Advice needed on polishing keys

[Saddlecrew7]

HI, I sell typewriter keys for jewelery making and need some advice. I started out doing nothing to them, then moved on to using MAAS to shine them up but my arms were killing me. I do have a grinder - 3600 RPM Ryobi that I alternate with grinding and polishing but I am new to this.
TYpewriter keys are made of different metals. Some are fairly heavy silver plated or something. Others are very thin aluminum? Some I pick up are pretty dirty. Nothing rusted out really bad usually just 40 years of crud.
I have read some of the tips etc.. I have 2 polishing wheels right now- a spiral sewn one and a cotton one. No flannel ones. I also have red jewelers rouge. I have been getting pretty good results but I am just guessing as to what I am doing. I think I could have better results. I took a set of keys to my jeweler and they came out much better than I did. They were really slick and shiny. Some of mine are cloudy. Can you overload the buff with rouge? I keep putting more rouge on but they shine I am looking for isn't there.
I can't spend lots of hours and 3-4 steps on each key as I don't make a huge amount of $ on them.
So what kind of polishing wheels would be best and what kind of rouge?
Any advice appreciated as I am new to all this. BUT I do really enjoy it!

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by Saddlecrew7

HI, I sell typewriter keys for jewelery making and need some advice. I started out doing nothing to them, then moved on to using MAAS to shine them up but my arms were killing me. I do have a grinder - 3600 RPM Ryobi that I alternate with grinding and polishing but I am new to this.
TYpewriter keys are made of different metals. Some are fairly heavy silver plated or something. Others are very thin aluminum? Some I pick up are pretty dirty. Nothing rusted out really bad usually just 40 years of crud.
I have read some of the tips etc.. I have 2 polishing wheels right now- a spiral sewn one and a cotton one. No flannel ones. I also have red jewelers rouge. I have been getting pretty good results but I am just guessing as to what I am doing. I think I could have better results. I took a set of keys to my jeweler and they came out much better than I did. They were really slick and shiny. Some of mine are cloudy. Can you overload the buff with rouge? I keep putting more rouge on but they shine I am looking for isn't there.
I can't spend lots of hours and 3-4 steps on each key as I don't make a huge amount of $ on them.
So what kind of polishing wheels would be best and what kind of rouge?
Any advice appreciated as I am new to all this. BUT I do really enjoy it!

This might be a case where a few pictures would help (please don't post huge ones as they take too long.)

I myself don't use a tumbler, but that might be an idea for doing a bunch of them at a time.

[Saddlecrew7]

This is a good example of the sides that need cleaning. I have been reading the section on how to buff and polish correctly I should be using something in addition to the red rouge only. The keys I am working on this weekend are just not comming out like I need. I didn't realize there were different types of compund before I started doing this.
I have 2 buffs now but I wonder if they are overloaded.
Some of these are very thin metal- I don't know what kind. Chrome or aluminum? It is very soft and will bend easily. The others are pretty strong.
They are all silver in color.

[Saddlecrew7]

If I am understandind right I need a compound that will clean all the yucky stuff off the keys and then I polish them? I need to be using a compond that is more abrasive than what I have been using which is the red rouge only. I had thought it was the wheel doing the work but now I get the concept as given with a sandpaper example.
I am still unsure what these keys are made of. I am going to go out on a limb and say they are gold and silver. I think some might be silver plated. What else can they be?

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by Saddlecrew7

If I am understandind right I need a compound that will clean all the yucky stuff off the keys and then I polish them? I need to be using a compond that is more abrasive than what I have been using which is the red rouge only. I had thought it was the wheel doing the work but now I get the concept as given with a sandpaper example.
I am still unsure what these keys are made of. I am going to go out on a limb and say they are gold and silver. I think some might be silver plated. What else can they be?

If they are just dirty (but not nicked or scratched), try the black emery or brown tripoli compound to clean and shine them, then white compound to color them up. Red doesn't do much unless you're already at a high shine - whatever effect you're getting now from red rouge is mostly just from the cloth of the wheel. You could try using it after the white to see what it does.

Keep the compounds separated and on different wheels.

I don't know how you're holding those tiny things to polish them, but hats off and good luck to you...

BTW, if they are regular typewriter keys, I'd imagine those covers are made of plated steel, stainless steel, or maybe aluminum. In any event, for it to be gold or silver it would be a pretty fancy typewriter indeed!

[Saddlecrew7]

HI, Thanks for the advice. I guess the word NOT was missing from my post as in the keys are NOT gold or silver- LOL If they were I sure wouldn't be cutting them off Ha ha. Will try the methods you have suggested relating to the compund. Any suggestions on the buffs? I have 2 loaded with red so I will need to replace. They were 1 spiral sewn and 1 muslin. I do need to be able to get into the inner rim of the key to clean and polish.
After I buff I see there is a black greasy residue what is the proper way to remove that and with what? Thanks, I am sure I will have more questions but I am really having fun with this. Elizabeth

[Saddlecrew7]

One more question. What does it mean when you say color them up and will the black or brown scratch the top of the key which is celluloid on some? Of course I will experiment just wondered if it was really abrasive.

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by Saddlecrew7

HI, Thanks for the advice. I guess the word NOT was missing from my post as in the keys are NOT gold or silver- LOL If they were I sure wouldn't be cutting them off Ha ha. Will try the methods you have suggested relating to the compund. Any suggestions on the buffs? I have 2 loaded with red so I will need to replace. They were 1 spiral sewn and 1 muslin. I do need to be able to get into the inner rim of the key to clean and polish.
After I buff I see there is a black greasy residue what is the proper way to remove that and with what? Thanks, I am sure I will have more questions but I am really having fun with this. Elizabeth

Probably the spiral is best. If you wanted to you could re-use one of the reds for a black or brown (but not the other way 'round). Keep one of the red ones, you can try it as a final color.

"Polishing" is removing irregularities. "Buffing" is making it shiny, and "coloring" is achieving the final high luster (my own definitions).

I would protect the top with a circle of tape, or you might be able to find the right-sized stick-on dots at an office supply.

You could do the inner rim with a Dremel and tiny felt bobs.


BTW, tha'ts a cool idea for jewelry - if you make any yourself post a link to it...