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How to get a stunning finish on Brass

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raynerd:
I have one of those profiling tools that John linked to, it does give an excellent finish but because of its shape it obviously can`t get right into a shoulder. That use to be very frustrating having to swap tools but to be fair not such a big deal now I have my QCTP. Worth the £15-20 they cost!
Thanks for the post - I`ll order some of those tips when I have some cash!

Chris

Bogstandard:
Actually Ade, it is the fact that it is round that gives the fine finishes.

In reality, after you have ground up your tool to a very sharp point, you should always knock the sharp tip off by swiping it round with a very fine stone. That should impart a slightly rounded tip to the cutting tool, which should improve finishes no end. CC tips are usually made with a tiny rounded nose during manufacture.

If you do your machining correctly, and deburr and countersink all holes correctly, the tiny rounded fillet produced by a rounded over tip (not the profile tool, that is too rounded) in the corner of the job should not cause problems. If you have a look at a ballrace, usually the inner race has a fairly large countersink and the outer a radius, that is to allow it to fit onto or into shouldered shafts or bored holes with that small fillet in the corners.


John

Ned Ludd:
Hi Guys,
At last someone else has found that you don't need a zero rake tool for brass, despite what all the books say. I use a Tangential tool and for a fine finish I use it backwards which gives a shearing cut, well it works for me, and the backwards bit seems appropriate somehow. :wave:
Has anybody tried polishing with a piece of cardboard with some buffing compound on it. The card I use is from a cat biscuit box and is the thin-ish but dense variety. To use put a little compound, brass finishing type will do or you could use Solvol or Brasso, on the un-printed slightly rougher side and hold against the rotating work, but do keep it moving to prevent creating ridges.
You can use rag on the lathe, BUT NEVER EVER wrap it around your finger, small pieces held between finger and thumb will just pull out of your grip if things catch. If you wrap rags around your finger and things catch it might be more than the rag that goes flying. :(
Ned

kwackers:
I use lolly sticks with solvite/brasso etc for polishing. They're cheap and make it easier to avoid polishing the corners off.

bry1975:
Chaps,

Have you tried small pieces of micromesh sheet glue to a lolly stick, the finish should be AMAZING as you have grits down to 2microns.  :D

That's the stuff sadly not £6-£7 like I use to pay!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Micro-Mesh-Abrasive-Cloth-Regular-mixed-grade-set-/220691469982?pt=UK_CPV_Aviation_SM&hash=item33623c969e


I wonder would paraffin improve the cutting and finish I like it does with Aluminium?

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