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Pool mfgr. wants to electropolish hand rails

We manufacture handrails for swimming pool ladders and other uses such as hospitals and hotels. In the process we use 304 stainless steel tubing in 1.9 and 1.625 outside diameter sizes. Our hand rails range from 6 to 12 feet long and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Our market is extremely price competitive in spite of which it is demanding a smoother finish and a higher level of stain resistance. It has been recommended to us to implement a process of electropolishing to accomplish these objectives.

Our production volume is small, about 300 to 600 handrails per month. We need to know which would be the best process for this purpose, which equipment would be required and ...

where we could obtain it.

We appreciate in advance any pertinent information your readers would share with us. Thank you.

Emilio Zertuche G.
Manufacturer of swimming pool products - Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
2003

It may or may not prove practical to do in-house electropolishing at these low volume levels. Remember that all of the tanks (and there will be a half dozen) must be big enough to handle your finished rails, and these tanks will be empty (costing money) the great majority of the time.

What many people who are not from the metal finishing industry do not realize, and you may or may not realize, is that the industry is jobshop oriented. That is, there are people in the business of offering electropolishing services to companies like yours.

But whether done in-house or not, and while electropolishing is a great process for certain needs, it's unlikely to be more economical than mechanical polishing.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003