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is your polishing “up to speed” part 1 of 2 by john w. safranek, ms, editor–in–chief
An alternative to the Ray Foster P90 is the Arbe Machine
Mfg. PM504, boasting a ½ HP motor and full torque at any
calibrated speed between its rated 0-3450 rpms (3600 rpm
actual). This unit can be configured with dual ‘Super Flow’
fully-enclosed polishing hoods which is important for health
and lung concerns. For Arbe Machine (www.arbemachine.com)
contact the distributor: Jules Borel & Co. (www.julesborel.com
800.776.6858).
This is the author’s
custom-made Arbe
stand-up polishing and
filter system consisting of
a cartridge filter polishing
system with 100%
airflow at 1100 CFM. It
uses a 1 HP motor to accomplish
this. The Arbe
filters polishing dust and
residues through a twostage
system, including a
1st stage cartridge down
to 1/3 micron, and a 2nd
stage HEPA exhaust filter
boosting efficiency to
99.99%.
This system captures
nearly all airborne allergens
including dust
and pollen. The air going into this polishing machine is actually
CLEANER when it exits AFTER polishing! In the background is
a crystal-clear view of Mt. Watzmann over Berchtesgaden in
Bavaria, which serves as a reminder of why clean air is critical to
good health!
New cotton buffs must be properly prepared or ‘combed’ in order
to produce the surface necessary for a high luster finish, and
the frayed ends of cotton must be trimmed for an even profile
on the wheel.
Buff and feels wheels on a
machine dedicated to be
used with Gray Menzerna.
Note the proper loading
or charging of the buff on
only 1/3 - 1/2 of one side.
• Wheels necessary for proper work included:
Cotton 150 X 24 (very high thread count of fine
linen with front-to-back and back-to-front
binding is necessary); felt in 120 X 25 size;
artifex (20-mm mount) in medium and soft (soft
for curved backs of oyster bracelets and
medium for hard cutting such as on bracelets
that have heavy damage); a buffex wheel in
a fine grade for satin blending of finishes (this
grade also does not cut through the protection
tape at the appropriate lower speeds); a cotton
buff dedicated for polishing plexi-crystals.
• Compounds which were explained included:
Menzerna White Polishing Compound (also
a yellow which is close to the white on the
website); the M paste developed for Rolex is
a diamantine paste product, which is also used
in combination with variable speed–it becomes
more of a burnishing compound than a cutting
Horological Times November 2010 3 2