12-22-2010, 01:35 PM
Folks,
How you polish and clean your metal also effects the appearance. Modern chemical (brasso) and gum abrasive (wheel) polishes polish the surface but do not leave a protective layer. Unless further treated it will corrode more quickly.
Historical polishing techniques use the abrasive in an oily base, which polishes and protects at the same time.
That said, polishing compound grit range with jewellers rouge at the finest end hasn't really changed all that much.
One practice that is far less common today is burnishing, where the surface of the metal is compressed into a higher polish by pressure from a harder work tool. It has a profound affect on appearance and can be performed on any historical metal. If you've every seen it, you'll know that nothing shines like burnished gold.
Have fun!
Cole
How you polish and clean your metal also effects the appearance. Modern chemical (brasso) and gum abrasive (wheel) polishes polish the surface but do not leave a protective layer. Unless further treated it will corrode more quickly.
Historical polishing techniques use the abrasive in an oily base, which polishes and protects at the same time.
That said, polishing compound grit range with jewellers rouge at the finest end hasn't really changed all that much.
One practice that is far less common today is burnishing, where the surface of the metal is compressed into a higher polish by pressure from a harder work tool. It has a profound affect on appearance and can be performed on any historical metal. If you've every seen it, you'll know that nothing shines like burnished gold.
Have fun!
Cole
Cole
