Hi Tony: I now polish the engraved brass compass rosettes that I often inlay into my dials. I have been using an electric palm sander with 1500 grit sandpaper wetted with water and a tiny bit of detergent. I want the surface to be as shiny as possible.
This procedure works fairly well but the gloss isn't quite as bright as it could be. Even using this fine grit, I can still see very small scratch lines from the abrasive. Do you think emery sandpaper would give a higher gloss than 1500 grit? Also, do you prefer electric or hand sanding? thanks John Thibaud Taudin-Chabot commented > >>Toni: I see the gnomon being refelcted on the surface. My experience is in >>that case that it is rather difficult to read the shadow instead of the >>refelxion. I suggest to mat the surface slightly to increase the readability. >>Thibaud >> > >Agreed! This is the eternal problem of anyone making sundials for >'presentation' purposes. The client wants something that looks >'sparkling new' and certainly NOT the dull matt surface which is ideal >for shadow casting. I try to compromise with a 'brushed' finish using 600 >grit abrasive. This yields a surface which produces a feint 'compromise' >shadow on a 'bright' surface for presentation, after which the natural >patination process will take place....and then there is gold plating on a >bead-blasted surface for a lovely golden 'eggshell' finish if funds >permit. > >One thing I have never been able to fathom is WHY, if confronted with >polished brass, people feel an overpowering compulsion to finger it! :-( >.... :-) > >You can't win! > >Best Wishes > >Tony > >I have some JPEGs of Patrick, presentation dial in hand, but am something >loth to inflict them on the main List!...perhaps to my faithful JPEGGERS! > > >
