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#120 Surface Adjustments - Buff Polishing - 1

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April 6, 2012

Buff polishing is indispensable in obtaining mirror finishes. In general, the term buff polishing encompasses a wide range of polishing methods from the paper finishing mentioned before to flatten a rough surfaces to obtaining mirror finishing. Various polishing methods and obtained finishes are shown in Table 1 below.

[Table 1] Types of buff polishing methods and finishes
Finish type Abrasives Polishing material Circumferential
velocity
Surface
roughness
Paper buff
polishing,
rough finish
#20 ~ #50
emery cloth
glued
Stearic acid
including
Tripoli stone
1200 ~ 2100 35s
Paper buff
polishing,
medium finish
#120 ~ #140
emery cloth glued
Same as
above
Same as
above
18s
Buff polishing
Base polishing
Finish polishing
Gloss polishing
Tripoli
Tripoli
Dolomite
Tripoli +
Stearic acid
Tripoli gloss
Matchless
Matchless
2000 ~ 2400
2000 ~ 2400
2000 ~ 2400
0.8s
0.4s
0.2s

Buff polishing begins with selecting the shape and the material. The buff materials are mainly classified into cotton and hemp linen (sisal), and shapes are classified as follows. (see [Fig.1])

  1. Paper buff
    Circular canvas cloth are stacked and sawn together and polishing material is adhesive fixed. Mainly used for rough polishing.
  2. Loose buff
    Circular calico cloth are stacked and only the center is sawn. The centrifugal force of rotating generates elasticity.
  3. Bias buff
    Cloth is cut along fold lines and creases are stacked into round shape. The cloth ends do not fray.
  4. Pocket buff
    Folds are made deep and circular sawn together. Air pockets promote Heat radiation and good abrasive retention.

[Fig.1] From left: Loose buff, Paper buff, Bias buff

[Fig.1]

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