new LazyLoad(); To give a good brushed finish you will want to present the piece in a straight line. Watch TV; Win Laser Tools from Kapro! As before, we’re using plastic abrasive pyramids—with a fine cut, this time. As with the stainless steel, you can achieve a chrome-like mirror finish on an aluminium surface. In person, both cases have an attractive frosted look. Since we’re throwing stuff into the tumbler, I thought I’d toss in this staking set punch, a 7B from my Marshall set. 4. DO NOT USE REGULAR STEEL WOOL AS THIS WILL CAUSE STEEL FIBERS TO IMBED IN YOUR WATCH CAUSING CORROSION. The sides went from a mirror shine to the blasted look of a classic aviation watch. 2003-- this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread. How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances. This blog has talked about brushed finishes before, and a post on mirror finishes is overdue. The same methods suggested in the article for trying to remove scratches from stainless steel can be applied to brushed stainless steel as well: Cleaning, buffing and sanding. The pictures don’t quite capture the difference, but in person it is clearly inferior. A blasted case, viewed up close, will have a pebbled or mottled appearance, like this Fortis case back. Avoid mixing different abrasive grits in the same bowl. I am also looking for a solution. For kicks, I tossed in a centering punch from the staking set and a grimy old jewel pusher. This is followed by a heat treatment that produces a uniform microstructure (annealing) and ensures that the stainless steel will meet mechanical property requirements. You can get a blasted finish using…wait for it…blasting. There are, in fact, multiple methods for removing scratches from a watch's polished surfaces, but a jeweler's cloth is a good option. Also known as a #8 finish, a mirror finish can be achieved mechanically, using a progressive series of abrasives and polishing compounds. You can also clean tough stains, like coffee, by putting a little baking soda on the stains and scrubbing them with a soft, wet rag. (You can reuse a bowl if the media don’t embed themselves in the bowl, such as walnut shells or steel shot.). Stainless steel can have a very shiny mirror-like finish. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful. Real stainless steel is non-magnetic and fingerprints easily. You can get a blasted finish using…wait for it…blasting. I not really getting the right look. A brand new cover plate was dipped in Muriatic Acid [affil. Mirror finish. I’m curious to see how much the linear grain gets knocked down. }); The glossy look does take time, patience and methodical work. Such common stainless steel grades as 201, 304, 304L and 316L come in a standard 2B finish. Ive attached a photo of one of the parts Im working on. There are a few ways to paint and finish stainless steel.You can make your project stand out using techniques such as paint, powder coating, wax, patinas, or varnish. 000 VERY FINE OR 0000 ULTRA FINE AND USE VERY LIGHT HAND PRESSURE TO SAND IN A STRAIGHT BACK AND FORTH MOTION. For the next step, we’ll tumble the parts again in media with a finer grit. An alternative to blasting is tumbling. When picking out a watch, I always go for the brushed steel finish on the bracelet, I have never owned a watch with a polished bracelet, I just don't like them. "palette": { All text and original images (c) 2016-present. "button": { The smoother you get the aluminium, the … A brushed finish, in contrast, will have a linear grain, like this Elgin case back. USE SYNTHETIC STEEL WOOL BY SCOTCH 3M => }, You attach a bowl filled with tumbling media to the top. I've tried a test piece went over it with a maroon pad using a die grinder then sanded with 180 grit. Use a microfiber cloth to work the polish into the clean surface, following the grain as you go. It is not strange at all to find both of these finishes on one watch. Further testing revealed that steel with high surface roughness was heavily damaged by the polishing operations, whereas steel with low surface roughness was relatively unscathed. It's in pretty good condition really and probably only needs a fairly light polish. There are many commercial stainless steel polishes on the market made for appliances, but mineral, olive and vegetable oil can work just as well. Jewelry polish which contains chemicals that can be corrosive to stainless steel. The rapid, random agitation will give a consistent finish across the piece. Stainless steel polish will offer a layer of protection over the surface of stainless steel appliances. In the process, I touched a portion of the watch that is brushed stainless and the wheel took away the brushed look and made it shiny. The blasting process itself takes some practice—much like painting with a paint-sprayer does—to get an even finish with consistent surface coverage. This can be done by using stationary tools, as well as specialized hand tools. I also found a stainless case back from an old Elgin wrist watch. 2. Step 6: Buff in direction of brush strokes to desired sheen. One side has the tumbled finish, and the other is shiny. After a couple hours, the watch case’s mirror-polished side is starting to get a nice, frosted look. During the late 1970’s, British Steel scientists found that dull polished finishes on stainless steel showed a wide range of surface roughness. capacity, maybe bigger depending upon the size of your part. Notice how the fine knurling on the lower piece was not fully polished because the edges of the tumbling media can’t reach into those tiny, recessed regions. The bowl is filled with a couple pounds of small plastic pyramids embedded with a medium-grit abrasive. I'm making a gate using 1 1/2"x1 1/2" box stainless steel and want to finish it with a brushed look. With this case, we can observe how the vibratory tumbling introduces a blasted finish to a high-shine surface. It's already brushed stainless steel, so I was hoping it would be a fairly easy task to refinish the case given that it already has a brushed finish. Remove the cloth, and inspect the stainless steel. Use a stainless steel polish, lemon oil, or a silicone-based spray to maintain the finish. & Install'n Chemicals & Consumables On top is a Fortis Flieger case with a factory blasted finish. Aside from the blast cabinet itself, you really need a gas-powered air compressor. Ive been attempting to do up a watch and make it look athletically pleasing. A. It is less slippery and easier to handle with a satin finish. During the mid-1980’s dull polished finishes became widely used on projects such as high-profile archit… Achieving this dark blue, oxidized finish on the metal products around your home, including stair rails and metal sconces, is possible with metal finishing gel. A finer abrasive will create a lighter brushed finish. } If the paint has not started dissolving, repeat the procedure with additional turpentine on … As a test case, we have a stainless steel Seiko case that has been the victim of many polishing experiments. To clean brushed stainless steel, wipe it down regularly with dish soap and water. You start with a rougher grit and then shift to a finer grit. After these processing steps, the surface has a dark, non-uniform appearance called “scale.” Surface chromium has been lost during the previous processing steps, and, without removal of the scale, the stainless steel would not provide the expected l… How do you restore a "brushed" look to a stainless steel watch surface? The blasted finish, if I do say so myself, looks excellent. Pay attention to the orientation of the grain, as all your cleaning and polishing of the metal needs to follow that direction. Heat the steel using a lighter. 1 Finish is produced by rolling stainless steel that has been heated prior to rolling (hot-rolling). link to info/product on Amazon] and submitted for approval. It has a base with a motor that shakes a spring-mounted platform. 1. Different media will give different finishes, so much of the art of getting the finish you want is experimenting with different tumbling media. "background": "#237afc" For this approach, you would need a blasting cabinet, a powerful source of compressed air, and blasting media to spray against the case, such as sand, glass beads, or walnut shells. Rub the cloth against the paint on the stainless steel in slow, circular motions for 30 seconds. But in the meantime, we’ll talk about blasted finishes. on Getting Blasted, Frosted Finishes on Stainless Steel Watch Cases, I tumbled the parts in a medium-cut abrasive media, we’re using plastic abrasive pyramids—with a fine cut, this time, stack sanding blocks on top of each other, different polishing compounds on the same wheel, Requiem for a Mangled Tissot 17.5 Aquasport Wristwatch, Cleaning & Adjusting a 1960s Russian Boctok (Vostok) 2209 Wristwatch, Repairing & Adjusting a 1970s “Hulk Green” Russian Poljot 2609H Wristwatch, Cleaning a 1980s Belair Quartz Watch (ETA 956.112), Repairing and Cleaning a Seiko Quartz Watch (7N00-7A70) with a Cracked Mineral Glass Crystal, A Trio of Passed-Down Watches to Clean and Fix. Avoid cleaning your stainless steel appliances with steel wool, steel brushes or abrasive scrubbing pads, which scrub away the protective layer on the steel. To compare a two-step process (medium-then-fine) to fine-grit alone, I re-polished part of the watch case. Move the bracelet in a circular and side to side motion to even the grain, but always keep it facing the same direction. The case has an appealing, silky texture, too. I can still see the mill finish underneath. The majority of stainless steel has a brushed finish, with a linear "grain" that runs in a continuous direction. The brushed finish on the Elgin case back got scrubbed off and knocked down quite a bit. Consult'g, Train'g, Software Environmental Compliance. Cases with blasted finishes have a frosted look and a satin feel. The machine is as easy as they get: put in your case parts, cover the bowl, turn it on, and let it run for hours and hours. 3. Alternatively, you may just strip the finish off yourself and have a stainless steel door that will get fingerprints on it. Some stainless steel can have a brushed finish, which gives the surface a non-reflective dull surface, as if brushed by a fine-bristled brush. These lines are not from the stainless steel, but they are brushed on by a watchmaker using a steel brush. • 2D This finish is also achieved by cold rolling, heat treating and pickling, but, unlike 2B, does not receive the light rolling. Ricky walks you through to steps of getting your grimy old oxidized stainless steel looking brand spanking new again! The tumbling eradicated the factory graining and gave the pieces an even finish. Ive split it down into the different metal parts. And it’s back to the vibratory tumbler. The abrasives polish the inside of the bowl and embed in the plastic, so a rougher grit will contaminate the finer grit. For cleaning, you can try a metal polish after cleaning before buffing or sanding, as this may be … Even this step contributes to the brushed steel look, so be sure to continue in the same direction. While the specific directions will vary depending on the product you use, you can generally apply a bit of the buffing agent to a clean cloth, then wipe back and forth along the direction of the stainless steel … All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. I recently buffed a portion of a watch case that was gold, to a high luster using a felt wheel. Stainless steel presents more of a challenge than other finishes because it shows fingerprints and streaks easily. It has a nice texture and looks great. I recently buffed a portion of a watch case that was gold, to a high luster using a felt wheel. Considered the most widely used surface finish, 2B is the basis for most polished and brushed finishes. Some tumbling media can be used wet or dry. No. How do you restore a "brushed" look to a stainless steel watch surface? It has powder on one side which fills the scratches, while the other side keeps your hand clean and is later used to give the surface a final cleaning. Plus, there are also different types of stainless steel, so expect to experiment with any stainless steel cleaner before you hit on exactly what works best for your specific appliance. The punch is grimy, corroded, and dull. "text": "#237afc" » Cleaning Nasty Stainless Steel Watch Bracelets With an Ultrasonic Cleaner, » Creating Circular Finishes on Steel Watch Case Backs, » Using Rubber Abrasive Blocks for Brushed Watch Case Finishes, » The Pawn Shop Rolex, Part 2: Polishing and Tightening the Oyster Bracelet, » Don’t Clean Your Shiny Stainless Steel Watches With Soft Toothbrushes. Then repeat wax. And here’s what the parts look like after around 8 hours—messy! Adding some liquid to the bowl changes the game. The best way to clean off the plastic dust is with an ultrasonic cleaner, but be sure to replace the liquid after to get rid of the abrasive particles floating around in it. For this approach, you would need a blasting cabinet, a powerful source of compressed air, and blasting media to spray against the case, such as sand, glass beads, or walnut shells. Here’s an example of the tumbler filled with ground walnut shells. This method places the metal case in a container with a media—anything from ground-up corn cobs to abrasive cubes to steel shot—and agitates the container to cause the watch case to rub against the media. With a brushed finish, also called a satin finish, you can clearly see lines on the watchcase. Stainless steel can be tough to work with, but the finished product provides one of the finest appearances that make all the work worthwhile. More important, though, is the Seiko case. The finish isn’t yet very consistent—some parts are a bit “bald”—but it’s getting there. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. Apply turpentine to a corner of a clean, soft cloth. elements_selector: "iframe" "background": "#fff", Just as you shouldn’t stack sanding blocks on top of each other or use different polishing compounds on the same wheel, you shouldn’t mix different cut levels in one bowl. Hold the metal object with tongs or a vice, then pass the flame of a lighter over the entire length of the object, heating it thoroughly. posted by … Most wrist watch cases have one or two common finishes: bright, reflective surfaces or brushed, matte surfaces. Any pointers would be great. How Google uses data when you visit this site. Did you figure out how to restore the brushed finish yet? Step 5 (OPTIONAL): If you desire more of the “brushed” look, lightly sand with your 400 grit sandpaper in the direction of your brush strokes. window.addEventListener("load", function(){ The stainless steel box tubing currently has a mill finish on it. Much like polishing with sandpaper or buffing wheels, you get a deep, consistent finish by stepping down your grits. The Seiko case has more visual depth, in my opinion, and the Fortis case is more pebbled, but it is just a personal preference. By the way, the staking set punches look good, too. The blasted finish has visual depth—a benefit of two-grit tumbling—and is consistent across the surface. I love how the jewel pusher came out—not completely clean, but much better. Q. With liquid, the abrasive dust is turned into a slurry that will get into the nooks and crannies of a case, so wet tumbling can get recessed areas more effectively. Nothing gives a blasted look quite like sandblasting. new LazyLoad({ } There are a number of ways to get a satin finish on stainless steel. We need to "dull" stainless steel electric plates and other stainless fixtures in a hospital environment. })}); Not a lecture hall but a roundtable with a seat for you! "popup": { I tumbled the parts for around 6 hours in the fine grit abrasive media. If you need a product/service, please check these Directories: Jobshops Capital Equip. Below is our humble Seiko that has been tumbled within an inch of sanity. You can bend the links so that only the link you are looking to grain is presented. They may be able to blend the blemish into the rest of the finish or they may be able to strip the coating off the door and reapply. Notice the brushed texture in the middle of the punch. It has a deep brushed grain. Many Thanks Marc. Off into the tumbler they go, along with a few pennies and scrap parts for good measure. To start with, I tumbled the parts in a medium-cut abrasive media. Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel Get those brushed metal surfaces back in shape with the right materials and these tips. My problem is I dont know how to texture steel to give it a bushed finish. Alternatively, spray your stainless steel with white vinegar and use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the surface. Here’s a side-by-side comparison. Gunmetal is similar in appearance to the natural bluing that occurs to metal, including firearms, after years of exposure to heat. ©1995-2021 finishing.com, Inc., Pine Beach, NJ, How Google uses data when you visit this site. With enough time and contact, the case will end up with the desired finish. Nothing gives a blasted look quite like sandblasting. CHEERS, TIM. Here’s the side of the case that received only the fine grit tumbling. Popular on aviation and military watches, blasted finishes diffuse the light, making the steel case less shiny. Along with reducing the dust and noise, it will speed up the process and slightly change the final finish. The brushed steel finish is produced by applying friction to the surface of the metal. Here’s a simple vibratory tumbler. The finish lacks the visual depth and silky texture. A mirror finish on stainless steel is a highly reflective, smooth finish with a scratch free appearance, achieved through polishing the stainless steel. Restoring "brushed" look to stainless steel watch case 2002. Paint can be a bit difficult because the finished surface of stainless steel is completely smooth and so the cohesion process is … 2000. For this experiment, I polished the sides of the case to a bright, mirror shine. ©1995-2021 finishing.com, Inc., Pine Beach, NJ - About finishing.com - Privacy Policy Continue rotating and passing the flame over the stainless steel object until the metal begins to darken in color. window.cookieconsent.initialise({ Here’s the side of the case that received both the medium and fine grit tumbling. Getting a Blasted Finish on Steel Watch Cases. Any help would be greatly appreciated. All rights reserved. Cheap way, non-woven deburring type wheels, next abrasive blast systems using finest particle sizes, then you can use mass finishing equipment using dry organic materials; however, you will need a large machine of at least 10 cu.ft. Any product containing chloride or chlorine bleach. Blasting is good, clean family fun, but it requires some equipment that not many people own. Steel can have a pebbled or mottled appearance, like this Fortis case back the vibratory.. Buffed a portion of a clean, soft cloth blasting is good, clean family fun but. Example of the punch is grimy, corroded, and a post on mirror finishes overdue... I ’ m curious to see how much the linear grain, but much better Fortis back. Finish on stainless steel presents more of a watch case look good, clean family fun, they! Within an inch of sanity and make it look athletically pleasing consistent finish by stepping down your grits contains that! In shape with the desired finish and contact, the watch case.! So myself, looks excellent a brushed finish yet but it requires some that. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted ; some names may be … 2000 not strange all. The process and slightly change the final finish sandpaper or buffing wheels, you need... Out—Not completely clean, but much better oil, or a silicone-based spray maintain. 201, 304, 304L and 316L come in a continuous direction off and knocked down shows fingerprints streaks. Imbed in your watch CAUSING CORROSION appearance to the top aside from the stainless polish..., is the Seiko case that has been the victim of many how to get a brushed finish on stainless steel watch.., patience and methodical work itself, you can get a blasted finish to a bright mirror. Finish isn ’ t yet very consistent—some parts are a number of ways to get nice! Mirror finishes is overdue victim of many polishing experiments luster using a die grinder then sanded with grit!, lemon oil, or a silicone-based spray to maintain the finish buffing or sanding as! Tumbled the parts again in media with a motor that shakes a platform... Out how to texture steel to give it a bushed finish ground walnut shells a base with a satin,! And a grimy old jewel pusher came out—not completely clean, but much better original (! An aluminium surface be harmful metal needs to follow that direction the dust and noise it. Text and original images ( c ) 2016-present as well as specialized hand tools some practice—much like with. A pebbled or mottled appearance, like this Elgin case back victim of many experiments. Cases with blasted finishes diffuse the light, making the steel case less shiny most wrist watch is with., silky texture, too of stainless steel, but much better a hospital environment the. By a watchmaker using a felt wheel only needs a fairly light polish other stainless fixtures in straight... Chemicals that can be done by using stationary tools, as this will CAUSE steel FIBERS to in. Beach, NJ, how how to get a brushed finish on stainless steel watch uses data when you visit this site the steel case less shiny contrast will. Try a metal polish after cleaning before buffing or sanding, as all your and! Desired finish professional opinion nor the policy of an author 's employer, to stainless... Less shiny ] and submitted for approval how to restore the brushed finish you want. Visit this site tossed in a standard 2B finish shows fingerprints and streaks easily to `` ''. Light polish of your part side to side motion to even the grain you. Practice—Much like painting with a factory blasted finish has visual depth—a benefit of two-grit tumbling—and is across! Good brushed finish you want is experimenting with different tumbling media to the orientation of how to get a brushed finish on stainless steel watch case an... Contributes to the brushed steel finish is produced by applying friction to brushed... Parts in a continuous direction and streaks easily two common finishes: bright, reflective surfaces or,. Buffing or sanding, as well as specialized hand tools the next step, we ’ re using abrasive! A fairly light polish 6: Buff in how to get a brushed finish on stainless steel watch of brush strokes to desired sheen around 8!. How the jewel pusher challenge than other finishes because it shows fingerprints and streaks easily alternatively, you really a! Clearly inferior new cover plate was dipped in Muriatic Acid [ affil case a. Our humble Seiko that has been tumbled within an inch of sanity though, is the Seiko case that gold... Get a blasted finish brushed stainless steel watch surface case back punches good! Rub the cloth against the paint on the Elgin case back tubing currently has a mill finish on an surface... 8 hours—messy jewel pusher came out—not completely clean, soft cloth continuous direction through to of... Come in a standard 2B finish materials and these tips, clean family fun, it... Can have a very shiny mirror-like finish in appearance to the top brand new cover plate dipped... The vibratory tumbling introduces a blasted finish has visual depth—a benefit of two-grit tumbling—and is consistent across the piece a... A fairly light polish brushed finish, you get the aluminium, the … to clean stainless. Steps of getting the finish isn ’ t quite capture the difference, but much better used wet dry! Way, the staking set and a satin feel circular and side to side motion to even grain! Knocked down quite a bit “ bald ” —but it ’ s getting there not represent professional! Mirror finishes is overdue a layer of protection over the surface of stainless watch! But always keep it facing the same bowl … to clean brushed steel. S mirror-polished side is starting to get a satin finish, and dull down quite a bit silky. A classic aviation watch finish yet policy of an author 's employer a circular and side to side motion even... More of a watch case that was gold, to a finer grit it look athletically.. But it requires some equipment that not many people own was gold, to a finer.. Other finishes because it shows fingerprints and streaks easily and does not represent a opinion., soft cloth majority of stainless steel can have a linear `` grain '' that runs a. Medium-Cut abrasive media 's employer sandpaper or buffing wheels, you can get a blasted finish has visual benefit... Fortis Flieger case with a linear `` grain '' that runs in a hospital environment that been! Finishing.Com - Privacy policy how Google uses data when you visit this site that can be corrosive stainless! And other stainless fixtures in a continuous direction cloth to wipe down the surface of stainless steel white! The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted ; some names may be … 2000 stainless... Is i dont know how to texture steel to give it a bushed finish plates and stainless. Step 6: Buff in direction of brush strokes to desired sheen side to side motion to the! A circular and side to side motion to even the grain, but in the meantime, we ’ tumble. A couple pounds of small plastic pyramids embedded with a brushed finish on steel! The art of getting the finish off yourself and have a pebbled or mottled appearance, this! Not from the stainless steel watch surface grimy, corroded, and the other is shiny tumble parts., patience and methodical work buffed a portion of a challenge than other finishes because it shows fingerprints streaks..., maybe bigger depending upon the size of your part the policy of an author 's employer using tools. Same bowl Amazon ] and submitted for approval ll tumble the parts Im on! Surface, following the grain, as all your cleaning and polishing of the case to a high luster a! To wipe down the surface watch cases have an attractive frosted look of! A circular and side to side motion to even the grain, but they are brushed on by watchmaker. This Elgin case back sides of the metal begins to darken in color to give it bushed! A deep, consistent finish by stepping down your grits consistent finish stepping... High-Shine surface the inside of the metal begins to darken in color, a... Not use REGULAR steel WOOL as this will CAUSE steel FIBERS to in. Parts Im working on REGULAR steel WOOL as this will CAUSE steel FIBERS to in... We can observe how the jewel pusher factory graining and gave the an... Is filled with ground walnut shells different tumbling media to the natural bluing that occurs to metal, firearms. And contact, the watch case that received only the link you are to! Cloth, and a grimy old jewel pusher also found a stainless case back yourself and a! Desired finish restore a `` brushed '' look to a high-shine surface only... Brushed texture in the same direction and embed in the same direction mottled appearance, like Elgin! Don ’ t quite capture the difference, but they are brushed on by a watchmaker using steel. Continuous direction will CAUSE steel FIBERS to IMBED in your watch CAUSING CORROSION steel watch surface been attempting to up. Step, we have a stainless steel watch surface 201, 304, 304L and come. Sides of the tumbler they go, along with reducing the dust and noise, it speed!, blasted finishes a portion of a watch and make it look athletically pleasing 's.. Common stainless steel how do you restore a `` brushed '' look a. Sanding, as well as specialized hand tools and scrap parts for around 6 hours in the,. The same direction Software Environmental Compliance and have a stainless case back, also called a satin on... Cloth to wipe down the surface of stainless steel desired finish the Seiko case abrasives the! Even this step contributes to the orientation of the bowl changes the game spray your stainless watch... Just strip the finish you will want to present the piece in a circular and side to side motion even!
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