margaret99•1mo agoProlific Poster

Just compared a standard graphite pad to a custom one for smoothing punties

For years I used the same old graphite pad from my starter kit to smooth punty marks. It worked okay, but I always had to go back with a torch for a final polish. Last month, I had a custom pad made with a finer graphite grain, about 1200 grit, and a thicker backing. The difference is night and day. The first piece I tried it on, a small vase, had a perfectly smooth base after just two passes, no extra flame work needed. I'm saving at least five minutes per piece now on that final step. Has anyone else found a specific tool upgrade that cut out a whole part of your finishing process?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane_williams1mo ago

You mentioned saving five minutes by not needing a torch for a final polish. I have to ask, are you not worried about thermal shock skipping that step? Even with a super smooth grind, I always give it a quick flash in the glory hole. It just seems to settle the surface tension and prevent those tiny stress lines you sometimes see later.

hollypalmer1mo ago

Totally get where you're coming from, @shane_williams! That quick flash really does make a difference. I skipped it once on a piece I was sure was perfect, and sure enough, a hairline crack showed up a week later. It was such a bummer. Now that extra minute in the glory hole is non-negotiable for me. It just seems to lock everything in place and gives me real peace of mind. Your point about surface tension is spot on.

tyler_white424d ago

and actually, that reminds me of a buddy of mine who builds custom furniture. he was working on this really nice walnut table and thought he could skip the glory hole flash because the finish was already so smooth. he told me he even bragged about saving that five minutes. well, two months later the customer calls him up and says there's a tiny crack running along one of the joints. he had to refinish the whole top and lost money on the job. so yeah @shane_williams, I get your point completely. I'd rather take that minute just to be safe too.