Using ABC Polishing Kits: Abrasives and Compounds

A polishing composition consists of an abrasive such as tripoli, calcined alumina, aluminum oxide, rouge or lime, together with a grease bond.
The grease content serves a number of purposes,holding the abrasive particles together in the composition block, helping the abrasive to be retained on the mop face,and it acts as a lubricant during the all-important polishing operation.

Polishing compositions are usually found in bar form, not unlike a bar of soap,so that they can easily be applied to the polishing mop.To be effective
and economical in use the composition must soften under the frictional heat from the mop just enough to enable the abrasive to be taken off by the
mop and give a clean cut on the surface being polished.

Cheap compositions containing inferior abrasives should be avoided at all costs.They are bonded with unsatisfiable grease,that remains of which may be difficult to remove leaving problems if the components are to be plated.

A TRIPOLI composition (for example luster) is generally used for preliminary polishing of non ferrous metals such as copper,brass,pewter etc. It can be used
on aluminum but will not give a very bright finish , as aluminum require a very sharp cutting abrasive.

ALUMINUM OXIDE compositions such as super cut and sateen from ABC , are mainly used as a cutting medium for Bright finishing operations prior to the
final finishing or coloring operation and may be used on steel,stainless,aluminum and non-ferrous metals.

CALCINED ALUMINA based compositions eg ABC blue and white were originally developed for polishing of stainless steel but are now widely used for
the final polishing and coloring of steel and non-ferrous metals,especially aluminum on which they excel . Finally the process of clearing with lime power any grease smears and reveals the polished finish.

ROUGE compositions are used for ultra fine work on precious metals and can be used on other non-ferrous metals when coloring ,where extra brilliance is required .