Polishing copper to a mirror finish. Grinding metal - the secrets of proper grinding. Features of emery processing

Polishing metal to a mirror finish

How to polish iron to a mirror finish

Hello, friends!

That's how you are true lovers of homemade weapons, finally realized their idea and made, for example, a wonderful dagger. The product turned out great: , . But something still lacks your creation, and I know what it is.

And the dagger is not enough for complete happiness of a sparkling brilliance. There is unique metal polishing technology, which is superior in quality, even the factory one, and I suggest trying it on my metal homemade products. To do this, we first need to prepare a mixture consisting of the following components:

We take sulfuric acid and dilute it with water, in a ratio of one to twenty parts. The volume of the mixture depends on the volume of the polished thing. Next, we lower your blade into it for a short while, then take it out, and after rinsing it thoroughly in water, we cover it with sawdust to dry. After drying the dagger in sawdust (I hope you didn’t forget to remove the handle before rinsing in sulfuric acid?), Dip it in nitric acid for a couple of seconds. Then, again, it is washed with water and dried in sawdust. And then it remains only to carefully wipe the blade, which after all these procedures becomes shiny like glass. Isn't everything simple?

Now you can look into the blade of your dagger, as if in a mirror. By the way, in this amazing way you can polish any metal objects, the result will be one - a shiny, sparkling surface. Sometimes I even think about whether I should polish the bumper of my seven and stamped wheels in this manner, but I’m too lazy to beat off and sand the spray and paint (just kidding)

But seriously, many metal things after this polishing technologies acquire not only the original novelty, but become a completely different form. rusty key grandmother's chest it becomes almost a work of art, and how many wonderful metal jewelry can be made with such a polishing, it’s just that your hands itch to get to work.

At this point, let me stop and say goodbye to you. Until the next showdown, unique technology for home production do-it-yourselfers.

Metal polishing is the final stage in the manufacture of metal and alloy products, which consists in removing the thinnest layer of material from the surface of the part. There are a large number of ways in which you can polish the product to a shine, both at home and in conditions. industrial production. They are discussed in detail in this article.

GOST 9.301-86 regulates the requirements for the quality of processing metal products as a result of polishing work. There are no special instructions regarding the gloss of surfaces after grinding, however, after polishing, various defects, grooves, scratches, burrs, corrosion, etc. should be excluded.

In a word, polishing measures are designed to give the product an attractive appearance and consumer qualities.

In production, there is such a thing as a “polishing class”. The level of surface roughness of a particular part is determined using special equipment (microscopes and profilers) up to 1 micrometer (µm, 1 mm = 1000 µm). If carried out at home, then the depth of the irregularities is determined by eye.

There are 14 roughness classes, which are indicated in special drawings in accordance with GOST 2789-59.

Polishing classes and requirements for them are presented in the table below.

Surface Description	Roughness size (up to µm)	Polishing class	Mechanical processing method
Traces of processing are very noticeable	320	1	Planing, sharpening and milling
	160	2
	80	3
Traces of processing are very faintly visible	40	4	Soft abrasive, semi-finishing
	20	5
	10	6
Processing marks are not visible at all	6,3	7	Fine flow, grinding
	3,2	8
	1,3	9
The surface of the metal product is perfectly smooth and has a characteristic mirror shine.	0,8	10	Finish polishing, soft polishing
	0,4	11
	0,2	12
	0,1	13
	0,05	14

Preparatory stages

Industrial companies involved in various types metal processing, check the condition of the surfaces before grinding. Before using various chemical reagents and polishing machines, the part must be prepared for further stages of polishing; for this, the product is affected by one of the mechanical methods:

treatment of the part with compressed air together with special coarse abrasive elements that remove large corrosion and rust growths from the surface;
cleaning the surface of the product with brushes with hard bristles to remove signs of oxidation and sludge (dust formed as a result of cleaning with a coarse abrasive);
degreasing surfaces from traces of previous polishing agents by treating them with warm organic solvents;
the use of alkaline solutions to remove mineral residues containing oil;
electrochemical degreasing (immersion of a metal product in an electrolyte).

All these methods are most often used in industrial production. At home, to prepare a metal product for polishing, it is enough to treat the surface of various hardness.

Metal polishing methods

To polish metal to a mirror finish at home, most often they use a special paste, such as GOI or diamond, popular among home craftsmen, as well as a polishing machine with an abrasive wheel.

Metal processing plants use the following types polishing:

mechanical;
chemical;
electrochemical;
with the help of plasma;
laser;
ultrasonic.

mechanical way

One of the most effective ways self-polishing of metal is the surface treatment of the product with a polishing machine.

A grinding machine is an indispensable tool for high-quality polishing of metal until the initial shine appears. The polishing machine has a so-called abrasive wheel, the coverage of which will depend on the nature of the work and the material.

The process of metal processing using a grinding machine will take place as follows:

Polishing wheels and the area of metal to be treated are wetted with water. For metal processing, the disk must rotate at a speed of 1400 revolutions per minute. It must be foreseen that at this speed of rotation the spray will scatter 1-1.5 meters, therefore, it is necessary to take care of the appropriate protection of the face and clothing.
The surface to be treated will begin to heat up as a result of friction, and the water will evaporate. As a result of such interaction, irregularities and roughness will be removed, forming blockages from metal particles and water on the basis of the abrasive wheel. Every few minutes it is necessary to turn off the machine and rinse the disc under running water. Metal particles should be removed not only from the tool, but also from the surface of the product.
To achieve a mirror finish, it is recommended to use felt material. Such a nozzle is put on the grinding disc so that the edges protrude 1–1.5 cm beyond the circle. The felt and the surface of the metal part must be moistened with water, after which the metal is polished.

If a special machine is not available, you can use a polishing agent such as sandpaper. First you need to treat the surface with sandpaper of a large abrasive, and then a softer one. After switching from one grain size to another, you can proceed to the finishing stage of processing.

At the final stage, a polish is used. For metal products, as well as for stone surfaces, diamond paste is excellent, which can restore ideal smoothness and mirror shine to surfaces. The surface of the metal product is carefully processed with a cloth on which the polishing paste is applied.

Chemical polishing is the most effective solution in relation to metal and alloy products that have a decorative function.

The essence of the chemical method of cleaning metal is that all the work to restore the surface of the product is performed by special solutions of chemical reagents and acids. The solution must be heated to a certain temperature, which depends on the components of the metal alloy, after which the metal product is immersed in the solution for several minutes. A reaction occurs between the metal and the chemical solution, as a result of which the defective layer of the product is destroyed.

In order to immerse the part in the solution, special holders are used. There is no need to use manual labor, and metal processing occurs evenly over the entire surface.

However, this method has a drawback: after the procedure, the surface of the product is more matte than shiny. In addition, this method requires compliance with a number of safety rules.

Electrochemical metal polishing

At first glance, electrochemical polishing of metal takes place in the same way as chemical polishing. The part must be lowered to the bottom of the solution tank, but it is necessary to ensure the passage electric current through the product. The current accelerates the destruction of the oxide layer even in barely noticeable depressions on the metal surface.

As a result, the product acquires perfect smoothness. This method is perfect for those who are looking for an answer to the question of how to polish metal to a mirror finish.

disadvantage this method are the high costs of electricity and the need for regular replacement of the chemical solution.

Plasma polishing

Plasma polishing of metal is similar to the electrochemical cleaning method: the product is also immersed in chemical solution followed by an electrical discharge through it. However, the electrolytic-plasma method does not involve the use of a mixture of chemicals and acids, but a harmless solution obtained from ammonium salts.

The result is not only a mirror-like shine and perfect smoothness, but also additional protection against corrosion.

Metal laser polishing

The process of polishing metal using a laser machine eliminates the need for the use of various polishes, solvents and abrasive particles.

The laser device acts on the surface of metal products by applying light pulses. Energy, in contact with the metal, is converted into plasma, its particles decay, which leads to the appearance of a shock wave. The light pulse is not long enough to damage the product, but it splits the damaged metal particles. Due to this feature of the laser beam, if the product requires deep cleaning, the same area of the metal surface will have to be affected several times.

The laser machine, made of steel, has such a feature as self-limitation. The device itself reduces the intensity of exposure and beam power as soon as the laser reaches a layer of metal that does not need to be polished.

Ultrasonic metal polishing

Metal polishing by ultrasound is one of the types of processing of various surfaces by crushing, that is, the destruction of the defective surface layer is carried out after applying a load to the material. Oscillations of the ultrasonic wave form chips and cracks, as a result of which the upper layer of metal leaves by itself, like an eggshell.

This method helps out if the material is not a conductor of electric current and cannot act as an anode during electrochemical cleaning. It is also excellent for grinding thin and fragile items, including precious stones and metals.

The technology of ultrasonic metal processing is as follows:

A composition of abrasive elements is placed in a special working sector of the device.
The device is located in close proximity to the treated surface.
The vibrating device causes the abrasive elements to vibrate, while affecting the top layer of the product.
The defective layer under the influence of vibrations cracks and collapses.

Silicon or carbide-based boron particles can act as abrasive elements, and fresh water supply can act as a vibrating factor.

If you have experience in polishing metal using industrial and improvised methods, share it in the comments.

It happens different. After all, it contains several different metals. The basis of stainless steel is iron, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, manganese, and this is not the whole list. Chromium, which is also present in its composition, helps resist corrosion of this steel.

What prevents steel from rusting

When chromium interacts with oxygen, a protective film is formed on the surface of stainless steel, and it is this film that protects the alloy from exposure to an aggressive environment.

The degree of corrosion resistance of steel will depend on the amount of chromium.

For example, in the manufacture of refrigerators, an alloy with an average chromium content (10-17%) is used. But if the device is constantly in contact with water or is subjected to thermal stress, then an alloy with a high chromium content, up to 26%, is used. Such appliances include washing machines, dishwashers, sinks, hoods, hobs and kettles.

Where can polishing be done?

In order for the surface of the alloy to be beautiful and even, you need to polish the stainless steel. Nowadays, there are many companies whose specialization is this particular procedure, they put in order various products from this alloy. But it turns out that you can polish stainless steel at home.

Of course, if you need better work, it is better to seek help from specialists. For example, a polished stainless steel square pipe will look much more impressive after factory processing than after home processing.

Any company that specializes in polishing will easily perform this procedure.

How to process steel

How to polish stainless steel to a mirror finish? Here is a list of everything you need:

polishing paste;
felt or felt circles;
wood glue;
grinding wheels with different grain sizes;
sandpaper or stone;
Bulgarian.

Main steps of the process

The process takes place in several stages. First you need to perform a rough cleaning. Further in the course is a circle with a fiber base and an angle grinder. But just this procedure can be skipped, provided that the surface of the product is already quite smooth.

Grinding wheels follow. The surface must be treated several times, with each time the size of the abrasive should decrease.

If there are no such circles available, then it is quite possible to make them yourself. To do this, you can use a felt circle or felt. With a spatula, it is necessary to apply carpentry glue on it, and then grind it over abrasive chips.

This operation will make the surface of the steel perfectly smooth. In no case should there be roughness. After all, after polishing, it will be much more difficult to close them.

The next step is to apply polishing paste and a felt circle. Here it is better to consult a specialist, since a specific paste is needed for a certain brand of alloy. Of course, it is best to use diamond, the grit of which is suitable for the metal intended for processing. Finishing polishing is carried out until there is not a single visible flaw left. A polished stainless steel pipe should look just perfect.

Stainless steel in everyday life

No kitchen is complete without stainless steel fixtures and fittings. This is not surprising, since this alloy is quite strong and durable, especially since it does not require special care. Stainless steel is often used to make dishes, cutlery and stoves, since this metal has a fairly high thermal conductivity.

But there are some drawbacks to stainless steel: with regular use, it noticeably tarnishes. The kitchen is losing its luster. In order to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to periodically polish the stainless steel. There are many various ways solution to this problem. An important point in this procedure is the correct selection of polishing agent for stainless steel.

When cleaning steel products, in no case should you use bleaching agents and you should also not use metal sponges and brushes with hard bristles.

There are several alternative ways polishing.

Olive oil

This method is just for those who are thinking about how to polish stainless steel at home. The tarnished dishes will again begin to shine like new. All you need is oil and rags, preferably soft cloths.

First of all, you need to moisten a rag with oil.
Using this cloth, it is necessary to apply oil to the product so that it is completely covered with an oil film.
Next, you can start polishing by firmly pressing the oiled rag to the metal.
To prevent the steel from becoming dull again, excess oil is removed with dry towels or napkins. They need to rub the surface until the product is completely dry.

Flour polishing

Flour can also be used to polish metal products. With its help, it is good to process flat surfaces, such as a sink or pan.

The product is sprinkled with flour, so that there are no gaps at all.
Flour should be evenly distributed.
Using a dry cloth, polish the surface in a circular motion.
Further, the flour is very easy to remove from the surface.

mechanical way

Some appliances and fixtures have hard to reach areas. This is where the question arises, how to polish stainless steel to a shine. There is a way, but you will have to spend a lot of time and make every effort.

You need to purchase a piece of felt and abrasive paste. Apply the paste to the fabric and polish the surface until the metal is bright and shiny.

Polishing with chemicals

Most often this method is used when you need to clean small items. The main thing is that polishing takes a little time and is done very simply. Below are a few solution recipes.

Recipe 1

It's important to keep the proportions. Composition: 230 ml of sulfuric acid, 70 ml of hydrochloric acid, and 40 ml of nitric acid. The rest is water.

For one liter of solution, you need another 5 g of sodium chloride, 5 g of acid black dye and 10 grams of wood glue.

The resulting liquid must be heated to 70 degrees Celsius and the part is lowered there. The product can be left in the solution for a maximum of half an hour.

Recipe 2

Orthophosphoric acid will be needed, it should be 20-30 percent of the total volume. Hydrochloric acid (3-4%), nitric acid (4-5%), methyl orange (1%). The rest is water. The solution should be at room temperature, keep the product in it for no longer than 10 minutes.

Recipe 3

Polishing rules are given below:

The metal must be thoroughly cleaned before polishing. Then place the product in the solution. It should be remembered that only distilled water can be used here.
During the procedure, the solution must be constantly stirred, only in this case the chemical reaction will be 100%.
When the right time has passed, the part is removed and washed well with running water. After that, the product must be well rubbed with a napkin dipped in polish.

After such processing, all roughness is eliminated.

It is not enough to polish stainless steel correctly, it still needs to be cleaned regularly.

sink cleaning

Often stains remain on the sinks - this is limescale. It is very easy to remove with vinegar solution. Dilute the acid one to five and wipe the surface with it, and then rinse with running water. To give the metal a bright shine, the surface must be rubbed in a circular motion.

Stove cleaning

There are stains from sauces, fat and burnt food. They will have to be removed with a special tool for polishing steel. Be sure to remove the heaters before cleaning. The polishing agent is best used with gloves on. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting burns on the skin of the hands. After the procedure, it is advisable to rub the surface well with a dry cloth.

Cleaning the hood

This is no easy task. But quite doable. In order to prevent dirt and soap from staining the stove, it is better to cover it with newspapers or old towels.

To clean the hood, you can use a specialized tool or prepare a solution yourself. You will need bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and water. The agent must be rubbed gently so as not to damage the surface. It is enough that the solution remains on the hood for several minutes, after which it must be washed off with clean running water. Next, you need to polish the surface well with a dry cloth. After this procedure, the hood will shine like new.

Metal polishing with an angle grinder

Polishing is a type of metal treatment that restores the shine to the metal surface. On the present stage there are such methods of grinding:

What tools and machines are used? Mechanical methods involve the use of the following tools and devices:

polishing machine;
sanding machine;
electric grinder;
drills with clamps.

This finishing method has a number of advantages. Firstly, it allows you to change the frequency of rotation of circles and tapes, which has a positive effect on the quality of processing a metal plane; secondly, additional nozzles made of fabric, leather, wool, etc. can be installed on the polishing machine.

Special grinder - angle grinder

Manual grinding differs from automated grinding in that its effectiveness depends on the quality of polishing consumables. In manual finishing, diamond paste and additives based on chromium or iron oxide are used. Smooth metal surfaces are polished with an ordinary file - a wooden block covered with a cloth, on which a polishing paste is applied.

Metal polishing with a special tool

Combined processing methods

Metal polishing can be done combined methods, in the case of an unprepared and rough surface with a rough relief. In this case, a long-term electrolytic-plasma finishing is prescribed, which consists of removing a significant layer of metal.

This processing method is used in extreme cases when a quick restoration of the gloss of a metal product is required. Among the shortcomings of the technology, one should highlight the high energy intensity, especially at the initial stage of processing, when 100% more energy is used than usual.

The electrolytic-plasma polishing machine processes the part in two stages. On the first one, the surface is degreased, and on the second, the grinding itself, which, in turn, also consists of two cycles: cutting the rough layer and grinding the metal. Grease removal is mandatory, since the viscous surface leads to oxidation of the metal and a deterioration in the quality of its finish.

Classification of metal polishing pastes

You can bring the metal surface to a mirror state with your own hands without the use of machines, it is enough to pay attention to special tools that are divided into the following groups:

Water. The substance does not contain fat and does its job perfectly;
Organic products - contain paraffin and a variety of oils. They are diluted with different oils and fatty acids;
Diamond paste is a revolutionary solution that allows you to instantly achieve a shine on any metal surface.

Let us dwell in more detail on the last version of grinding. Diamond paste is so effective that it completely replaces the polishing machine. Diamond Substance is available in two types: ASN and ACM (expensive).

Diamond paste has the following advantages:

Accuracy. Synthetic diamonds allow you to polish any metal product to a shine as accurately as possible;
Wide range of grain sizes. On the modern market more than 12 grit types can be found;
Simple operation allows you to carry out cleaning procedures with your own hands without the use of a special tool;
Diamond paste requires a minimal tool: a rag, water and rubber gloves.

The main disadvantage of this cleaning agent is its high price. On average, diamond paste on the consumables market costs more than 500 rubles per 35 grams of the substance.

Working principle of diamond paste

Diamond paste acts on a metal product mechanically and chemically, forming dispersed films. The composition of the cleaning agent includes active substances that promote the flow of adsorbing processes, which facilitates the grinding of the material.

Diamond paste is applied to various types of fabrics (felt, microfiber or jeans), paper, rubber, plastic and other types of non-metallic materials. It should be noted that diamond paste can also be applied to polishing wheels to improve the efficiency of metal surface treatment. In this way, you can achieve a mirror effect. Circles made of felt, felt or leather are installed on the polishing machine.

Description of the polishing process

To grind a metal surface, you will need: lapping laps and several tubes of diamond mixture with different grain sizes. Diamond paste is evenly distributed over the working surface of a rag or other material. Experts have noticed an interesting pattern that improves the quality of metal processing.

It turns out that castor or olive oil must be added to the polishing agent. The ideal ratio is considered to be a mixture consisting of 40% diamond dust and 60% oil. After dilution, the mixture is immediately applied to the metal surface.

Experts recommend starting work only with large grains, gradually moving to abrasive products. During processing, make sure that no extra elements get into the mixture - dust, sawdust, hair or pieces of rags. The presence of third-party objects greatly impairs polishing to a shine. It is also recommended to wash your hands after changing from one grit to another.

Types of diamond dust

On the modern market, you can find tools not only for polishing metal, but also other materials, such as wood, glass, stone, etc. You can classify them by color, for example:

Huge range of diamond paste

Yellow packaging indicates that the substance is intended for grinding ceramic materials and glass products. It should be noted that this dust can also be used for metal finishing;
Blue packaging. This type of product is used for glass finishing. The grinding tool has a fairly wide selection of abrasive elements - from 60 to 10 levels;
The red packaging is suitable exclusively for the treatment of metal surfaces.

As for the packaging itself, diamond paste is sold in compact plastic jars, 35–45 grams in volume. The average cost of a jar depends on the size and quality of abrasive materials. The finer and better the polishing material, the cheaper the paste is. The average price is 450-600 rubles.

Paste GOI

Chrome paste GOI is a universal tool for polishing metal and non-metal surfaces. Although it was invented in the early 1930s, it is used to polish metals even today.

Polishing paste GOI

The GOI tool comes in different grain sizes (classified by the size of the abrasive materials). There are three types of grit: fine, medium, and coarse. Fine dust is used for polishing soft and non-ferrous metals, coarse grain - for rough finishing of ferrous metals and steel.

Features of use. Initially, the polishing agent has a solid structure, which can be diluted with a few drops of machine oil. If you need to polish an uneven metal surface with bends, then it is recommended to apply the paste in a diluted form to a rag.

The second polishing method is designed for smooth metal surfaces. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that a small amount of abrasive material is applied to a wooden block. Then it is recommended to make methodical movements back and forth on the surface to be treated.

Video: Polishing aluminum

Almost everyone in the house has stainless steel items that lose their attractiveness over the years and tarnish under the influence of sunlight, dirt and other factors. This material actively used for both exterior and interior decoration. In this article, we will try to talk in detail about how to polish stainless steel.

2 How to polish stainless steel?

There are two options for polishing stainless steel products.

2.1 Option number 1. Specialized assistance

Now there are a lot of companies that provide assistance in case of problems with stainless steel corrosion. If you do not have enough time to get rid of the stains on the product yourself, you can contact the experts.

2.2 Option number 2. Polishing at home

At home, you can also carry out all the necessary manipulations for a positive effect and restore the appearance of the product. There are also several ways to do this. Next, we will look at how you can polish stainless steel at home.

3 Polishing process

To polish stainless steel at home, you will have to spend a fairly large amount of time and effort. If successful, they will be fully justified, and you will be able to restore the former shine to the products.

3.1 Primary processing

Before starting work, it is imperative to thoroughly clean the product, as it may contain grease and other substances that clog gaps in the metal. To do this, you can use a simple dishwashing gel:

Detergent must first be diluted with water to obtain a soapy solution.
Wipe the surface of the metal product without leaving it to dry completely.
Apply the solution to continue wiping.
Rinse the soapy area with running water.
The product must be dried naturally so that stains do not appear on it.

Some foodstuffs, liquids with chemicals and even household tools will help to polish products at home. With their help, you can polish stainless steel to a mirror.

3.2 Olive oil

The the way is fine for use on products that have lost their brightness. You will need olive oil and a soft cloth.

Oil should be applied to a clean cloth.
After that, spread the oil over the surface in circular motions, evenly distributing it.
The oiled cloth must be pressed firmly and the previous procedure repeated several times.

You need to polish with this method until you feel changes in the structure of the product.

Be careful as the surface may become dull from the oil. Its excess must be removed immediately upon completion of the above operation. With a circular motion with a dry cloth, you can easily wash off the remaining oil.

3.3 Flour

Polishing stainless steel with flour is possible only on the condition that the work will be done on flat surfaces. In particular, it can be tried on pots and sinks.

Mode of application:

The product must be sprinkled with flour, covering the entire surface.
Spread the flour evenly over the metal.
Polish the stainless steel in circular motions with a dry cloth.
At the end of the process, you need to remove all the flour from the surface using a toothbrush.

4 Small mechanization

You can polish stainless steel to a mirror not only in special companies or at a factory, but also at home. For this, small mechanization will suffice.

This method is suitable in order to give products an attractive and presentable appearance after removing flaws.

To polish stainless steel, you will have to use the following:

"grinder", or angle grinder;
felt or felt circles;
stone or sandpaper;
polishing agent;
grinding wheels with different grits.

4.1 Polishing steps

Polishing of products takes place in several stages. Initially, you need to remove all excess metal at the seams. An angle grinder is perfect for this. For her, you will have to purchase a circle on a fiber basis. Its grain size must not exceed P60.

If the surface of the desired product is smooth, this intermediate step can be ignored.
Next, you need to grind the metal with another circle, the grain size of which is P120. This will get rid of the streaks that appeared after working with other grains.

The size of the abrasive must be reduced each time, which will make it possible to make the surface smoother.

If you do not have the right circle, you can easily make it yourself. To do this, you will need a felt or felt circle, on which you need to apply wood glue. You can also just rub sandpaper and stone together.

After carrying out the work, you need to remove all traces of grinding.

Take a polish and apply it to the surface.

Next, you need to grind the material or product already using a paste. You need to remove risks consistently. If over time the surface does not become smoother, the speed of the grinder can be gradually increased. Do not abuse the speed, as this can lead to overheating of the metal and the appearance of spots on it.

4.2 Mechanical polishing by hand

Due to the presence of various irregularities on most of the products, it is often necessary to polish them manually. You will have to be patient, as polishing stainless steel to a mirror using the method described below can take a long time. In the process of work you will need:

abrasive paste;
soft felt.

Polishing steps

Apply the paste to the felt.
Polish the product to a shine, carefully treating the most problematic areas.

In order to protect yourself from the negative effects of the substances that make up the paste, use a face mask and gloves.

5 Chemical method of polishing stainless steel

This method is great for working with small parts that are difficult to polish by hand. The method is effortless and physical labor. There are several methods for preparing a chemical liquid for polishing products at home.

5.1 Option #1

The solution must be prepared with the most accurate dosage:

Sulfuric acid - 230 milliliters.
Hydrochloric acid - 70 milliliters.
Nitric acid - 40 milliliters.

In 1 liter of solution, add 6 grams of acid-based black dye, 6 grams of sodium chloride, 10 grams of wood glue.

It is important to adhere to the temperature of the liquid from 65 to 70 degrees.

Stainless steel should lie in the composition for up to 30 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination.

5.2 Option #2

This solution must also be prepared in compliance with the proportions in the total volume:

Methyl orange - 1.5 percent.
Nitric acid - 4-5 percent.
Hydrochloric acid - 3-4 percent.
Orthophosphoric acid - 20-30 percent.

The part in the solution must be kept for up to 10 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination, at a temperature of 18 to 25 degrees.

5.3 Option #3

The solution is made according to the recipe for one liter of the volume of the finished liquid:

Hydrochloric acid - 660 grams.
Sulfuric acid - 230 grams.
Acid orange dye - 25 grams.

The solution must be brought to a temperature of 70-75 degrees and keep stainless steel products in it for about 3 minutes.

All of the above components enter into an aggressive reaction when it enters the human body. Wear full respiratory, face, hand and eye protection.

Polishing steps

A part that has been previously cleaned of contamination must be immersed in a solution consisting of reagents and clean distilled water.
The solution must be constantly stirred, which will ensure a complete chemical reaction.
After the time specified in each option, the product must be removed and all reagents washed off. After that, it is recommended to wipe the object with a polish applied to a napkin.
Under the influence of reagents that remain in the pores on the surface, the roughness on the stainless steel will completely disappear.

Before starting work, you need to find out the brand of metal, since its composition may depend on it. According to it, it is worth selecting reagents and determining their concentration in a solution.

6 Care of stainless steel

Steel after polishing looks beautiful and impressive. In order for it to retain its visual qualities, it must be constantly monitored, as scuffs and stains may appear again in the future.

To prevent the appearance of flaws on products, polishes are most often used. Substances of this type are best used immediately after polishing stainless steel. In addition, it is recommended to use them with a certain frequency. This will make it possible to maintain a glossy surface for a long time.

The product must be applied to a napkin and spread over the surface. It is important to do all the movements in a circle to avoid the appearance of streaks.

Excess funds should be removed, as stains may remain from them.

If you decide to use a special tool, you should not set it to a speed of more than 1500 rpm, as this may damage the product.

6.1 Frequency of maintenance of stainless steel products

If you are going to purchase chrome parts for your car, you should polish them no more than 2 times a year. If you do this constantly, the coating will simply wear out, and traces of corrosion will begin to appear on objects faster.
The use of mechanical impact devices on stainless steel is often not recommended, as microcracks may appear on the parts. It is in them that the liquid most often gets.
It is recommended to use chemicals for cleaning and polishing stainless steel at home no more than once a year. Vapors from reagents adversely affect a person's health, even if he adheres to safety standards.
GOI paste ("Paris Greens") has a relatively low efficiency, which is why it is recommended to use it only in the absence of other substances or solutions. It has a negative effect on the body, which is why it is important to use a protective face mask and gloves.

7 Expert opinion

“It is best to immediately take a smaller skin and work with it for a long time. This will get rid of the appearance of large scratches on the surface and preserve the structure of the metal. You can wind a woolen thread on a drill, which will become an analogue of a “grinder”. It can also be smeared with paste, which will enhance the effect and speed up the process., - writes Internet user Vladimir.