HOW TO POLISH DIAMOND PLATE?
Polishing diamond plate can often present itself as a challenge for many. Fortunately, bringing a proper polish to your diamond plate is just a matter of having the right tools and being able to use them correctly.
You’ll need the following tools/supplies:
- 7” variable speed grinder
- Safety flanges for high-speed polishing
- Satin Airway Buffing Wheel (Optional)
- Orange Airway Buffing Wheel (with Brown Tripoli Compound)
- Yellow Airway Buffing Wheel (with Green Rouge Compound)
- Rebel Red Liquid Metal Polish
- Makita 9237C
- Full Face Respirator - Don't skimp on these, you don't want metal dust and polishing products in your lungs! This is the best respirator for metal polishing.
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Masking tape is an absolute necessity when high speed polishing
The first step in the process would involve assessing the condition of the diamond plate you’re about to work on. If it shows surface rust, oxidation, pitting, or noticeable scratches, a SATIN BUFFING WHEEL will probably be necessary. The SATIN BUFFING WHEEL will create a fresh and even working surface in the same way that sanding would, but will be able to handle the peaks and valleys much more effectively.
After attaching the Satin Buffing Wheel to your machine, you’ll want to run the wheel in an upright orientation, in a side-to-side motion. Be sure to keep your machine in the same orientation as you move to create more consistent mill lines (that you will be polishing out later). Your machine should be running between 1,800 and 2,200 RPMs for this step.
To begin the cutting stage, apply your Brown Tripoli Compound to your Orange Airway Buffing Wheel. Run your machine and buffing wheel between 3,000 to 3,500 RPM, making sure that the buffing wheel is slightly sideways at a 45-degree angle. Doing so in a side-to-side motion will ensure that both sides/directions of the diamond plate are polished (see the illustration below).
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PRO TIP: When cutting stainless, use our Black Magic Compound With a Red Airway Buffing Wheel.
Moving onto the “color” stage involves the Yellow Airway Buffing Wheel and the Green Rouge. The same 45-degree, back-and-forth approach should be taken but you should be polishing at a speed of 2,800 to 3,200 RPMs.
PRO TIP: When coloring stainless, use the Yellow Deluxe Compound With a Pink Airway Buffing Wheel.
In many instances, a two-step polish will result in a shine that is sufficient for most people. In the event that you want to take your project to a show-level shine, we recommend using our Domet Flannel Airway Buffing Wheel and the Competition Purple Compound. This wheel and compound combination should be run between the 2,200 to 2,800 RPM range with your machine at the same 45-degree angle.
Finish the job by using a clean microfiber towel to clean off the excess compound.
See the video below for more insight on prepping and polishing diamond plate from Pieter Williams of Almost Chrome:
SUPPLIES YOU MIGHT NEED:
MAKITA GA7021 - The best 6,000 RPM polishing machine
MAKITA 9237C - The best 3,500 RPM polishing machine
Full Face Respirator Mask - 100% need this! Safety First!