Please Note : There are many different types of metal polishing kits available in our online Shops, each having different component parts in the kit. The below instructions cover most aspects of metal polishing and some mops / wheels / compounds / machines mentioned below may not be in the kit that you purchased.
Description Of Metal Polishing Mops / Wheels / Discs. (Maximum Speed 3000rpm Using Light Pressure Only)
Sisal Metal Polishing Wheels. These are very fast cutting and hard, and are particularly useful for first stage polishing, used with Brown metal polishing compounds on soft metals including aluminium and brass and Black metal polishing compound on hard metals, including steel and stainless steel. The sisal wheel is aggressive so must be used gently, with little pressure.
White Stitch Metal Polishing Wheels. These are versatile cutting mops used for general metal polishing which can be used for first stage polishing with Brown metal polishing compound on soft metals including gold, silver, aluminium, brass and copper or for second stage polishing on hard metals with Green, Pink and White metal polishing compounds.
Loose Leaf Metal Polishing Wheels. These cotton mops can be used with Blue, Green, Pink, White and Rouge metal polishing compounds. These final polishing mops are 100% cotton. Strands of cotton do come off the wheel during polishing. This is normal for this type of unstitched polishing wheel.
Swansdown / Canton Polishing Wheels. Ultra Soft Cotton loose fold mops used for final buffing with a compound or on their own.
Mounted Felt Disc Pads. These are used on large flat surfaces, with Variable Speed Angle Grinder / Car Polisher Machines
Felt Bobs / Mounted Cotton Mops. These are used to get into tight spaces eg inside alloy car wheels etc and for craft type work.
Description Of Metal Polishing Compound Bars.
Brown - For first cut and flattening of non-ferrous metals.
Blue - For final finishing of non-ferrous metals.
Black - For first cut and flattening of steels.
Green – For final finishing of steels.
Pink - For final high polish finishing of chrome.
White – For final high polish finishing of stainless steels.
Rouge - For polishing soft precious metals such as gold and silver.
Metal Polishing Procedures and Guides
Please thoroughly clean and degrease the item you wish to polish, prior to any polishing, to achieve good results.
Scratches - Abrasives - The polishing kits will not remove metal. If parts are heavily scratched, marked or scored then suitable abrasives eg 700 to 2000 grit (flap wheels, abrasive cloth, wet and dry paper, rubbing blocks etc) should be used to remove scratches first, prior to the polishing phases. These abrasives can be purchased from your local DIY shop or from our online shop. Abrasives are not recommended for use on Chrome , Zinc plated items or on soft metals eg Gold.
Applied Pressure - Do not apply excessive pressure to the polishing wheels / mops when polishing as this may strain the machine’s motor, invalidating its warranty, or may damage the polishing wheel’s centre strengthening discs, or wear the polishing wheels out quicker than normal. Light pressure and the correct polishing procedures and not brute strength gets good results.
Step By Step Guide To Metal Polishing
Attach the tapered mandrel or spindle adapters to your drill, angle grinder, car polisher or bench grinder. Bench Grinders must be securely bolted to the work surface prior to use.
Polishing Wheel Order Of Use
1. Sisal. The sisal wheel is aggressive, so use carefully. If the item being polished is not badly tarnished or for soft metals eg jewellery polishing etc, skip the sisal wheel phase and start with the White Stitch Wheel.
2. White Stitch
3. Loose Fold or Canton / Swansdown
Polishing Procedure
- Run the machine and apply the relevant metal polishing compound to the wheel for approximately 5 seconds until there is a light layer of compound on the wheel surface. The metal polishing compound is wax based so the motion of the spinning mop / wheel generates heat which melts the wax onto the polishing wheel. Apply the wheel to the item being polished with light pressure and start polishing. Repeat this process for all types of polishing wheels / mops phases.
- Apply more metal polishing compound to the wheel if required.
Sisal - When all blemishes / marks have been removed and the work piece has a uniform finish, move on to the White Stitch Wheel
White Stitch – Polish until you have a uniform semi-bright finish and then proceed to final polishing / buffing phase using the Loose Fold / Canton / Swansdown Wheel with the relevant compound and polish until a bright finish is achieved.
- Rub the polished item with Vienna Lime Powder or with Furniture Spray Polish, with a soft cloth. This will remove any wax residues left on the surface.
Polishing Tips
- Try to constantly vary the directions in which you polish. This is not always possible but recommended as some articles may be an irregular shape.
- Use metal polishing compounds sparingly otherwise black grease marks will appear on the work piece if too much metal polishing compound has been applied to the mop / polishing wheel.
- The polishing compound bar end can be gently heated to soften it for ease of use especially with rotary tool polishing bits.
- Remove black grease marks with a dry cloth. Use the compound ‘little and often’.
- If it is possible, polish across surface blemishes not along them.
- If the surface of the work piece is lacquered eg brass the lacquer coating must be removed before polishing by using a household paint remover available from you local DIY store.
- If polishing small articles then you can carefully fix your drill into a vice, this will enable you to polish these small articles with more ease. Use suitable pliers etc to then hold the item being polished.
- Protect polished articles with a good polish eg 100% Pure Coconut Oil Cream, by rubbing it on after polishing.
- Cleaning polishing wheels / mops. When running them hold a blunt knife at ninety degrees to the mop face and gently push against the spinning mop / wheel to remove excess polishing compound which would have built up.
Bench Grinder 12.5mm Shafts - Spindle Adapter Fitting
Once the bench grinder side guards and the grinding wheels have been removed (please note that the left hand grinder shaft has a left hand nut, so un-tightens clockwise), the mop spindle adapters are then slid over the grinder shafts. There is a right hand and a left hand spindle adapter in the kit. Loosen the grub screws in the adapters first and slide the adapters as far as they will go over the shaft. Once fitted, gently tighten the grub screws (one in each adapter) using an allen key. Do Not over tighten the grub screws as this may damage the adapter threads. The polishing wheels then screw onto the spindle adapter ends. Please wipe a thin layer of oil all over the Bench Grinder’s two Spindles / Shafts before sliding the Spindle Adapters over them. This will help prevent rust from building up on the spindles, which if it does may result in the machine’s spindles ‘rust welding’ themselves to the spindle adapters, making them difficult to remove. ** If any spindle adapter is to tight to slide over the bench grinder spindle / shaft, it is because the bench grinder’s shaft is mass produced (not precision machined) and may be a bit ‘rough’. With the motor running, please use a flat file / abrasive paper etc and clean the shaft up. This will then allow the spindle adapter to slide over it .
Mini Bench Grinder - Spindle Adapter & Flexible Drive Shaft Fitting
The spindle adapter only fits to the left hand side of the machine. Once the bench grinder left side guard and the fitted wheel has been removed (please note that the left hand grinder shaft has a left hand nut, so unscrews clockwise), the spindle adapter is then screwed (anti-clockwise) onto the grinder shaft. The polishing wheels then screw onto the spindle adapter. The flexible drive shaft screws on to the right hand side of the machine. It screws on anti-clockwise. See manual
Flexible Drive Shafts
The flexidrive shaft & adapter only fit onto the right hand side of the bench grinder and is secured onto the bench grinder shaft with the allen key. It cannot be used on the left hand side. Or they attach directly into the chuck of an electric drill or on to a rotary tool.
As with all flexi drive shaft extensions there is always the risk that the flexi shaft may coil around itself and may break, if the item being attached to the end eg a polishing / abrasive mop, suddenly stops as a result of it being caught on the edge, or on to a sharp edge of the item being worked on. So, please use with care.
Please Note – When your machine is turned on, the flexidrive shaft will start spinning straight away, so it is advisable to be holding the flexi shaft handle when turning your machine on otherwise it will jump around your work bench
Do Not over bend or pull the flexi shaft to tight, as any damage to the flexidrive shaft / machine caused by this will not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Machine Run Time (Duty Cycle) – Please read the manufacturer’s manual or listing for further details. Bench Grinders Do Run Hot. This is normal, please do not worry.
Machine Warranties – Very Important – please read the supplied manufacturer’s manual for further details. For Silverline / Toolstream / GMC machines the buyer needs to register their machine online with the manufacturer for a 3 year warranty. If not registered then a 30 Day warranty is only offered. www.silverlinetools.com/en-GB/Support/Registration. Other brands, there is a 1 Year Warranty.
Health & Safety
- Bench Mounted Machines must be securely fastened to the worktop prior to being switched on.
- Always use safety equipment – A dust mask, safety spectacles and gloves should be worn at all times.
- Make sure the item being polished is securely held or is held captive in a vice.
- Always apply the item being polished, to the section of the mop / wheel which is rotating away from yourself.
