REDWIRE Vibra Finish’s expert guide on burnishing parts with steel media

September 25, 2018 REDWIRE is news you can use from leading suppliers. Powered by FRASERS.

Posted by Vibra Finish Limited


Vibra Finish Limited is a manufacturer of vibratory finishing, centrifugal finishing, tumbling, separating, vibro-peenin... Read more

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burnishing

Burnishing with steel media is a common technique in metal-finishing processes.

Vibra Finish has been a trusted source of metal-finishing services and equipment for almost half a century, and among its many essential services is burnishing. This polishing technique smooths the textures of rough surfaces to make them shinier, due to sliding contact with other objects.

Burnishing with steel media is a common method, and Vibra Finish uses its expertise to provide a short, easy guide to help users of finishing machines get the most from this process.

Two types of tumblers

Steel-media burnishing can be performed in either a vibratory finishing machine or a barrel tumbler, but settings and methods differ between these machines.

When using a vibratory tumbler, the user should set the machine at or near the maximum, according to Vibra Finish. Then fill the tub or bowl from 55 to 75 per cent with polished steel media and the parts being burnished, with a volume ratio of three to one in favour of steel media. Large (3/16 of an inch) steel media increases action, and it is wise to use a mixture of large and small (1/8 of an inch) steel media; large steel media should take up from 50 to 70 per cent of the total.

The user pumps a small amount of water into the tub or bowl and adds compound, preferably one ounce for every gallon of water. Avoid compounds with soap – a liquid compound with a detergent component is recommended. Compound and water should be changed every four hours during the operation.

A barrel tumbler works best when it is half full of parts and bright, light-coloured steel media. The same volume ratio of media to parts as in a vibratory tumbler is recommended. The user should fill the barrel with enough water to cover the full load by one to two inches and then add burnishing compound for every gallon of water. Rinse out the barrel after each run and use fresh water and compound every time. Processing takes between one to 20 hours, depending.

For more information, contact Vibra Finish.


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Posted by Vibra Finish Limited


Vibra Finish Limited is a manufacturer of vibratory finishing, centrifugal finishing, tumbling, separating, vibro-peenin... Read more

Contact supplier