Sign in Get Instant Quote

Finishing Services

Hand Polishing

At a glance

Applicable Materials

Acrylic

Colors

N/A

Applications

Enhanced cosmetic appearance

Texture

Smooth and glossy

About the Process

Hand polishing is a manual process where the part is sanded, then buffed on a set of abrasive wheels or rouges to achieve the desired surface finish. This is a subtractive process that removes material in order to eliminate scratches and other imperfections.

Design considerations

  • Radiused corners and edges generally produce better results than sharp ones
  • Wall thicknesses less than 1.5mm do not hold up as well during polishing
  • Internal or hard to reach features (including threads) are difficult or impossible to polish
  • Very tight tolerances, reamed holes, and threads may need to be excluded from polishing

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

US Machine Shops: How Tariffs and Recent Supply and Demand Trends Shape the Market

For U.S. machine shops, the last few years have been anything but steady, marked by an unpredictable mix of tailwinds and headwinds. Reshoring and record factory construction have boosted demand, while tariffs and cost inflation continue to tighten margins and blur forecasts. Here’s a clear-cut view of what’s gaining traction, what’s slowing, and how to […]

Learn More

Prototyping In-House vs Outsourcing: The ROI for Mechanical Engineering Teams

As product development cycles accelerate, engineering leaders face a recurring strategic question: How fast can we prototype—and where does it make financial sense to build? With premium compensation levels for mechanical engineers (especially with seniority and years of experience), the opportunity cost of hands-on prototyping has never been higher. When factoring in loaded labor rates, […]

Learn More

Also of Interest