.
I have standard abrasive down to grit 1200 - but it gives insufficient results; if I further decrease the grit I worsen the surface finish.

I'm looking for something similar in surface finish to electropolish.

Thanks

Doron

Doron Nakar
engineer - Haifa, Israel
March 16, 2011

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What is the size ID or OD and length of your parts?

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
March 21, 2011

Diamond paste might be an option, but it probably would require several different grit sizes. It would not be cheap and would be labor intensive, but could work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
March 22, 2011

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The OD = 70mm. ID=66mm

I need mass production solution for mirror finish. I've heard about ECB (Electro chemical buffing) is that commercially available for such tubes (4 m long) ?

Thanks
Doron

Doron Nakar
- Haifa, Israel
March 26, 2011

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There are some relatively new tube processing machines that can probably do what you want done at those lengths.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
March 29, 2011

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Try chalk or talc

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
April 18, 2011

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Is there any commercial process or machine for talc or chalk polishing of stainless steel tubes?

I'd appreciate direction in that.

Thanks
Doron

Doron Nakar
- Haifa, Israel
May 4, 2011