Polishing Stainless Steel

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Polishing Stainless Steel

This is a copy of the presentation done by Kane Behling, Wagner Polishing Supervisor, at the 2003 NOMMA MetalFab.

Quality Metal Finishing from The Wagner Companies

Polishing Stainless Steel Pipe and Tube

Purpose of Polishing

Function

Appearance

Polishing Machinery and Tools

Polishing Supplies

Polishing Belts

Polishing Buffs

		Polishing Cream
Polishing Compounds		Non Woven Abrasive Hand Pads

Mechanical Finishes

Metal Finishes are Subjective

#3 Finish
#4 Architectural Finish
#4 Dairy or Sanitary Finish
#6 Finish or Fine Satin Finish
#7 Finish
#8 Finish or Mirror Finish

#3 Finish -- Also Called Grinding, Roughing or Rough Grinding

Coarse in nature
Usually a preliminary finish

Grinding gates off of castings

Deburring

Removing excess weld material
When finish is specified as #3, the material is polished to a uniform 60 - 80 grit.

#3 Finish Disk Grinding

View Video

#3 Finish Disk Grinding

Weld prior to grinding	Weld after grinding

#3 Finish Belt

View Video

Finish Result

#4 Architectural Finish -- Also Called Brushed, Directional or Satin Finish

Fine polishing grit lines

Uniform
Directional

Use 120 - 180 grit belt or wheel finish
Softened with 80 - 120 grit greaseless compound or a medium non woven abrasive belt or pad

#4 Architectural Finish

View Video

#4 Dairy or Sanitary Finish

Used in medical and food industry
Finer than a #4 Architectural Finish
Removes surface defects in metal
Use a 180 - 240 grit belt or wheel finish
Softened with 120-240 grit greaseless compound or a fine non woven abrasive belt or pad

#4 Dairy or Sanitary Finish

Weld prior to grinding	Disk grinding weld	#4 Sanitary polished weld

Belt cut with tie

#6 Finish or Fine Satin Finish

View Video

Use a 220 - 280 grit belt or wheel
Softened with 220 - 230 greaseless compound or very fine non woven abrasive belt or pad
Polishing lines should be soft and less reflective than a #4 Architectural Finish

#6 Finish or Fine Satin Finish

Weld prior to polishing	Polishing weld with non woven abrasive

#6 Polished Weld

Difference between #4 Finish and #6 Finish

#6 Finish
		#4 Finish

#8 Finish or Mirror Finish

View Video

Use at least a 320 grit belt or wheel finish
Remove all surface defects
Sisal buff
Color buff
Quaility of finish dependent on metal
- Castings with slag or pits are difficult, if not impossible, to bring to a #8 finish

#8 Finish or Mirror Finish


Sisal Buff	Color Buff

View Wagner Polishing Supplies
View the Polishing Flow Chart