Polishing metal to get a mirror finish. Not easy

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If you want to know how to polish metal to get a mirror finish, well, in this video I show it is not as easy as one may think. After sanding the metallic plate with different waterproof sandpapers I also use a drill polishing kit, first with a felt buffing wheel and then with an airway buffing wheel. Finally I use some powder to polish metal, but I realise I have some kind of texture on the metal surface and I can not get rid of it. This is a bit frustrating, because in my first test I get a quite nice mirror finish when I polish an identical metallic plate.

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I understand your frustration. I am polishing a railroad spike. I have got to the 600 grit stage many times only to still see scratches from previous grits. So frustrating. What I’ve learned is, start with 80 grit, make sure every square inch is consistently scratched. Wipe clean with damp cloth, rinse if needed. Then repeat with 120, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 6000 than polish with metal polish. Take your time and make sure each step, your scratches are effecting the metal. Rinse, rinse, rinse. Best of luck 👍🇨🇦😎

andrewgibb

Try it with some more finer grit sandpaper. Go from 1500 to 2000, 2500, and 3000. Then use the metal polish.

brockkinney

Great work Sergio, looks great, you did an excellent job. A true reflection of your skill and determination.

tonyja

I think if you sand/polish in one direction and then again at a 90 degree angle from the first direction sanded/polished (polish up/down and then side to side) then you will get a better result.

madhousestudio

I used to polish motorcycle engine cases to a mirror finish by using S>O>S> or Brillo scowering pads and finish it to a mirror surfice with Schimmerchrome past. I'm not sure of the spelling, it is a German product. Check with a motorcycle shop to find it.

tomgallagher

That texture is the compound, leaving a residue. I had the same problem. Difficult to remove after as it sits in all the pores and scratches and seems to dull the surface over time. I used all kinds of polishing wheels and compounds, in the end I found that using 2000 grit paper worked better with constant wetting to clean the paper. Not sure if mild steel is supposed to be polished. It's not like stainless.

ArcanePath

I have done a bit of this. I keep the sand paper in a multi compartment folder, no searching for the next grit.

As sleepydog said use a random orbital sander. The grit you start with depends on the surface. Progress through the grits methodically making sure each grit wipes out all traces of the marks made by the previous. You took quite a leap between what was it 1200 and 2000. Some 1500 would have helped. As you progress through the grits you are removing less material and the time needed decreases. So put the time in up front on the coarser grits. 1500 and 2000 are very fast.

danharold

Hey man u gotta use a D.A sander much easier. And cris cross your Tripoli buffing & move slower as u polish. Then use white compound at the end. Will come out looking like glass.

lonewolfs

Well done! The truth is that you are limited by the metal. All metal is not equal. Some have imperfections. Some don't. Take what you get and enjoy. Use the good metal for a mirror. Use the bad metal for a candle box that will reflect plenty of light but is not worthy of a mirror. Cheers!

metroplexchl

Rich people, centuries ago, used to polish silver to A mirror finish. Since silver was considered, holy, they said, vampires, could not see themselves in such a mirror.

jackdumont

2 hours each 80 120 240...5000 then polishing. 60 hours total you get a mirror like surface

ADRIAN-zhti

use the sandpaper with water, and make sure all grit is removed before switching to smoother grit. many household cleaning products with fine grit will work, and you can also wrap paper around the drill polish pads

utubeape

Hey Sergio! I struggling w/ mine too! Specifically the texture! Have you gotten back to this project at all?

robertocoronado

You sure have mental endurance being able to hand sand it for that long haha. All i could think of was double sided tape and random orbital sander while watching this video. It would be interesting to know why the first one turned out better. Could it have been you used the other side? Maybe something in the production of the sheets makes the sides different.

vileguile