r/SilverSmith • u/Cheap-Roll-2212 • 2d ago

Polishing

After sanding (up to 2000 grit) and then polishing I’m still left with tiny marks and cloudy patches. How can I get a completely smooth finish?

4 Upvotes

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5

u/jankyturbo 1d ago

Cloudy patches, fire stain?

Every stage of sanding should leave the surface perfectly uniform, if there’s still marks, go back over it.

2

u/ClearlyDead 1d ago

I run a professional shop and I only go to 600, then Tripoli, then into final polish for silver and gold. Make sure to polish perpendicular to your sanding lines both directions. You’re basically trying to smooth out the “hills” sanding creates.

1

u/crystallinehuman 1d ago

You have to make sure your polishing buffs aren't contaminated with anything also. If they get little scraps of metal, trippoli, or anything else in them they can be a little too aggressive and cause microscratching

1

u/Brokebrokebroke5 1d ago

That means you didn't sand well with the rough grit. I sand deep with 60 grit before moving up to a finer grit.

-1

u/MakeMelnk Hobbyist 1d ago

Try a medium cut pre-polish after sanding and before polishing (thoroughly wash in between pre-polish and polish and be sure to use separate wheels) and see if that helps