Polishing and buffing are finishing processes for smoothing a workpiece's surface using an abrasive and a work wheel or a leather strop. Technically polishing refers to processes that use an abrasive that is glued to the work wheel, while buffing uses a loose abrasive applied to the work wheel. Polishing is a more aggressive process while buffing is less harsh, which leads to a smoother, brighter finish. A common misconception is that a polished surface has a mirror bright finish, however most mirror bright finishes are buffed. Polishing is often used to enhance the appearance of an item, prevent contamination of instruments, remove oxidation, create a reflective surface, or prevent corrosion in pipes.
Polishing stainless steel can also increase the sanitary benefits of it. The removal of oxidization (tarnish) from metal objects is accomplished using a metal polish or tarnish remover this is also called polishing. To prevent further unwanted oxidization, polished metal surfaces may be coated with wax, oil, or lacquer. This is of concern for copper alloy products such as brass and bronze.
This is offered at an additional cost. The finish is gloss, and the actual metal must be extensively prepared to ensure that the anodizing is lustrous and shiny. Arnold's Metal Finishing has the capability to polish and buff aluminum alloys to a #8 surface finish, supplying increased sheen and reflectivity, while also removing any tooling marks or imperfections in the metal. This process is done prior to anodizing and is beneficial for highly cosmetic requirements. This mechanical finish can be done on its own or can be administered prior to TYPE II (Sulfuric) and TYPE III (Hardcoat).
