A polishing bob, often referred to as a mounted felt bob, is a tool accessory specifically designed for polishing surfaces, particularly metals, to achieve a smooth, often mirror-like finish.
Understanding Polishing Bobs
Based on the provided information, a polishing bob is a type of tool attachment that is mounted, typically on a spindle, and made of felt. These bobs are essential in achieving a high-quality finish on various materials.
Key Characteristics and Use
- Material: Primarily made of felt.
- Mounting: Available on various spindles, allowing them to be attached to rotary tools.
- Purpose: Used for polishing and sometimes cutting surfaces, especially metals.
- Process: To achieve the desired finish, a compound is applied to the felt bob before use.
- Result: When used correctly with a compound, they can produce a mirror-like appearance on all metals.
- Variety: Mounted felt bobs come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, making them suitable for different applications and compatible with various tools.
Think of a polishing bob as the equivalent of a specialized buffer pad, but in smaller, often more precise shapes and sizes, designed for intricate work or use with handheld rotary tools.
Applications
Polishing bobs are versatile and used in numerous applications where a smooth, polished surface is required. While the reference specifically mentions metal polishing, felt bobs are also commonly used on other materials like plastics, glass, and even ceramics for cleaning, smoothing, or polishing.
Examples of use include:
- Jewelry making: Achieving a high shine on metal pieces.
- Automotive refinishing: Polishing small parts or intricate areas.
- Mold polishing: Smoothing surfaces in mold creation and repair.
- Dental laboratories: Polishing dental prosthetics.
- General metalworking: Finishing fabricated metal components.
Selecting the Right Polishing Bob
Choosing the appropriate polishing bob depends on several factors:
- Material being polished: Different materials might require specific types of felt or compounds.
- Desired finish: A mirror finish requires specific compounds and polishing stages.
- Area size and shape: The bob's size and shape (e.g., cylinder, tapered, wheel) should match the contours of the workpiece.
- Tool being used: The spindle size must be compatible with your rotary tool (like a Dremel, die grinder, or polishing motor).
For instance, a small, pointed bob might be ideal for polishing intricate details on a ring, while a larger cylindrical bob could be used for internal polishing of a tube.
In summary, a polishing bob is a mounted felt tool attachment used with a compound to polish surfaces, particularly metals, to achieve a mirror-like finish, and it comes in various shapes and sizes for different applications.
