Finishing Using Flex Shaft

Kim, in response to your query about using 3M bristle disks for
finishing (assuming you mean a high polish), it can be done, but it
takes for freakin’ ever. I used to do this with a very detailed
series of cast pendants (a dobsonfly head, actually, still on my
website), and while the results were very nice, going through the
whole series of grits was a PITA. (The bristle disks can, however, be
used to make very nice matte or brushed finishes quite quickly.)

For most detailed pieces, I now use the 220 or 400 grit bristle
disks to brush off excess oxidization after darkening pieces with
Griffith’s SilverBlack - they are indispensable for this! Then I toss
them in a little Harbor Freight tumbler with stainless shot. I’ve
used this for both cast and constructed pieces and have been very
happy with the results.

Good luck and HTH,

Jessee Smith
www.silverspotstudio.com
Cincinnati, OH

I bought a supply of the 3M disks and was not impressed. They were
used up pretty quickly. Some of them just plain fell apart. I went
back to polishing using 1/2" hard felt disks on the Foredom tool,
first with Tripoli, then with green rouge with a drop or two of pure
wintergreen oil added. This gives me a very high polish, whether gold
(yellow) or silver.

Brian Corll
Vassar Jewelers

I bought a supply of the 3M disks and was not impressed. They were
used up pretty quickly. Some of them just plain fell apart. 

Sounds to me like you were using way too much pressure. Correctly
used, you barely brush the surface you are polishing and they will
last a long time. I’ve been using them for years both on the flex
shaft and onthe large polisher and havent had one come apart yet.

Jerry in Kodiak