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WHAT IS BUFFING?
Buffing is the processing on and of a metal surface to give a
desired finish.
The range of BUFFING is from semibright, mirror bright or
high luster. This is a major factor in the eventual outcome of the plating job.
During the BUFFING process, there is a special blend, or
ratio, of lubricants to abrasive compound. This is commonly referred to as BUFFING
COMPOUND.
The BUFFING COMPOUND can come in a SOLID or LIQUID form
depending on the BUFFING method used.
The process of BUFFING creates a finish of reflectivity,
which follows the laws of reflection.
In the process of buffing, the buffing operation is typically
done by a polishing wheel attached to a motor driven polishing system. The buffing wheel
is typically a stitched cloth wheel that sort of looks like a grinding wheel, only made
out of layers of cloth stitched together.
On the model I worked with in a Jewelry Store, the center
hold fit on to the spindle by a screw system. The spindle was actually a tapered screw.
The buffing wheel was not bolted onto the spindle, is simply threaded itself onto the
spindle.
There are different diameter buffing wheels as well as
different cloth construction in the buffing wheel to give different results. Plus, there
are several different types of BUFFING COMPOUNDS depending on the surface and the level of
buffing you expect to do.
All metal surfaces have what is commonly called a surface
profile, which means it has peaks and valleys on the surface.
If the peaks and valleys have a large distance between them,
light will enter the valley and not bounce back along the path of reflectance,
showing you as a dull surface.
During the BUFFING PROCESS, the PEAK is mechanically removed
by being buffed away, and that lowers the distance from the top of the NEW PEAK to the
bottom of the valley.
When the peaks and valleys have a short distance between
them, light will enter the valley and will bounce back along the path of reflectance
producing a mirror like finish.
NOTE: The closer the PEAK to the VALLEY and the finer and
more uniform the finite scratches, the higher the reflectance.
BUFFING is generally broken down into 4 commonly used
descriptions.
1. Satin finishing, which produces a satin or brushed finish.
2. Cut-down buffing for producing preliminary smoothness.
3. Cut & color buffing for more smoothness and some luster.
4. Color buffing for producing high gloss or mirror finishes.
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