Finishes and polishing
Polishing, satin, brushed and burnished finishes, and surface protection.
9 entries
Techniques
Burnishing: smoothing without removing metal
Burnishing smooths and shines metal by rubbing it with a polished steel tool, without removing material; used on bezels, prongs and as a final finish.
Techniques
Filing and sanding: shaping and smoothing
Filing removes metal with files of different cut to shape and smooth; file types, technique and recovering filings.
Techniques
Finishes: matte, satin, brushed and hammered
Jewelry finishes: high polish, satin, matte, brushed, bead-blasted, hammered and antiqued; how they are achieved and when each suits.
Jeweler's dictionary
Jewelry finishes glossary: polish, satin, patina…
Surface finishes explained: roughing, sanding, polishing, buffing, satin, matte, brushed, textured, patina and mirror polish.
Techniques
Lacquering and surface protection
Lacquers and waxes protect metal from tarnish: clear lacquer, microcrystalline wax and coatings for copper, brass and silver.
Techniques
Polishing and buffing metal
Polishing leaves metal with a mirror shine: from sanding to felt wheels and compounds (tripoli, rouge), with safety tips.
Materials
Polishing compounds: tripoli, rouge and more
Polishing compounds are bars of fine abrasive (tripoli, rouge, white diamond) applied to felt or cotton wheels; each one cuts or brightens a type of metal.
Techniques
Stone tumbling
A rotary tumbler rounds and polishes stones in stages of ever finer abrasive over weeks; how it is done and which stones suit it.
Techniques
Texturing metal surfaces in jewelry
Texturing gives relief to the metal surface: hammered finishes, rolling-mill textures, bark, burs, sandblasting and stamping.