Sisal/Jute Wheels
Hard sisal buffs serve as the heavy-duty “cutting” stage in the metal finishing process. While cotton buffs bring out the shine, these sisal wheels do the hard work of leveling the surface by removing deep abrasions, scale, and heavy scratches from the tube surface.
Why the Red Compound?
For this stage, Red Polishing Compound (often referred to as Tripoli) is used. It contains coarser abrasives that work in tandem with the stiff sisal fibers to:
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Flatten Surface Peaks: It grinds down the microscopic “peaks” left behind by initial sanding.
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Remove Tool Marks: Efficiently erases extrusion marks or weld seams on metal tubing.
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Prepare for “Coloring”: It leaves a uniform, matte-satin finish that is perfectly prepped for the final mirror stage with green compound.
Strategic Design
The 350mm diameter provides a high peripheral speed, which is essential for the sisal fibers to “flick” against the metal and cut effectively. The 127mm bore ensures stability on heavy-duty tube-polishing machinery, preventing the wobbling that can cause uneven flat spots on round tubing.
Workflow Note: Always clean the tube thoroughly after using the sisal/red compound stage. Any leftover red grit will contaminate your cotton buff and prevent you from ever reaching a true, cloud-free mirror finish.
