Apollo Tripoli Polishing Compound
Apollo Tripoli is a brown Tripoli cutting bar from APH Industries. Rated 7 for cut and 7 for brightness, it removes fine scratches and file marks while leaving a brighter surface than most cutting compounds, ready for final polishing.
It suits aluminium, brass, copper, bronze, gold, silver and plastics, and is especially good on brass. Typical uses include jewellery, gold- and silversmithing, aluminium extrusions, pressings, cast items, fabrication and restoration.
What Is Tripoli?
Tripoli is a traditional brown cutting compound, used as the first compound stage on softer metals and plastics. It removes fine scratches and file marks; a finishing compound on a separate mop then brings up the shine.
For a worked example, read How to Polish Copper, or see How to Use Polishing Compounds for the full process.
Choose Your Finishing Compound
| Material | Cut With | Finish With |
|---|---|---|
| Gold, silver and precious metals | Apollo Tripoli | AA Rouge, Red Admiral RS/2 or Dialux Rouge |
| Aluminium, brass, copper and bronze | Apollo Tripoli | Hyfin, or Blumax (Blue) 4×1 for small jobs |
| Plastics | Apollo Tripoli | Menzerna GW16, Dialux White or Plastimax (Buff) 4×1 |
How to Use Apollo Tripoli
- Prepare the surface. Remove deeper scratches with abrasives first.
- Load lightly. Hold the bar briefly against a running firmer mop, such as a dry sisal or white stitched mop, or a felt polishing tool for detailed work.
- Cut. Work the surface until the fine scratches and file marks are removed.
- Clean. Remove all Tripoli residue with Solvent Cleaner Spray.
- Finish. Move to your finishing compound on a separate, softer mop.
Keep the Tripoli mop for Tripoli only: even a trace on a finishing mop will leave fine scratches. Wear suitable eye protection when machine polishing.
Compare Cutting Compounds
| Compound | Cut / Brightness | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo Tripoli | 7/10 cut, 7/10 brightness | Non-ferrous metals, precious metals and plastics |
| Ferrocut 3050 | 9/10 cut, 2/10 colour | Heavy cutting on stainless steel, ferrous metals and hard alloys |
| Abracut | 9/10 cut, 3/10 colour | Rapid cutting on stainless steel and ferrous metals |
| Senior 4040 | 8/10 cut, 4/10 colour | A balanced first stage on ferrous and non-ferrous metals |
| Tripmax (Brown) 4×1 | Small Tripoli bar | Samples and small jobs; a different formulation from Apollo |
Product Specifications
| Brand | APH Industries (formerly Lea Manufacturing) |
|---|---|
| Product type | Brown Tripoli cutting compound bar |
| Cut / brightness | 7/10 cut, 7/10 brightness |
| Materials | Aluminium, brass, copper, bronze, gold, silver and plastics |
| Unit of sale | One bar |
| Felt or mop required | Yes – felt polishing tools or polishing mops sold separately |
| Typical applications | Jewellery, gold- and silversmithing, aluminium extrusions, pressings, cast items, fabrication and restoration |
Need Help Choosing a Cutting Compound?
Contact Moleroda with the metal being polished, its current surface condition, the felt, mop or machine you are using and the finish you need.
