Flame polishing melts material with a hot flame to create a smooth surface, commonly used on acrylics and glass. It’s faster than polishing and can remove scratches. The torch can have different tips for different surfaces.
Flame polishing is the process of creating a smooth surface on a material by lightly melting it with a hot flame. This process is usually used on acrylics and glass to produce a glossy or smooth surface. A flashlight is required to successfully complete this process, and the user must have significant skill in the process. When flame polishing is done correctly, it will produce the smoothest possible surface, much smoother in many cases than other more abrasive polishing methods. When heat is applied to the surface, it creates surface tension which stretches the material.
The flame polishing process is usually used on large, flat acrylic or glass surfaces, although it can be done on other shapes and other materials if the person doing the flame polishing is particularly skilled. The torch used to complete the flame polishing process can vary in size, although nearly all will burn a combination of hydrogen and oxygen because these chemicals are less likely to contaminate the materials being polished, thus creating defects in the finished product. The flare will be connected via hoses to tanks containing these chemicals; the tanks can be regulated to adjust the amount of each chemical burned at any given time.
Unlike polishing, which can create scratches or nicks on the surface of the material, flame polishing prevents abrasive materials from coming into contact with the material at all. Scratches and gouges can also be removed using the flame polishing technique, and in some cases the technique can be used in conjunction with other finishing methods. Flame polishing is also a much faster process than polishing. Depending on the size of the piece, it can be fully sanded and polished in minutes, while polishing can take hours in some cases.
The torch can be fitted with several tips to control the shape and size of the flame. Some spikes are wide and flat and are good for large, flat surfaces. Other tips are narrower and produce a smaller flame that is useful for edges or crevices. An experienced flame polisher will be able to determine which bit will be most useful for a piece to be polished; in some cases, a piece may require the use of more than one bit to accommodate different surfaces or features.
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