PRODUCT BY INDUSTRY


1) CUTLERY & COOKWARE MANUFACTURING

CUTLERY MANUFACTURING
After cutlery has been shaped from stainless steel sheets the surface finishing process begins. The first step consists of de-burring through vibrato finishing. The raw cutlery pieces are made to rub against each other and against abrasive bodies in a vibrating barrel. Enough water is added to cover all cutlery pieces and abrasive bodies. To the water chemicals are added that promote brightness through lubrication and detergency. We recommend the use of COMPEX for this purpose.

After the rounding of sharp edges through vibrato finishing, the polishing operation proceeds through the usual cutting and finishing stages. Large producers are using automatic polishing machines for cutting and finishing. The liquid polish used for cutting is CUTTER LQ10X and for finishing FINISH LQ88.

Smaller manufacturers polish manually and use BRIGHT-CUT or SISAL SHINE on a sisal buff for cutting and RIGEL 123 on a cotton buff for brightness.

The polish recommendations above produce a standard finish that is acceptable as general export quality. If on special occasions exceptionally high brightness is required a further polishing stage may be added to the standard recommendations above. The polish to use as a super finishing compound is BLUE HUBBLE on a very soft cotton or swans-down buff.

STAINLESS STEEL HOLLOW-WARE
Pots and pans are normally shaped from flat steel sheets by a deep drawing process. The surface condition of the resulting shapes is far from perfect. The two main blemishes are "drawing marks", which are just straight grooves and "orange peel", which is a stretch mark that appears when crystals flow into new alignments under the influence of stretch.

The first step in the removal of these blemishes is the application of coated abrasives in the form of flap wheels or made up buffing wheels that are repeatedly coated with abrasive grit held in place by grit-cement, GRIT-BOND or animal glue.

From here on buffing takes over to remove the scratches left by the coated abrasives or made up wheels. The buffing operation is performed either manually or on automatic machines. The first stage is always the cutting stage performed with sisal wheels. For manual polishing solid polishing compounds are used such as FERROPOL MG, FASTCUT, BRIGHT-CUT, MAXICUT or SISAL-SHINE. Most frequently used are BRIGHT-CUT and SISAL-SHINE for their higher brightness. Automatic machines use the liquid versions of the above cutters. They are SPRAY-CUT, CUTTER LQ10X. After successfully removing scratches and orange peel in the cutting operation, the finishing operation is to follow. In this operation the buffing wheels are made of cotton and the solid polishing compounds used for manual polishing are HYPERFIN , RIGEL or MULTISHINE.
For automatic machines the most common liquid finishing polishes are FINISH LQ88 .

ALUMINIUM HOLLOW-WARE
Aluminium pots are shaped, similar to stainless steel, from flat sheets by deep drawing or by "metal spinning". Due to the fact that aluminium is soft, the cutting step can be eliminated and the whole polishing procedure can be performed with one compound. For manual operations the preferred solid compound is FERROFIN. For automatic machines we recommend FINISH LQ88.

A further step in the finishing of aluminium is anodising for increased durability and better appearance. The anodised surface is normally polished, resulting in a glossy finish of non-metallic appearance. The recommended polishing compound for this operation is RIGEL or RIGEL 123 on a soft cotton buff. The choice of one or the other compound depends on polishers' preference, as RIGEL contains more wax than RIGEL 123.

2) AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

Ferro's Automotive Polishes
This range of specially formulated polishes does not fill and hide scratches in automotive paint. Instead of providing a short term coating of shiny wax, the micro abrasives in Ferro's polishes convert an uneven surface to a permanently smooth one, leveling surface contours down to the lowest points in microscopic valleys. This exposes the strong, healthy paint beneath without deteriorating the paint layers. Surfaces degraded by ultraviolet exposure and environmental contaminants will be removed.

FERRO'S AUTOMOTIVE POLISHES PRODUCT RANGE
Automotive Repair and Restoration

HIGH GLOSS

ZERO SWIRL
* EFFECTIVELY REMOVES SWIRL MARKS, LIGHT SCRATCHES, STAINS AND LIGHT OXIDATION.
* FINISHES WITH A LUSTROUS AND DEEPLY GLOSSY FINISH.
* SILICONE OIL FREE FOR PAINT-SHOP COMPATIBILITY.

CUTTING AND RESTORATION

BUFF THE SCUFF - LOW CUT
* QUICKLY REMOVES SANDING MARKS FROM 1200# TO 2000# SANDING PAPERS, MODERATE OXIDATION, WATER MARKS, AND PERSISTENT SWIRL MARKS.
* FINISHES WITH A FINE BRIGHT SURFACE. FOR BEST RESULTS FOLLOW WITH ZERO SWIRL.
* SILICONE OIL FREE FOR PAINT-SHOP COMPATIBILITY.

BUFF THE SCUFF - MEDIUM CUT
* QUICKLY REMOVES SANDING MARKS FROM 1000# SANDING PAPERS, HEAVIER OXIDATION, DEEP SCRATCHES, WATER MARKS, AND COARSE SWIRL MARKS.
* FOLLOW WITH ZERO SWIRL FOR A HIGH GLOSS PAINT SURFACE.
* SILICONE OIL FREE FOR PAINT-SHOP COMPATIBILITY.

 
Car detailing Use

HIGH GLOSS POLISHES

ONE SHOT
* EFFECTIVELY REMOVES SWIRL MARKS, LIGHT SCRATCHES, STAINS AND LIGHT OXIDATION.
* FINISHES WITH A LUSTROUS AND DEEPLY GLOSSY FINISH.
* CONTAINS NON-VOLATILE SILICONE OILS TO ENHANCE GLOSS AND IMPART A DEEP "WET-LOOK" FINISH.

HIGH GLOSS WAXES

FERRO-GLEAM
* CLEANS AND REMOVES MINOR SCRATCHES, SWIRL MARKS AND OXIDATION.
* IMPARTS A RICH LUSTROUS WAXED "WET-LOOK" FINISH.
* CONTAINS BUFF-ABLE WAXES FOR A LONG LASTING SHINE.
* CAN BE USED BY HAND OR BY MACHINE.

 
Chrome and trim polishes

REFLECTION METAL POLISH
* IMPARTS A BRIGHT HIGHLY REFLECTIVE FINISH TO CHROME, STAINLESS STEEL, ALUMINUM AND BRASS TRIM.
* PAINT COMPATIBLE. EFFECTIVE FOR BOTH MACHINE AND HAND USE.
* AVAILABLE IN A PASTE AND A LIQUID.
* PACKED IN 130G TUBE, 250ML BOTTLE, 500G TUB AND 20LT BUCKET.

Please find instructions for Ferro's polishes for the following industries: (These will be downloadable PDF brochures)

Download - FERRO'S PAINT POLISHES FOR CAR DETAILERS

Download - FERRO'S AUTOMOTIVE POLISHES FOR CAR SMASH REPAIRERS

BULL BAR MANUFACTURERS
The favoured polishing compound for aluminium bull bar manufacturing plants is TRIPOLI. As Tripoli abrasive used in these polishes is chemically silica, the risk of polishers attracting the lung disease "Silicosis" exists. Although no instances of polishers attracting this disease has come to our attention, employers are well advised to use silica free polishes to avoid legal liability.

Three SILICA FREE TRIPOLI type polishes are available: No.10, 20, & 30. No.10 is of highest cut, No.20 of medium cut and No.30 of highest brightness.

As a final finish after polishing with cotton buffs we recommend the use of our METALUX to remove all grease smears. METALUX is a paste painted on the metal and buffed to a bright and smear-free surface with a lambs-wool buff on a power tool.

BULL BAR MAINTENANCE
For the maintenance and restoration of new appearance of aluminium bull bars we recommend the use of our REFLECTION or METALUX polishing pastes. Both products may be applied by hand rubbing with a cotton cloth or by a lambs wool bonnet buff attached to a power tool.

CHROME & ALUMINIUM ON TRUCKS & BIKES
The most suitable polish for metal parts on bikes is REFLECTION because it polishes without leaving behind a greasy surface. For larger surfaces on trucks METALUX may be more suitable as it can be worked longer without drying up. Any residues can be washed off with water containing a mild detergent.

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
Pimples caused by air borne dust specs often mar the painting of automotive panels. These blemishes can be ground away by ultra fine sanding paper but a dull patch will remain where the paper has been applied. By polishing those dull patches with BUFF THE SCUFF the original glossy surface will be restored. To maximise gloss, especially on black coatings, follow up with Ferro's ZERO SWIRL.

3) JEWELLERY

Five colour-coded polishes are available for the polishing of precious metals. The performance ranges from extreme brightness and low cut to high cut and medium brightness. All five products are very dry or non-greasy, permitting the polisher to observe the progress of his work and minimising the need for cleaning. The polish suitable for all precious metals, including platinum and titanium is BLUE HUBBLE. For more cut our WHITE FINISH, GREEN FINISH and GREY CUTTER may be used. RED ROUGE is suitable for soft metals only, such as gold, silver brass & copper.

Please find a detailed description of the five jewellery polishes below.
Extreme brightness, low rate of metal removal
The polish for extreme brightness is BLUE HUBBLE. To appreciate the brightness please observe its effect on a flat surface and polish with a very soft cotton buff, not contaminated with other polishes. No scratches will be observable. Although of low cut, BLUE HUBBLE performs equally well on hard and soft metals and plastic. For plastic and titanium, use low revolutions or small buff diameter to avoid overheating.
Very bright with more cut
Ferro WHITE FINISH provides more cut and is just as bright as BLUE HUBBLE on curved surfaces. Also suitable on all metals. Apply on a soft cotton buff.
Balanced brightness with strong cut

Ferro GREEN FINISH quickly removes scratches produced by cutting compounds such as Tripoli with acceptable brightness. Suitable for all metals. Use on a soft cotton buff.
Cutting with acceptable brightness

Ferro GREY CUTTER removes surface imperfections without producing deep scratches. Brightness may be acceptable in many cases. To improve brightness, finish off with any of the above finishing compounds. Use on a firm stitched cotton buff. Suitable for all metals.
Very high brightness for soft metals
Ferro RED ROUGE is a finishing compound for soft metals only. With a brightness approaching that of BLUE HUBBLE it is a cheaper alternative for soft metals such as copper, brass, silver and gold. Use on a very soft cotton buff.

TUMBLING CREAM - EXTRA BRIGHT

For the mass finishing of precious metal jewellery articles, ( eg. Wedding rings)

FERRO'S POLISHING CLOTH

To remove tarnish and increase brightness of jewellery we recommend FERRO'S POLISHING CLOTH. This cloth is impregnated with ultra- fine polish. Can be used on gold, platinum, stainless steel, brass, copper and other metals.

4) WATCH MAKING

In the watchmaking industry polishing is required for watch casings, watch backs and wrist bands.

Watch casings are normally forged from brass or stainless steel. After forging the casings the first polishing step is VIBRATO FINISHING for rounding sharp edges and removing burrs. Please find more information on polishing for brass PRIOR TO ELECTROPLATING here.

The polish on stainless steel is the final finish. Popular compounds for polishing stainless steel watch parts are SISAL SHINE, and BRIGHT CUT as cutters; and HYPERFIN, RIGEL 123 and FERROFIN for normal brightness. For exceptional scratch-free brightness we recommend BLUE HUBBLE, GREEN ROUGE E and GREEN ROUGE C.
Titanium wristbands are normally given a satin finish because this metal is difficult to polish to a mirror shine. However, excellent results have been achieved using BLUE HUBBLE on a soft cotton buff.

For cleaning watch components after polishing we recommend COMPEX.

To maintain a mirror shine on watches and other jewellery, FERRO'S POLISHING CLOTH is non-hazardous and easy to use.

5) MARINE

Marine applications may be divided into boat building and boat maintenance.

The polishing required for boat building is limited to stainless steel and brass or bronze fittings. These fittings are normally cast, then de-burred and pre-polished by vibrato finishing. For more information regarding VIBRATO FINISHING please activate the hyperlink. This could be the end of the polishing operation if the brightness obtained by vibrato finishing is sufficient. If higher brightness is required we recommend the use of any of our finishing compounds on a cotton wheel.

Boat maintenance involves polishing of all metal fittings and weathered fibreglass. For the polishing of all metal fittings we recommend our REFLECTION or LIQUID REFLECTION paste or METALUX. For the restoration of fibreglass that has lost its original sheen by weathering and exposure to sunlight we recommend MARINE SHEEN. This polish will remove the chalky surface and restore the original gloss. Please use the hyperlinks for more information about those products.

6) VIBRATO FINISHING ADDITIVES

DRY TUMBLING CREAMS.
Please click on hyperlink for information on Dry Tumbling Creams.

The main purpose of compounds added to mass finishing operations is to keep work pieces and also the abrasive media free from abraded metal and to retain broken down abrasive particles and metallic fines in suspension, thus preventing redeposition.

Depending on the type of compound, emphasis has been put on other functions such as detergency, lubricity, corrosion inhibition, abrasiveness, hard water tolerance and other chemical parameters such as acidity, alkalinity, oxidising or reducing conditions and film forming potential. The following products are available as vibrato finishing additives:

SLIPCUT No.1
Non-abrasive powdered compound for all metals. May be used with pebbles, abrasive chips or self-tumbling. Limited tolerance to hard water.

SLIPCUT No.2
Non-abrasive liquid compound. Suitable for all metals, especially cuprous alloys. May be used with abrasive media or self-tumble.

SLIPCUT No.3
Non-abrasive powdered compound similar to SLIPCUT No.1 but with the capacity to deal with hard waters. Produces very bright metal surfaces, especially on cuprous alloys.

SLIPCUT No.4
Acidic, non-abrasive powdered compound, used with abrasive chips for the removal of rust and heat treatment scales from ferrous parts.

SLIPCUT No.8
Non-abrasive powdered finishing compound for producing high gloss on brass and copper components. Used with hardened steel balls or shapes. Also suitable for self-tumbling operations.

SLIPCUT No.11
Strongly abrasive, powdered compound used mainly for cutting ferrous metals, brass castings and pressings. With abrasive media may be used for de-burring and surface blending to a uniformly matt finish.

SLIPCUT AL
Mildly acidic gel additive for a bright finish on aluminium and its alloys.

COMPEX
Dual purpose metal cleaner for removal of polishing compounds and vibrato finishing additive similar in application to SLIPCUT No.2.

RUSTOP
Powdered corrosion inhibitor for ferrous metals. For use after deoxidizing with SLIP-CUT No.4. Will wash off easily with water.

PLASPOL.
This product is available in a coarse, medium and fine grade, depending on the particle size of the abrasive contained in this polishing paste. The product is normally used in conjunction with hardwood pegs for the polishing of spectacle frames, buttons, buckles and other consumer goods in tumbling barrels. The three grades of PLASPOL make it is possible to mass finish a component or consumer article from the mould to the shop window without manual finishing or cleaning.

7) PRIOR TO ELECTROPLATING

PLUMBERS BRASSWARE
Plumbers brassware are brass castings of taps and other bathroom fittings that need to be polished before electroplating. The polishing operation is not the final finish, therefore high brightness is not required. Rough castings may need to be linished. After that a cutting compound on a sisal or stitched cotton buff is all that is needed to produce a surface suitable for electroplating.

For automatic polishing machines we recommend LIQUID TRIPOL 4C . Also recommended is our SILICA FREE LIQUID TRIPOL which should be the first choice for health and safety reasons.
Manual polishers use solid TRIPOLI J or for health reasons SILICA FREE LIQUID TRIPOL on a sisal buff. Our FASTCUT , FERROPOL MG are also silica free and present a credible alternative to Tripoli. They offer the added bonus of being cutters for hard metals as well.

ZINC DIECAST
Zinc Diecast is normally polished before electroplating. For manual polishing TRIPOLI J is most commonly used. For automatic operations LIQUID TRIPOL 4C is used. For health reasons we recommend the silica free versions of those two products. Small diecast objects are normally polished by vibrato finishing. As an additive we recommend SLIPCUT 1, 2, or 3 Please refer to our page on VIBRATO FINISHING ADDITIVES.

STEEL
If steel is to be electroplated with decorative chrome a mirror like finish is normally expected. This can be achieved by pre-plating steel with levelling copper and nickel deposits before applying the chromium deposit. If steel is polished before applying the first electro deposit, reduced coating thickness of copper and nickel will present a saving without compromising the brightness of the finished article. Large articles are normally polished by any of our cutting compounds on a sisal buff. Only cutting compounds such as FASTCUT, FERROPOL MG or BRIGHT-CUT are used. Bright finishing compounds are not necessary. Small articles are pre-polished and also de-burred by mass finishing in a vibrato-finishing machine. As additives we recommend SLIPCUT 1, 2,or 3