Help with mirror finish

J

John Tomson

Joined
Aug 24, 2003
Messages
4
Hello Folks,

I need a little help with mirror finishing some 416 fittings for a bowie I'm working on. I've tried every combination of the compounds I have and none of them have resulted in that perfect mirror.

Here are the compounds I have,
Gray emery
White tripoli
Red jewelers rouge
50/50 Green chrome rouge
Pink no scratch
and a Brown brick not sure what it is

Running on a 3450 rpm buffer, 6” wheels

The closest I can get is when I sand to 2000 (dry, I've tried wet also) then onto the buffer and start with Gray on a spiral sewed, then to the White also on a spiral sewed. I then use to 50/50 GCR on a loose, then the Pink on a loose to finish. I'm applying compound about every 30 or 40 on the buff to keep it loaded. But no matter what I do I still have very very fine micro scratches and some cloudiness in the finish. Can anyone give me some pointers or let me know if I’m doing something wrong or not doing something I should be.

Thanks for any help,
John
 
The only compounds I use are the white, which is about800-1000 grit, and green stainless steel finishing compound.

The red is for brass, nickel silver etc.
The gray emory, I'm not sure of:confused: .
The brown, likewise.

I don't know if you already do this but, you have to use a seperate wheel for each compound. If not, the buffs will get contaminated.
Keep each wheel in it's own ziploc bag when not in use. Mark the outside.

The green finishing will get rid of the cloudiness.


Edited to add: Welcome to BFC, enjoy!:D
 
Dont mirror polish anything anymore, but I did for a long time, and I would guess that those micro scratches are from your buff wheel when the compound all buffs off and you are hitting it with the threads.........keep more compound on the wheel.


And btw, white and green are the SAME grit, the green is just more concentrated.....more like 500-600.
 
John its been a long time all I do these days is a hand rub finish. But I can tell you one problem for sure the speed of your buffer is WAY TO FAST. I turn a 10" wheel at 1750 and I think that is a little fast. I would guess you are melting the compound
off and its basicly sludge on the wheel causing more harm then good. If you have anyway possible slow the buffer down WAY DOWN and I bet you can get the finish you want. GoodLuck!
 
I dont think its the speed. I have seen buffers with a 20" wheel running at 2000rpm.

Johns set up (6" wheel, 3450rpm) produces 90 feet per second at the surface of the wheel. Thats almost ideal, i think.
 
I've always had better luck with pure green chrome. I've tried stepping it with grey, white, pink just as you are doing and got the same results. One of the knife supply houses (and I can't recall which) sells some green chrome they hype as the best you'll ever use. It is twice the price of say master green chrome and half the size but it does put the best polish on 416 I've found. Good luck and let us know what finally works for you.
 
sounds like Mike says..
I use the white more,, if you use the green use it very little
or you'll get an orange peel with it.
after your 2000 grit you'll need very little time with the white
and keep the wheel away from grits from any grinders
or bead blasters..
I use 3 different buffers and just cover them up when not in use
most the time anyway:)
 
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