The next two posts are a pair of tests that we did for a customer. Both posts are the same part, but the customer wanted very different finishes.
This post is focused on polishing aluminum die cast parts. After die casting, aluminum parts need to be cleaned of the flashing and parting lines prior to polishing. As aluminum is a relatively soft metal and that the part needs to be polished to a high sheen, a lighter, less abrasive media is ideal.
Vibratory tumbling this part with a Synthetic Media and mildly acidic Liquid Compound provided a smooth, matte surface ready for polishing. A second, dry tumbling step provided the final polish. In this case, the near mirror finish was achieved after tumbling about 18 hours in one of the Pegco™ Premium Treated Tumbling Medias specifically formulated for aluminum parts.