DRY TUMBLING CREAMS

A process called "mass finishing" most economically polishes small metal or plastic objects. Although there are different variations to this process, it always involves the rubbing of abrasive particles against surfaces to be polished. The rubbing motion may be induced by simple tumbling in a rotating barrel, by dragging the objects to be polished through abrasive media, or by vibrations in a vibratory finisher.

For the purpose of producing the brightest possible surface on metals and plastics the process is conducted dry, in the presence of a polishing cream and coarse particle carrier hardwood pegs are used and so are ground walnut shells and chopped bamboo.

Creams come in three grades for the polishing of plastics: CUTTER, MEDIUM CUT, AND BRIGHT. The CUTTER is available as a formulated cream but normally mixed by the customer by using pumice and oil. MEDIUM CUT cream produces a shiny surface, nearly good enough as a final finish. The final finish is obtained by using TUMBLING CREAM BRIGHT, producing a bright, smear free surface without the need for further cleaning. Metals normally require only two polishing stages, the cutting stage and the brightness stage, using CUTTER cream and BRIGHT cream.

For exceptional applications where an extremely bright surface is required, such as for jewellery and for precious metals we recommend our TUMBLING CREAM EXTRA BRIGHT. This polish is used for wedding rings, other jewellery and components of brass musical instruments. To appreciate the surface finish produced by this polish we recommend to use a dedicated tumbling barrel or polishing machine, not contaminated by other polishing creams.

The main purpose of compounds added to mass finishing operations is to keep work pieces and also the abrasive media free from abraded metal and to retain broken down abrasive particles and metallic fines in suspension, thus preventing re-deposition.

Depending on the type of compound, emphasis has been put on other functions such as detergency, lubricity, corrosion inhibition, abrasiveness, hard water tolerance and other chemical parameters such as acidity, alkalinity, oxidising or reducing conditions and film forming potential. The following products are available as vibrato finishing additives:

SLIPCUT No.1
Non-abrasive powdered compound for all metals. May be used with pebbles, abrasive chips or self-tumbling. Limited tolerance to hard water.

SLIPCUT No.2
Non-abrasive liquid compound. Suitable for all metals, but especially cuprous alloys. May be used with abrasive media or self-tumble.

SLIPCUT No.3
Non-abrasive powdered compound similar to SLIPCUT No.1 but with the capacity to deal with hard waters. Produces very bright metal surfaces, especially on cuprous alloys.

SLIPCUT No.4
Acidic, non-abrasive powdered compound, used with abrasive chips for the removal of rust and heat treatment scales from ferrous parts.

SLIPCUT No.8
Non-abrasive powdered finishing compound for producing high gloss on brass and copper components. Used with hardened steel balls or shapes. Also suitable for self-tumbling operations.

SLIPCUT No.11
Strongly abrasive, powdered compound used mainly for cutting ferrous metals, brass castings and pressings. With abrasive media may be used for de-burring and surface blending to a uniformly matt finish.

SLIPCUT AL
Mildly acidic gel additive for a bright finish on aluminium and its alloys.

COMPEX
Dual purpose metal cleaner for removal of polishing compounds and vibrato finishing additive similar in application to SLIPCUT No.2.

RUSTOP
Powdered corrosion inhibitor for ferrous metals. For use after deoxidizing with SLIP-CUT No.4. Will wash off easily with water.
PLASPOL.
This product is available in a coarse, medium and fine grade, depending on the particle size of the abrasive contained in this polishing paste. The product is normally used in conjunction with hardwood pegs for the polishing of spectacle frames, buttons, buckles and other consumer goods in tumbling barrels. The three grades of PLASPOL make it is possible to mass finish a component or consumer article from the mould to the shop window without manual finishing or cleaning.