Polishing metal

[Roverjoe]

Hey - I've got a piece of raw metal that I would like to grind/sand then polish & I'm wondering what techniques you guys use. It is for the top of a coffee table that I am building. I would like it to look like brushed/stainless steel.

Thanks - Joe

 

[DeanBrown3D]

Let's start with: what metal is it? All depends on that.

 

[Roverjoe]

dean - I belive that it is commercial grade flat mild steel scrap. Do you think that it would be easier to just buy a piece of stainless? I've seen them cheap on ebay.

thanks!

 

[DeanBrown3D]

No way! What character would there be in a bought piece of stainless? To the steel thing. You can use sanding wheels that have multilayers of red sandpaper or red scotchbrite that will bring out the metallic finish nicely. You can use metal sandpapers (emery cloths) for the rough work. The final surface can be done with scotchbright and then wire wool, which seems to polish quite well.


Dean

 

[alex]

Are you planning on some sort of coating to keep it from rusting? Or are you going for the urban junkyard look?

 

[Roverjoe]

I've got all the scale crap off with 80 grit on my grinder. Now I need to take out the orbital scuff marks from the grinder. I'm going to do maybe a 250 grit red or metal paper next. Then a 400, ect. I'll hit it with the scotcbrite last. If that looks crappy - I'm going to paint it with some cobalt blue auto paint that I've got. I'll take a pic when I'm done.

Thanks -

 

[DeanBrown3D]

As I said, finish up with wet soapy wire wool.

 

[flyor]

I've used Wenol to polish metal up on my boy's quarter midget. It might help to keep that table shined up. www.wenolusa.com
D

 

[DeanBrown3D]

Steel like that won't really rust indoors, it may fade and colorize but I think thats the idea if I'm reading Joe right. Sounds like something I may have to do myself, I have just the right piece of steel!

 

[alex]

better use coasters religiously

 

[Roverjoe]

When I get the piece down to where I like it I will probably spray clean laquer on the top to prevent those round just rings. Building your own furniture is a ton of fun and very rewarding. I used to have a side business building pieces and selling them at a little gallery in Denver. Now, it's back to more or less a hobby. I'm into that industrial look - in the right house. Similar to roomandboard.com.