Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Restoring Smooth Finish to Stainless Steel

I am looking for something for my company to bring back the finish on unpainted stainless steel that has been tumbled. We tumbled them to get rid of rough edges on them,but ended up with a matte finish on them. We are needing a finish that we could etch labels onto the pieces. Thank you for any help you can give.

Grant Griffith
- Lexington, North Carolina
2001

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I sounds as if you are using a rough cut ceramic media to achieve that dull finish on SS. You might be better off using a finer cut media composition. By going to a second step operation using burnishing or dry organic media you can achieve jewelry looking parts. Unfortunately, you did not specify RMS and or your etch process to properly evaluate. Also do you have time or cost restraints?

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
2001

You may want to consider electropolishing for both deburring and final finishing of your stainless steel parts. Electropolishing works primarily on the highest areas of current density, (burrs, high points, rough edges,) and then continues to smooth of the flat surfaces all the way to a mirror finish if desired. Please contact us if you have further questions.

Phil Sterrett
Cleveland Ohio USA
2001