remove scratches from findings

[hauteglasser]

Sometimes when I get findings with a large surface, there are scratches in them.  What is the best way to remove them?  I've already tried to just polish them and it still shows.  I've also tried rubbing compound with a polishing wheel on a dremel and they are still there.  Does anyone else  have this problem?  And how do you remove them?  Because of the surface, I just can't cover them up.

[daverobertson]

Hi hauteglasser,

This response came from Lucie Tremblay on Facebook:

"I use to polish my scratch findings the with a rotary tool (the one with batteries because it is less powerfull.... I put jewellry polishing stuff (rouge) on a tiny cotton wheel. It works pretty well !
Ciao !"

I've emailed you a couple of other replies from our staff, and thought I'd share them here:

(Person A:)
"The scratches are inherent in the manufacturing process of these items.  I did spot check our inventory and the scratches appear minor and are acceptable.  These blanks are intended to be embellished so that a majority of the slight imperfections will be covered up.  They are not intended to be sold as a finished product."

(Person B:)
"I agree that the front of the money clip is intended to be covered, and though the back will receive much wear during use, the customer's desire to present a polished piece at time of sale is understandable.  However these are not a plated item with a high chrome polish and even when polished, the nickel silver will look much duller.  The beauty of the nickel silver is, it is durable and what it looks like now is what it will look like after much use.

Here is some information from our Metalman on creating a mirror finish.  This is from the Rings & Things Art Clay Silver forum, but the same principles should apply for polishing nickel silver:
http://www.rings-things.com/forum/index.php/topic,306.0.html "

Cheers!

--Dave

[mar-clar]

Forwarded from Russ Nobbs :

The nickel silver money clips and Bic lighter covers are intended for silversmiths to solder a design on them and then for the whole piece to be polished on buffing wheels, first with Tripoli (or other fast cutting compound) and 2nd with Zam or Rouge (or other fine polishing compound.)

Small buffs on a Dremel will do it but quite slowly.

When gluing designs on them, consider buffing them to the required shine before attaching the design.