How do you remove buffing compound?
What is the best way to remove the buffing compound?
David S.
I plate high-polish brass parts that have been polished using a buffing compound that reaches high temperatures, resulting in the compound being caked-on.The cleaning operation becomes very time consuming as the quantity increases, and it is difficult to meet the customer's needs.What is the best way to remove the compound?D.H.
A.It sounds like your current cleaning method works well, but you are not able to keep up with demand as the number of parts increases.There are two aspects of the current process you will need to replicate in order to introduce more automation into your process.There are very fine abrasives in buffing compounds that are suspended in a slurry compound.Your current process uses the Stoddard solvent as a cleaning agent to break down and remove the organic component, while your manual wiping method is more effective at removing the abrasive component of the mixture.
The new cleaning process should address both of those aspects.Replacing the mechanical component of your current cleaning process with another mechanical process will be the best way to duplicate it.Ultrasonics may require a higher initial investment, but could produce quicker and more effective results.The agitated tank would allow you to quickly move parts through the wash solution or over the parts.
Changing the cleaning solution to a fully formulated cleaner is possible in the case of Ultrasonics.It will be possible to suspend some of the fine-particulate abrasive so that it won't redeposit onto the part with the help of surfactants.The mechanical means you are looking for are Ultrasonics and aqueous cleaners.The heated wash tank will shorten the time for the cleaner to break down the buffing compound.An effective rinsing step is needed to remove the cleaner and particulate from the surface.If the parts are coming out clean from the first stage, that could be a heated, Ultrasonic tank.
If you are properly handling the health and safety aspects of the system, you can still use the Stoddard solvent.