Silversmithing: Getting a Fantastic Polish

[@bees5461]

This video really helped me a lot. Polishing was definitely my worst skill and your video made me realize I wasn't pushing the piece into the buffer with enough pressure to get the scratches completely out and get that really nice shine. Thanks so much!

[@chadssilversmithing]

I’m glad Bees! It took me a while to figure that one out myself. Fire coat, the copper oxides that form on the surface while heating Sterling are always the hardest for me, but lots of polishing compound and changing the angle of the piece repeatedly while polishing wears it away:). Most people start out not pressing had enough from my experience. Thanks for the good comment!

[@kes19754]

Thank you again for sharing your acquired experience and knowledge, it is SO helpful for new crafters like me! 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Glad I can help Katie! Thanks for the nice comment!

[@user-uq1io9cv4d]

Great tip on the pressure needed, thanks Chad.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks J! It has been my experience that most people don’t push hard enough when they first start. I know it took a while for me to figure it out:)

[@puresas]

Excellant as always mate

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Itscjolie]

Great video! I tend to not push down hard enough when polishing.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you! That is a common problem from my experience:). Appreciate the nice comment!

[@Itscjolie]

@@chadssilversmithing no problem. I used this tip the same day and it worked like a charm.

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

I used to use a wooden mandrel to hold the ring,no bother with the heat and easier to hold! or throw it in the tumbler with some steel shot,mirror finish in every nook and cranny!

[@chadssilversmithing]

I use a tumbler on occasion, but unfortunately it won't remove scratches. They're great for shining things up again when they are tarnished, or for shining up hard to polish things like bean castings:). I sometimes use a wooden ring vise for little stuff. Thanks for the nice comment Larrymore!

[@johngpreston1784]

Very useful as always Chad

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks John!

[@duanedodson1]

I have been smithing for about 7 years as a hobby, it too, took me about 2 years to figure out how to get a good polish.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Duane! It does take a little practice:)

[@timlozar5672]

nice! I think I'm not pressing nearly as hard as you are, just worried about it grabbing the piece and taking it from me

[@chadssilversmithing]

Best way to find out how sturdy your piece is;)

[@tammiehonican76]

Very informative! Thank you! And have a good day!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome Tammie!

[@patredden4557]

Great information, going to Rio’s site now to add to my order. Lol thanks so much.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Glad you found it useful! Thanks for watching.

[@marjorieingersoll7886]

Now to go shopping!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Exciting! Who doesn't love getting tools?:)

[@erizabesu87]

Hello Chad! Can I achieve the same polish look by only using flex shaft rotary drill? I am just a beginner Thanks in advance!

[@chadssilversmithing]

If it has a larger motor like a Foredom, you probably will have the horsepower to do it. Small rotary tools like Dremels don’t have the power.

[@texasgigi3684]

Chad, thank you sooo much for doing this polishing tutorial!! I’ve tried to use the polishing machine, like yours, in jewelry class. But, like you said, it’s scary, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Is there anyway to shine up your stone? I have a brass bezel pusher, so it doesn’t scratch stones nearly as much, as other types of metal, but sometimes my stones could use some help-polishing wise. PS-I use Cupronil and I don’t have a problem with fire coating.

[@chadssilversmithing]

If I had to fix a scratch, I would probably use my little lapidary wheel. I know some people do some stone polishing on wheels like this, but I don't know any real details on their process. I'll look into Cupronil:)

[@gregleak5134]

Nicely done solid advise

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Greg!

[@lauryltedesco3436]

Can you still get a good finished polish with a dremel? Thanks so much-great video!

[@chadssilversmithing]

While a useful tool, dremels unfortunately don't really have enough "oomph" to produce a real polish. Something with a more powerful motor like a foredom tool is preferable if you're going to do polishing work with a hand tool:)

[@cba1424]

Thanks Chad I was going to ask if you had any tips on removing firestain 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello cba! I use quite a bit of white diamond polishing compound, significant pressure against the wheel, and changing the orientation of the piece while polishing. It is easier to see fire stain under incandescent light versus fluorescent light for some reason.

[@cba1424]

@@chadssilversmithing Thanks Chad every day is a learning day 😄

[@ameliasphotography3406]

Good Morning Chad! Would you mind sharing a link to the polishing compounds you use? I just did a search for white diamond and it came up with a few different items and I am not sure which one to get. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I love your tutorials!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Sure Amelia:). www.riogrande.com/product/osborn-white-diamond-polishing-compounds/3315181GP/ And www.riogrande.com/product/zam-cut-and-polish-compound/331123GP/

[@ameliasphotography3406]

@@chadssilversmithing Thank you so much! Your the best! I just purchased a 1/2 HP bench polisher buffer on amazon but it doesn't have the surround shelf case that yours has. Is there a fan or exhaust in that thing you are using? Any tips on what I could use in place of that unit with the tray?

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@ameliasphotography3406 you might be able to build a plywood box with an exhaust fan out the back.

[@ameliasphotography3406]

@@chadssilversmithing Cool! I might try that. Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help and excellent video tutorials!

[@cba1424]

Hi Chad if there is excess compound in nucks and crannies would you use and ultrasonic cleaner? Someone also mentioned to me about using a wheel dresser periodically but id have assumed that was for diamond wheels?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello CBA. I’ve only ever used a wheel dresser on grinding wheels myself. I do occasionally fire up the ultrasonic cleaner for really tenacious compound stuck in nooks and crannies:)

[@chiggermagnet]

Very informative video. Thank you for creating it for us. Do you ever coat your finished pieces with a protectant, and if so, what kind?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks! I don't coat them with anything. Much sterling one finds in stores has been plated with Rhodium to keep it from tarnishing.

[@colescreations6680]

Always awesome viedos. Thank you.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Cole! Glad you found it useful:)

[@ericpohlman8309]

Hi Chad, I have a DP Genie with the jewelers buff attachment. I've practiced with your method here using white diamond & Zam and it works Quite well - put the gloves on, use plenty of pressure, and keep going until the fire scale is gone! Thank you for the education!! There is some cleanup once the piece is bright and shiny. Dish soap with an old toothbrush works ok. Any other suggestions?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Really hot water with the dish soap, and toothpicks can help remove compound from nooks and crannies. Thanks for the nice comment Eric!

[@bjones4097]

Thanks for this Chad. I have been doing a progression of sanding steps prior to polishing. Do you do this or does the white diamond compound suffice to remove the fabrication scratches? Thanks for all the tips about holding, positioning and pressure required.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Sure. I often pre-polish with Silicone abrasive wheels with the rotary tool, but don't generally sand things prior to polishing.

[@kathybosley-im5il]

How do you polish center of ring?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Kathy. I use my rotary tool with a felt wheel and white diamond polishing compound generally. Good question!

[@NikiLucky-cj5bd]

Thank you for exposing your lungs for us chad 😂❤ xoxo all in the name of education your very generous much love to u , your wife and the kitties

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Niki! The wife and kitties say thank you as well:)

[@BriarthornAJ]

Will a polisher from Harbor Freight work?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Briarthorn! My experience has been that the motor has to be at least 1/2 horsepower. Often when I see polishing machines in retail settings they have a really flimsy wheel on them as well. I use a much thicker stiffer wheel for good results. I would not get anything less than a six inch wheel either. Hope this helps:)

[@BriarthornAJ]

Awesome!!! Thank you!!!

[@bavariangirl123]

Wouldn't you want to wash the more aggressive compound off your piece before moving on to the Zam?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Karin! Generally if you are using enough pressure when pushing against the wheel, there won’t be any compound on the surface when you move over to the second wheel:)

[@bavariangirl123]

@@chadssilversmithing good to know!

[@melissarmt7330]

Thank you for the video. You reference sterling silver. Will argentium silver polish the same or is there a difference?

[@chadssilversmithing]

That is a good question, and I do not have an answer. I’ve never actually used Argentium silver before. My guess is that it polishes similarly though. Sorry I couldn’t give you definitive info on this one:). Thanks for watching!

[@melissarmt7330]

@@chadssilversmithing Not at all, thank you for weighing in! I don't have any experience with argentium silver, yet. This was such a good video!

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@melissarmt7330 This was kind of an early video! Thanks for ignoring the poor production quality:)

[@Mr2eyedjack]

For whatever reason people seem to fail to understand that the Buffing and Polishing process is highly dependent on FRICTION. I have people who just feather the jewelry with the wheel. I tell them to PUSH HARD. "It gets too hot" is a typical response. Come on ppl its not hard to do. 😂

[@chadssilversmithing]

My beginners almost always do that at first. I think it’s because the big polishing machine is a little intimidating to them. Thanks Mr2eyedjack!