[tjiscooler]

Just a quick question, is white polishing compound more or less fine than .5 green chromium?

Thanks

[gssixgun]

I don't use the white so I couldn't answer for sure, but you might want to pm "The Topher" Chris knows way more about using polishing compounds then anyone else I can think of.....

[floppyshoes]

Grit size is only one part of the equation. Shape, hardness, size variance, toughness and medium are all hugely relevant.

This being said, many manufacturers don't say what the grit size is of their various compounds. This is because it is not that relevant to the end result.

AFAIK they make 0.5 um pastes out of Cr2O3, Diamond (C), Aluminum Oxide(Al2O3), carbides (various types) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3). The white paste Glen speaks of is probably Al2O3. Still other pastes are blends of these and contain different grit sizes that break down differently.

Polishing compounds are a very complicated thing if you want to get into the science of them.

[thebigspendur]

I have some Colombia white polishing paste and I find its really great as a pre polish for removing marks, swirls and all that. It really leaves a very matt finish.

[BigMallard]

The white I have is listed on the package as 2-3 micron

[The Topher]

Note: I totally agree with floppyshoes but here is a practical answer to the which compounds question.



White is less fine than the chromium oxide. there are several whites but the most common is a form of aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide can range from black to brown to grey to white but most that I see are white. If you are looking for finishing pastes for polishing a blades finish then on most you can stop with a white since continued polishing will only result in the flaws becomming noticable. Also you shouldn't start on the white either. You should use a coarse stainless polish compound or a tripoli(though I don't like how greasy tripoli is) and work from there. But if you take the time to sand the surface of a blade to a perfect finish the then it is worth the effort to use a coarse stainless on a tightly wound buff, then a white alumium oxide on a looser spiral buff, and then use a chromium oxide on a loose muslin or flannel buff. If you are really obsessive you can even go so far so then to hand polish with the chromium as I do or use a ferric oxide "jewelers rouge" However this does not cut hard steel well and will take forever to get any sort of effect. I have also heard tell that there is a pink one that works well but I don't know what it is or how it works.