Thoroughly clean and degrease the item you wish to polish prior to any polishing to get good results. Soft Metals - For polishing soft precious or lightly blemished metals start at No.7 on the step by step guide below.
Only use the hard Sisal Polishing Wheels on very tarnished Steel items.
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 online from our shop. Abrasives are not recommended for use on Chrome or Zinc plated items.
Step By Step Guide To Metal Polishing.
1. Attach the tapered mandrel or spindle adapters to your drill , angle grinder, car polisher or bench grinder and fix securely. Bench Grinders must be securely bolted to the work surface prior to use.
2. Attach the sisal wheel onto the mandrel / adapter and screw on tightly (clockwise).
3. Run the machine and apply the relevant metal polishing compound to the sisal wheel for approx. 5 seconds. The metal polishing compound is wax / abrasive based so the motion of the spinning mop / wheel generates heat which melts the wax onto the polishing wheel.
4. Apply the wheel to the item being polished with medium pressure and start polishing.
5. Apply more metal polishing compound to the sisal wheel if required.
6. When all light scratches / marks have been removed and the work piece has a uniform dull finish, remove the sisal wheel.
7. Attach the white stitch wheel onto the mandrel / adapter and screw on tightly.
8. Run the machine and apply the relevant metal polishing compound to the white stitch wheel for approx. 5 seconds.
9. Apply the wheel to the item being polished with medium pressure. This will remove the dull finish left by the first process and leave the work piece with a semi-bright finish.
10. Apply more metal polishing compound to the white stitch metal polishing wheel if required.
11. When you have a uniform semi-bright finish, remove the white stitch metal polishing wheel.
12. Attach the loose leaf metal polishing wheel onto the mandrel / adapter and screw on tightly.
13. Run the machine again and apply the relevant metal polishing compound to the loose leaf metal wheel / mop for approx. 5 seconds.
14. Apply the wheel / mop to the item being polished with light pressure. This will remove the semi-bright finish left by the second process and leave the work piece with a bright finish.
15. Apply more metal polishing compound to the loose leaf metal polishing mop / wheel if required.
16. You should now be left with a bright finish.
17. Rub the polished item with Vienna Lime Powder or with Furniture Spray Polish with a soft cloth. This will remove any grease 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, black grease marks will appear on the work piece if too much metal polishing compound has been applied to the mop / wheel.
- Remove black grease marks with a dry cloth. Remember 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 you must remove the lacquer coating before polishing by using a household paint remover available from you local DIY store.
- If you are 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 any excess polishing compound which would have built up.
Bench Grinder 12.7mm (1/2”) 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, tighten the grub screws (one in each adapter) using an allen key. The polishing wheels then screw onto the spindle adapters.
Mini Bench Grinder - Spindle Adapter 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.
Flexible Drive Shafts
The flexidrive shaft & adapter only fits 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 it fits 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.
Applied Pressure - Do not apply excessive pressure to the mops / wheels when polishing as this may strain the machine’s motor, invalidating the warranty. Light pressure and the correct polishing procedures and not brute strength gets good results.
Machine Run Time – Please read the listing or manufacturer’s manual 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.
Health & Safety
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 fastened down 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.
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