I just received my order of Micro-Mesh polishing pads. They start about where regular 400 sandpaper is and they call it 1500 and it goes all the way to 12,000 with 20 different color coded pads. I played around on a finished piece and it seemed to do a good job. They say just wash it and it will as good as new. However they didn't mention anything about using the lathe on slow speed to sand raw wood or a finished piece.

Anybody had any experience with this product? 

I do use it. Washing does extend the life put it will wear out eventually. When you wash them, put them in one of you wife's old nylon stocking and tie it shut, then toss in with the regular wash. I use it for finishing on acrylic and stabilized wood. It works well on those composite blanks that are half wood and half resin. Great for pen blanks.

 

After sanding to the highest grit, I used Turtle wax swirl remover to polish, on the resin portion.

 

 

You can wet sand on acrylic/resin. Do not run at high speeds or the heat generated will cause the pads to leave residue on the surface.

 

I haven't use them on bare, unstabilized wood. For that type of wood, I use Abralon pads up to 5000 grit.

 

Did yours come with a color code chart? I tacked my chart above the lathe for quick reference.

 

 

 

Yes it did have a color code. I'm going to make a specisl storage box that will have the code on the side. Thanks for all the info, I'm looking forward to using it

Edited September 30, 20187 yr by Ron Altier
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I have a set and use it mainly on pens. To keep the grits straight I marked the end with a sharpie ....one line for the lowest grit and then one more line for each ascending grit. Like Lew said all things wear out. Oh by the way it will also work to polish a lacquer finish.

When I use acrylic I use this product after it is smoothed down with 400 grit, it comes out like glass

To keep the grits straight I marked the end with a sharpie .

 

Great idea, Gerald

Slow down the lathe, keep it moving, don't press too hard to it will burn. I only use them on acrylic.