Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Polishing of stainless steel balls
Q. Dear Sir,
We are manufacturers of stainless steel balls, i.e., SS 304, 316. We are looking for some method or chemicals for polishing the balls in barrels which will help to achieve a bright mirror polish similar to that attained in chrome steel or carbon steel hardened balls. We are able to achieve a "just bright" mirror polish but find it difficult to achieve a full mirror finish on these soft SS 304/316 balls.
Please advise.
Apurva DoshiVSBI - Mumbai, India
2001
Q. Our client requires stainless steel balls to be mirror polished. The balls are of 28.575 mm. We achieved the mirror polish in vibratory barrel. We used plastic media
[affil links] and then corncob media
[affil links] with special paste.
However, though we achieved the polish, we got a lot of scratches on the surface. The balls are probably getting scratched in corncob. Can you suggest some method for mass polishing of these balls which can achieve mirror finish without scratches.
- Mumbai, India
2001
A. I think you may want to see my answer to question # 10355. In fact you may be working for the same company.
Anyway, if none of the suggestions I gave for that answer work for you, there are a few basics you might want to remember. You cannot get a finer surface finish than the largest particle or grain size in your media, unless the specific gravity or molecular structure (friability of media structure) of that media is a lot less than the material being worked. The ideal situation is to have a good balance of parts to media or proportionate to specific gravities of materials being worked. Simple translation, probably more media is required to balance out weight of parts to stop part on part contact.
AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Q. In the manufacture of Stainless steel balls (304 and 316) the balls are polished in a barrel with various chemicals (either alkaline or acidic). Though a desired level of polish is obtained, the metal brightness is not achieved.The balls look greyish instead of looking silvery bright.
Can you kindly suggest a practical working formula for achieving the polishing and silvery bright appearance?
Hyderabad,Andhra Pradesh, India
2002
A. Hi Ramanathan,
You can burnish with rice husk, it provides a good media and the High Silica content of rice husk makes it a slightly abrasive medium also. This will make the surface brighter.
There are also other options of chemical polishing and electropolishing available to do this job. The usage of alternative depends on the application and budget you have.
After drying, the balls can be tumbled with rice husk in an inclined barrel lined with fireply sheet -- I hope this will help you. Good luck
...
- Singapore
Q. Kindly suggest the suitable process of polishing the SS304 & SS201 steel balls along with demagnetization process (economical).
We are finding difficulties in Demagnetization of Stainless Steel Balls. We have tried at about 950 to 1050 °C and quenched in water/Oil/Open Air several times but most of the balls are not demagnetizing properly and results are not satisfactory so kindly suggest an accurate way to do the same.
Another problem is to get polishing of SS Balls. As we do grinding, balls gets shining but they magnetized simultaneously and further heat treatment makes the surface dull & blackish -- so please suggest a proper way of polishing to get bright shining.
I will be grateful to you if you kindly solve the above problems for quality production purpose.
With regards,
- Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
2005
A. How you are manufacturing these balls, if by Cold forging process they will have some residual magnetism in them; try hot forging of the balls & them polish them.
Regards
- Kolkata, West Bengal, India
A. Why haven't you tried degaussing equipment? It is functional, relatively easy and not terribly expensive initial equipment to buy. You do need to follow instructions exactly for optimum results.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
? Deepak,
Do you mean that the balls become magnets and will attract, say, mild steel? Or do you mean that the balls are attracted to a magnet - that is, they are not magnetic themselves, but are attracted to a magnet?
This is a common language problem, because we tend to use the word
"magnetic" with both those meanings, when strictly only one of the meanings is correct.
Bill Reynolds [deceased]
consultant metallurgist - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
We sadly relate the news that Bill passed away on Jan. 29, 2010.
Q. Dear sir,
We are polishing gold jewel ornaments through vibrator with 304 ss balls media. We do not get a good glittering polish. Which kind of media & compound is suitable for our work? Kindly suggest the solution for the above.
Thank you with regards,
gold jewel polishing co. - Madurai, Tamilnadu, India
2006
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