polishing with flex-shaft

Need help for a relative beginner on polishing silver with a
flex-shaft.

I don't have a full sized buffing/polishing wheel so I have been using
a flex-shaft with 1 inch dia. felt and muslin wheels using tripoli and
rouge. I have not been satisfied with the results. I am looking for
some detailed instructions and explanations on polishing technques
with the flex-shaft.

I have looked at several textbooks (Oppi, McGrath, McCreight, etc) and
done extensive searches on the web (including searching on this group
and some of the suppliers) but I find the information too general to
be of much help. I am typically trying to polish sterling silver
earrings and brooches after soldering. I am looking for detailed
information, such as the type of felt or muslin to be used with each
polishing compound and what types of speeds and pressure should be
used. Any additional descriptions regarding tehniques and common
problems (drag lines, surface waviness, etc.) and how to identify them
and correct them would be appreciated.

Any links to existing information would be appreciated (unless someone
wants to take the trouble to provide a detailed response).

The best instructor is experience. Experience teaches us that polishing
with a 1" "flex-shaft" is best done on small areas of the whole that can't
be reached by our main buff. The wheel is too small and inevitably results
in surface waviness and "drag lines" when attempting to polish larger areas.
Experience also teaches us that we MUST first file then sand, using
successively finer papers, until our surface is already extremely smooth.
Without gouges and scratches or our polishing will fail. Even on an 8" buff.

--
Don Thompson

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before
them, glory and danger alike, and notwithstanding go out to meet it."-
Thucydides

"Men are never really willing to die except for the sake of Freedom:
Therefore they do not believe in dying completely."-
Albert Camus


"Tom Doody" wrote in message
...
Need help for a relative beginner on polishing silver with a
flex-shaft.

I don't have a full sized buffing/polishing wheel so I have been using
a flex-shaft with 1 inch dia. felt and muslin wheels using tripoli and
rouge. I have not been satisfied with the results. I am looking for
some detailed instructions and explanations on polishing technques
with the flex-shaft.

I have looked at several textbooks (Oppi, McGrath, McCreight, etc) and
done extensive searches on the web (including searching on this group
and some of the suppliers) but I find the information too general to
be of much help. I am typically trying to polish sterling silver
earrings and brooches after soldering. I am looking for detailed
information, such as the type of felt or muslin to be used with each
polishing compound and what types of speeds and pressure should be
used. Any additional descriptions regarding tehniques and common
problems (drag lines, surface waviness, etc.) and how to identify them
and correct them would be appreciated.

Any links to existing information would be appreciated (unless someone
wants to take the trouble to provide a detailed response).

I don't have a full sized buffing/polishing wheel so I have been using
a flex-shaft with 1 inch dia. felt and muslin wheels using tripoli and
rouge. I have not been satisfied with the results.

My best recomendation is to buy or make a buffer. You'll seldom get
acceptable results with a flex shaft except in hard to reach to places.

I have a mechanical employee in the form of a magnetic tumbler which is
great! It work hardens the metal as it burnishes. No more slaving away at
the polishing wheel. At first they seem expensive but in reality they save
you so much time and work that they pay for itself in no time at all.

SES

--
http://www.metalcyberspace.com
Listen to the Universe and Dance to the Rhythm of it-*SES*

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from "*SES*"
:

]I have a mechanical employee in the form of a magnetic tumbler which is
]great! It work hardens the metal as it burnishes. No more slaving away at
]the polishing wheel.

as do i. it does wonders on silver and copper both.


-----------
@vicki [SnuggleWench]
(Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com
(Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com
newest creations: http://www.vickijean.com/newest.html
-----------
The measure of the menace of a man is not what
hardware he carries, but what ideas he believes.-- Jeff Jordan

*as do i. it does wonders on silver and copper both.

It also seems to leave the patina/tarnish on copper alone while it works its
magic.

SES

--
http://www.metalcyberspace.com
Listen to the Universe and Dance to the Rhythm of it-*SES*