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Old 11 February 2017, 05:22 AM   #1
adiorandomhero93
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Polishing wheel questions? Which pads to buy?

Ok...so i want to try my hand at polishing, dont worry i am only going to try this on some old generic ss jubilee bracelets.

I just purchased this from ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252702226226...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I wanted to buy something cheap i can play around with and see how i do.

I was wondering if anyone out there an recommend some cheap polishing wheels that i can purchase to practice on? maybe ebay or amazon?

Also which kind should i buy so that i get the mirror finish on the center links and the brushed/satin finish on the outer links? I have seen some but I really dont know the difference between fine, super fine.... Or do you use the cotton ones with a polishing compound?

Any help would be much appreciated. Again i just want some cheap products i can try out and see how things go.

Thanks,
Shane
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Old 11 February 2017, 05:24 AM   #2
TheRolexKingofLV
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Maybe a quick tutorial can be found on Utube to help ya out?
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Old 11 February 2017, 05:32 AM   #3
adiorandomhero93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV View Post
Maybe a quick tutorial can be found on Utube to help ya out?
I have watched a few but they were not very specific on the materials used, fine/extra fine, where to purchase, and what which pads are used for each finish.

Thanks for the reply,
Shane
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Old 11 February 2017, 06:38 AM   #4
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Amazon sells pads and satin brush wheels. I use Bergeon fine for satin finish and a cotton based sewn polishing wheel for polish.
Tried a few different things for the satin finish and the Bergeon is worth the little extra $.
Start at lowest rpm on the machine....takes a little trial and error but is not difficult to get efficient at. Satin finish is much easier than a good polish. All satin bracelets like on a Sub are easy.
Jubilees are difficult because of the small polished links. Takes a lot of practice.
Good luck!
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Old 12 February 2017, 12:03 AM   #5
adiorandomhero93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by droptopman View Post
Amazon sells pads and satin brush wheels. I use Bergeon fine for satin finish and a cotton based sewn polishing wheel for polish.
Tried a few different things for the satin finish and the Bergeon is worth the little extra $.
Start at lowest rpm on the machine....takes a little trial and error but is not difficult to get efficient at. Satin finish is much easier than a good polish. All satin bracelets like on a Sub are easy.
Jubilees are difficult because of the small polished links. Takes a lot of practice.
Good luck!
Thanks so much! That was very helpful I appreciate the response
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Old 18 February 2017, 05:59 AM   #6
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That is one ugly machine!

Hard felt wheel and course buff paste. We use menzerna but there are other brands out there

Stitched cotton wheel light grit polishing/buff paste

Loose cotton wheel fine polishing paste

(option) Loose cotton wheel with Super fine polishing paste.

3M satin wheel and Kapton tape

Be sure to clean between stages. Hot water or steam.
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Old 18 February 2017, 06:16 AM   #7
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Oh satin wheel at low speed 1750 rpm

Polish buff at high speed 3500 RPM
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Old 18 February 2017, 10:28 AM   #8
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Old 8 November 2017, 05:55 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by droptopman View Post
Amazon sells pads and satin brush wheels. I use Bergeon fine for satin finish and a cotton based sewn polishing wheel for polish.
Tried a few different things for the satin finish and the Bergeon is worth the little extra $.
Start at lowest rpm on the machine....takes a little trial and error but is not difficult to get efficient at. Satin finish is much easier than a good polish. All satin bracelets like on a Sub are easy.
Jubilees are difficult because of the small polished links. Takes a lot of practice.
Good luck!
Could you share the name of that Bergeon ?
Is it bergeon 6085 ?
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Old 30 January 2018, 07:30 AM   #10
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Guys can you identify if a movement part hand or machine polished ?what to look for ?thanks
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Old 30 January 2018, 10:46 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MortenSK View Post
I've seen the first video before. Very informative stuff. I've had to figure out a lot of that on my own. A good training video for anyone I decide to use in the future. Makes so much of a difference when you polish the correct way!

I use these porducts.

For Cutting/buffing, I've found this stuff to be effortless and can bring stuff back pretty quickly like he did in the video

https://www.jewelerssupplies.com/Bri...-Platinum.html

For final polishing, this stuff is incredible. I use it for everything. Steel, Gold, Platinum, etc.

https://www.jewelerssupplies.com/pic...d-470.299.html


Tried to find some pics of before and afters. But, only ones I have are this ladies Rolex.



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Old 30 January 2018, 10:50 AM   #12
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Good luck - post your results!
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Old 28 February 2018, 05:45 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TG713 View Post
That is one ugly machine!

Hard felt wheel and course buff paste. We use menzerna but there are other brands out there

Stitched cotton wheel light grit polishing/buff paste

Loose cotton wheel fine polishing paste

(option) Loose cotton wheel with Super fine polishing paste.

3M satin wheel and Kapton tape

Be sure to clean between stages. Hot water or steam.


Is it possible to identify the hand finishing vs machine made polish on watchcases ?basically the final polishing done by hand at all manufacturers or just in the high end segment?
May you can tell what to look for to judge properly ,in my book hand finishig allows tiny misperfections however most high end pieces i ve handled seems to be perfect except under 10x magnification i ve seen small how to call “misalignment”i wouldn t call those a flaw rather the human touch, but it was mostly on the case ,on the movement even under high magnification for me hard to find the difference.
Cld you pls comment
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Old 28 February 2018, 05:52 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TG713 View Post
Oh satin wheel at low speed 1750 rpm

Polish buff at high speed 3500 RPM
If you own the Rolex required machine, felt buffs, polishing disks and satin wheel ---> Felt & satin at 800rpm, polishing 1800rpm. This is what they say during training in Switzerland.

And the machine shown in the link, I wouldn't even touch a Seiko with that, sorry.
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Rolex uses rare elves to polish the platinum. They have a union deal and make like $90 per hour and get time and half on weekends.
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Old 1 March 2018, 11:54 PM   #15
lloydlim996
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What are your procedures in reconditioning the inside of the band? I just want to make it smoother, and for it to wear better.
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Old 2 March 2018, 01:22 AM   #16
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I just looked at the bay listing and started sweating thinking about polishing my own watches lol! Very curious to see the results though! Best of luck
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Old 2 March 2018, 02:15 AM   #17
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What are your procedures in reconditioning the inside of the band? I just want to make it smoother, and for it to wear better.
Smoother?

The inside just gets the same satin finish as the outside.
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Rolex uses rare elves to polish the platinum. They have a union deal and make like $90 per hour and get time and half on weekends.
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Old 22 April 2018, 08:06 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair View Post
I've seen the first video before. Very informative stuff. I've had to figure out a lot of that on my own. A good training video for anyone I decide to use in the future. Makes so much of a difference when you polish the correct way!

I use these porducts.

For Cutting/buffing, I've found this stuff to be effortless and can bring stuff back pretty quickly like he did in the video

https://www.jewelerssupplies.com/Bri...-Platinum.html

For final polishing, this stuff is incredible. I use it for everything. Steel, Gold, Platinum, etc.

https://www.jewelerssupplies.com/pic...d-470.299.html


Tried to find some pics of before and afters. But, only ones I have are this ladies Rolex.

I think you need to start the clean with an industrial pressure washer
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Old 29 April 2018, 01:29 AM   #19
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Quote:
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Oh satin wheel at low speed 1750 rpm

Polish buff at high speed 3500 RPM
I don't know about you but at work we polish the satin at 600 RMP.

Not sure how this polishing machine would fare as its 8000-10000 rmp unless the 8000 is a typo. Also, considering the price I have a feeling this is not a very powerful motor and might not be able to handle a heavy polishing wheel and might stop turning as soon as the wheel came in contact with metal.
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Old 2 May 2018, 04:38 AM   #20
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The Ray Foster variable goes down to 600 RPM. Very nice for deep grain finish. Anyone ever adapt a sanding drum to the Ray Foster lathe? Can't figure out how to adapt the threaded rod to the shaft. Needs a compression fitting on one end and threaded rod on the other.
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Old 2 May 2018, 04:39 AM   #21
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I think you need to start the clean with an industrial pressure washer
We would love to do the work on that watch for the dramatic before/after shots!
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