How to mirror polish stainless steel sculpture by hand?

Stainless steel manual mirror polishing is a process that requires patience and skill and requires a certain amount of experience and technology. The following article will introduce in detail the required tools and materials, polishing methods, and precautions.

Materials and tools for mirror polishing stainless steel sculptures by hand:

stainless steel sculpture

Sandpaper or abrasive pads (different grits, usually starting with coarse and working your way up to fine)

stainless steel polishing liquid

Polishing cloth or sponge

detergent

cleaning cloth

Polishing machinery (optional)

Steps to mirroring polish stainless steel sculptures by hand:

Preparation:

Before starting, make sure the sculpture surface is clean and free of dust and impurities. If there is grease or stains on the sculpture, use a cleaner to clean the surface.

Preliminary sanding:

Use a 60# abrasive belt to grind the workpiece back and forth on the surface, remove the solder joints left during welding, and achieve the initial shape of the welding joint fillet. There are basically no big scratches on the horizontal and vertical surfaces. It's best to sand in a consistent direction, usually in the same direction as the main shape of the sculpture.

Sanding in the middle:

Use a 180# abrasive belt to polish the surface of the workpiece according to the previous back-and-forth grinding method. The main purpose is to repair the seams that appeared in the previous process and to finely grind the impressions produced after rough grinding to ensure that there are no scratches on the surface of the workpiece.

Polishing application:

Use stainless steel polishing fluid and apply it to the surface of the sculpture. This liquid often contains tiny abrasive particles that help further remove minor imperfections.

Hand polishing:

Use a polishing cloth or sponge to polish the surface of the sculpture in even, firm strokes. You can use a circular or linear motion to ensure that the entire surface is polished evenly.

Note: Be sure to use stainless steel polishing fluid and polishing cloth to avoid introducing other materials.

Cleaning and inspection:

Use detergent and a cleaning cloth to clean the polished surface thoroughly, making sure to remove any residual polishing fluid and impurities. Check the entire surface carefully to make sure there are no imperfections that you missed.

Optional mechanical polishing:

If manual polishing is not enough, consider using a polishing machine. When using polishing machinery, the force must also be carefully controlled to avoid excessive wear on the stainless steel surface.

Final cleaning and maintenance:

Perform a final cleaning to ensure the surface is clean and free of impurities. Stainless steel care agents or wax can be used for final maintenance to maintain the durability of the mirror effect.