Ring polishing question please

[pastyman]

Hi guys,

Bought a starter kit today for polishing, it came with 3 compounds of differing grits. Now the compounds are very hard in stick form, so I was wondering how you use them, do you rub the ring on the sticks, add water or break some off and make a paste with water?

I know it seems like a dumb question, but not used any before, just hope someone out there has.

Many thanks

Dazzer

 

[Macaco]

Best tool to use is a Dremel or equivalent. There are little felt and cotton disks which can be used on the end of a bit fitted into the dremel to polish jewelry.

If your jewelry is badly dinged and scratched you'll want to start with the coarsest grit and work you way to the finest grit. Use a different polishing disk for each compound.

If your jewelry is good but has fine scratches or is just dull then use the finest compound only.

You'll fire up the dremel then apply the rotating disk to the stick of polish until the disk edge has been impregnated with the compound then you polish the jewelry with the disk. I recommend a medium speed. Too slow is not aggressive enough and too fast doesn't polish well.

Practice with junk jewelry until you feel confident that you're doing it right. On good jewelry go easy with the coarsest grit because it will remove a lot of metal and can even grind flat spots into silver or gold if you do it too much.

 

[pastyman]

Thanks Steve,

I'll give it a go on some of the cheap silver rings, I may post some before and after pics..

Many thanks

Darrin

Cornwall UK

 

[Macaco]

Before and after pics would be great.

If you have anymore questions about technique please post them.

Try not to get the disks too loaded with compound because it will bunch up on the metal like a lacquer. Use a light load and reapply a little at a time if it wears too thin.

Cheers.