What's the best way to remove tool/machine marks from brass?

[Bubbyanne]

I have a tool that I really love but I want to try and polish it smooth because it still has the marks from when it was machined, which sometimes leaves marks on my beads.

Where do I start? What do I need? How do I do this?

Thanks so much,
Barb

[shawnette]

http://www.burningbrass.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=15&zenid=c572d084ee1dcc52e6e34a9f53062bef

[Bubbyanne]

Oh thank you so much Nette! You rock! :love:
I looked all over the internet and wasn't getting what I specifically needed.
I was getting stuff for polishing brass dodads in your home and how to machine brass but nothing on how to remove the marks and polish it afterwards.

[Hayley]

Is your tool flat? If you want to keep the flat side dead flat, put the sandpaper on a plate of glass (or any very flat surface such as a marble/granite tile) and run your tool on the sandpaper. That's how I sharpen all my chisels and woodworking plane blades.

If the marks are fairly deep, you may need to start with 220 grit, then 360, etc. etc. By not skipping grit, you get a better finish (mirror) but not absolutely necessary.

Hope this helps.

[Bubbyanne]

Thank you Hayley,
It is basically a block with u and v grooves cut into it for shaping beads.
It does have areas that are flat and I'll use your tip for putting the sandpaper down and running the tool over it.

The marks are all over the tool in a curved shape from the machining. I can't tell how deep they are. I am not really worried about getting a mirror finish (I probably will try for it though lol) but am mostly concerned with smoothing it enough that I don't get marks in my beads anymore. I think I have all the sandpapers you mentioned.

I'm glad I finally asked. I know brass is soft and I didn't want to make things worse.
I really love this tool and don't want to mess it up. :wink:

[houptdavid]

Make sure that you are using wet/dry silicon carbide paper (it's black) if you are using water as a lubricant. You can get it at the hardware store or the auto parts store.

[Bubbyanne]

Thanks David, good to know, I'll check what I have, hopefully it's the silicon carbide.
I'll probably have to make a trip to get it anyway knowing my luck. lol

[Hayley]

I should have read your first post better, Bubby! You did mention it was machine marks. ;-) In which case, you may want to start with 220 grit. That's what the chisels are like when new, with machine marks so the first sharpening is mostly spent getting rid of the machine marks.