polishing glass

[jackiesimmonds]

I have a dremel, and have noticed, on the Warm Glass site, that they sell specially coated pads for glass polishing.

http://www.warm-glass.co.uk/polishing-discs-25mm-p-3011.html?cPath=177_71

  Not inexpensive mind you, so I would love to know if they work well before I spend nearly fifty squids on them. You apparently have to use each one in succession and finish off with a felt pad and cerium oxide.

I recently made a little pyramid "paperweight" which came out with cloudy sides;  to polish it I would have needed a flat lap, I think...so instead, I firepolished it - which worked well, it is now beautifully shiny and clear but the poor thing did shrink even more!  It is now more of a cushion with a pointed top than a pyramid!     I want to make some cast pieces but I am now nervous about firepolishing them.

I dont want to invest in a flat lap just yet, so if anyone has used the Warm Glass polishing pieces, please can they let me know if they are good or not?

[ajda]

They are small - could be a long job polishing anything bigger than a bead... and at that price I'd be concerned about how long they'd last... but I'd also be interested to hear of anyone else's experience with them.

I like the look of the book that's advertised on the same page, "Coldworking Glass without Machines".

[Pat from Canvey]

You might explore whether a studio near you has a wet belt sander or flat lap for hire before spending your hard earned dosh.

[flame n fuse]

sounds like your kiln was a bit hot if the shape changed with fire polishing. These pads look similar to the rectangular ones used for hand polishing, they work OK, but aren't a quick fix. What you need will depend on whether you're polishing flat or curved surfaces,

[Lakelady]

Been thinking about this myself but there are places that sell polishing bits and bobs for far less money e.g, cerium oxide can be bought for £7.99 from these people http://www.glasspolishshop.com/cerium-oxide?gclid=CJWorMaoqMQCFWbHtAodmFAADw as opposed to almost £19 from Warm Glass.  I'd shop around.  Best of luck 

[Blue Box Studio]

I dont want to invest in a flat lap just yet, so if anyone has used the Warm Glass polishing pieces, please can they let me know if they are good or not?

I bought something similar from a diamond tool company online - my budget doesn't run to the WG ones, they've already had all my glass money for this month.  I got 400 and 800 grit and so far they've worked well getting the sharp corners off the few pieces I needed to sort.  They look tough enough but how long they will last I don't know.  Think I paid about £10 each for them.  

http://www.atsdiamondtools.co.uk/diamondpolishing

[jackiesimmonds]

I always shop around....I too found Cerium Oxide for a much cheaper price, plus other things too....I bought a tile cutter for considerably less than I would have had to pay from WG...but having said that, it didn't come with the super after-sales service one gets from WG, which I do appreciate!    I spend a lot there, and bought a kiln from them, so I now get a decent discount, which helps a little with the guilt.....

I am very grateful for the link to the diamond people...if nothing else, their grit pads, which I use for my enamelling pn copper, and for some glass use,  are an amazing price, only £9 instead of the usual £17 or so I have had to pay till now.   So thanks v much for that link

It looks like there is no easy way to polish larger pieces, so I think I need to find, somewhere, someone who polishes glass for a fee ...I have made a couple of sculptural cast pieces, not too small either, and with my lousy back, I cannot see myself spending hours and hours polishing. If anyone knows of anyone who polishes glass as a service, please let me know.