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Pre-Polishing Tips (Finishing)

Pre-Polishing Tips (Finishing)

rubber wheelHey everyone, I have been absent from the site for a bit, but I am doing good, staying healthy, and still making jewelry every day. I thought I would post a tip from the past, just to let y’all know I am still here. I will get back in the “groove” soon. Give me a comment to let me know you are all still out there as well. 
Today we will touch on a couple of pre-polishing tips. A few technical details in your pre-polishing will make a huge difference in the quality of your finished jewelry. Polishing “Prep” will make your finishing job easier always. spending a few extra minutes with attention to detail will save time later, and give you a much better product. Depending on what your piece is like to begin with will decide how you approach this. If you do not take time to prep your pieces before polishing, you will polish harder and more aggressive than you need to, and lose most or all of your detail, making your pieces look overworked and washed away.First, tumbling, if you are working with a casted piece, you will have a casting surface that is a little rough. If you have a Vibratory Tumbler, I would recommend a 2 stage tumbling process, the first stage I usually tumble in a Ceramic Media overnight for 8 – 12 hours. I have my tumbler hooked up to a timer, set it up overnight and get it in the morning. This will remove the casting surface and give you a consistent surface. Then I place the pieces in the same vibratory tumbler with Stainless Steel Media Mixed Shot for 1-2 hours.
Tumbler1media ceramic media steelWhat the Steel does is “burnish” the surface and give you a shiny finish in those hard to get to places. A Magnetic Pin Tumbler also works great for this operation, and will do the job much quicker. Magnetic tumbler media is a lot “finer” and will get into those hard to reach places, like between prongs and fine detail, much better. If you are not dealing with casted products and the surface is a little better to begin with, you can go right to the steel shot or magnetic pin tumbler.Tumbler2 media pinIf you do not have a tumbler, then work in “stages”. If your piece has scratches in it, you will have to remove the scratches before you start polishing. depending on the size and depth of the scratches will determine how aggressive you will work the piece. if you have deeper scratches, start with a file. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my favorite go-to file is a #4 cut Barrette Needle File, it has a good cut to it, it has “safe sides” meaning you can place the edge or side of the file against en edge of the piece, and it won’t leave a mark. If you get one of these files, I suggest you modify the sides of your file. The teeth of the file do hang over the side a little bit, so I rub it on a Whetstone to remove the burs or teeth that hang over, then polish it on a piece of paper with Yellow Rouge on it, the same way I polish my graver blades. (see day 3 lesson)Filing File sandpaperFile sandpaper2

file prep file prep2

After I file the scratches or defects out, I cut a small piece of sandpaper (400-600 grit) and wrap it around the end of the same file and sand over the area I filed. You can also attack the areas with Sanding Abrasive Discs. These discs come in different grit and work wonderful. They snap on and off quickly. I would suggest a variety of these as well. The aluminum oxide ones do a great job as well. Also rubber wheels and knife edge Cratex Wheels. You can also get these in different grits.

sandpaper hand sandpaper dics rubber wheel

One thing I am trying to show you is there are different ways to go about getting the same results. you will develop your favorite processes, I am giving you some ideas to go about it, but if you skip the preping process, you work might suffer. Use some or all of these processes to prep your pieces before polishing and you will have a much better polishing experience, and a better looking piece in the end. I will go over some polishing tips soon, so stay tuned.

Now have a Great Day!

Doug

54 thoughts on “Pre-Polishing Tips (Finishing)”

  5. Stephanie

    Thanks so much for the prepolishing tips Doug! Sometimes we forget these things. I’m still here!

  7. Jackie

    So good to see one of your posts! I always look forward to your tips and information. Thank you!

  13. Dana

    I’ve been out of the loop for a little over a year, but I’m back with a new studio and full time devotion to making jewelry! I really struggle with finishing my pieces to look like perfection. I’m still learning, hopefully always will be, but with about 3 years of metalsmithing trial and error, I’m happy to say that my work is definitely improving, and a lot of the credit goes to your posts. Thank you Doug for sharing so unselfishly!

    1. Doug Napier

      Dana, you are so welcome and posts like yours just fuels my fire. When I hear others getting value from anything I have done, I remember why I am here.
      Thanks!
      Doug

  15. Tals

    Thanks for these tips. I’m looking forward to learning from you as I am relatively new to the wonderful world of jewelry making.

  17. Amie

    Always look forward to your posts…re-runs or not. Learn a little something every time! Glad to hear you’re well!

  19. Jeff

    Never thought about tumbling before polishing. All I have is rouge impregnated pecan shells. Even that cleans things nicely. Then I could buff one more time

    1. Doug Napier

      Jeff, anytime you can put something in a machine and go do something else and have the machine do part of your work it is a good thing. We just need more machines to do the rest….. haha
      Doug

    1. Doug Napier

      Dee, I wish I had more time to devote to the site, it is my passion. I just need to find my balance and “groove”. I will…..
      Good to hear from you.
      Doug

  29. Babette

    These were great tips! I am still a beginner. May always be at the rate I am going, he he. But I sure do enjoy getting your emails! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
    Babette

  33. Anne

    I’m new to your blog and already love it – thanks so much for sharing – I’m looking forward to sitting down and reading all you have already posted.

  43. Marion

    So happy that you’re healthy and well! Again…thank you for sharing of yourself with your wealth of knowledge!!! Stay up!!! :~}

  49. Sheree Wickes

    Glad you are doing well! Was just thinking I hadn’t seen any emails recently… Thank you for Sharing!!!

  51. CAS

    Thanks Doug I always enjoy your post, podcasts and coments. Look forward to all future information.

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