Metal Polishing is in our DNA at Moleroda

We have been advising Polishers and Engineers for the last 40 years on the best ways to achieve their desired finish. With a team of experts, we have trialled and tested different methods, tools, machines, consumables, compounds and equipment to make sure we can equip you with the best ways to ensure your metal polishing is successful.

With that in mind, we thought we should share some of our top tricks and tips of the trade. Obviously, metal polishing methods change dependent on the metal you are working with, or the finish you want to achieve, but there are some basic elements that will apply to any material and help you to see the following the benefits:

– Increase your speed and efficiency
– Decrease your price per part
– Get you closer to 100% quality pass rate

We hope you find these metal polishing tips and tricks useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for a chat. 

1. A polishers golden secret is using Vienna lime powder

We use this between every polishing stage. It absorbs all of the wax and any dirt from the previous stage and is amazing. Just dab your finger with a soft cloth and apply to the motorbike. One small bag will last for about 300 years (Maybe a slight exaggeration) so you will only need a small bag…).

A bit more about Vienna Lime…..

Vienna lime brings up a more reflective finish on a polished surface. As a result the finish is brighter and more colourful on all metals including stainless steel and aluminium.
The easiest way to use the lime is by coating dry lime on a soft cloth and gently wiping polished surface to remove residues. It can also be used with Swansdown mop, simply dip the clean mop into the dry lime powder and use with the polishing mop for an extra finish.

2. Always Cross Hatch between polishing stages

All metal polishers need to make sure they cross hatch between polishing stages. If you don’t cross hatch you cant see the lines that you need to get out in the next stage.

What is cross hatching?

The definition of crosshatching is to mark with two series of parallel lines that intersect. If groups of parallel lines are cross-hatched, they are close together and cross each other. This is sometimes done in order to show areas of light and darkness on a picture: The cross-hatched areas give the range of speed for each angle of the slope. The district is now cross-hatched with wide avenues.

3. Do not start your metal polishing process using the coarsest mop

We recommend that you DO NOT start your process too aggressively. You need to begin slowly, this stage is the stage in which you need to take your time. If you go in too hard, then you will then have even more polishing to do. We rarely recommend beginning with an impregnated sisal – unless you have very tricky welds you need to get rid of. Ideally we recommend beginning with a standard sisal.

What are dry sisal mops?

Dry Sisal polishing mops are made from sisal material which makes for a coarse cutting mop. Used with a coarse cutting compound for scratch removal pre-polishing. This is normally the first stage mop to flatten the metal surface in preparation for polishing.

4. Heat is important in first and second stages

In order to polish metal in the first two stages you NEED heat. Some people may think this would impact the surface too much – but you absolutely need heat. The main reason for this is to burn off the compound and ensure it melts into the metal. Heat is required to remove lines and get you started on your polishing process. Without heat you are left with a black smear. This is unlike plastics – where if heat is generated the plastic will melt. Some heat is required in the final polishing stage – but not nearly as much. That’s why we recommend always using a variable speed tool.

What’s the best tool for precision metal polishing that will give me heat?

We recommend above any tool, the Eneska Micromotor sets. They give you amazing speed control which in turn impacts the amount of heat generated.

For more tips and techniques take a look at our You Tube page or contact us directly to have a chat about your metal polishing.