Glass polishing wheels

Properties & Qualities

Application

Art, Product, Other

Qualities

2D, 3D, Polished, Shiny, Smooth

Colour

Other

Sample Information

Date of creation

28/08/2023

Culture & Context

Glass can be polished on a lathe using felt, cork or brush wheels, combined with pumice and cerium oxide powders. This is usually done following grinding glass to a fine grit (400-600) on a flatbed grinder, linnisher, by hand or using cutting and carving wheels.

Process & Production

When polishing glass on a wheel, the wheel should first be soaked with water and then regularly re-wetted to reduce the risk of thermal shock. Pumice is combined with water to make a slurry, and comes in a variety of grits of varying fineness. The pumice paste can be applied to the surface of the wheel using a sponge or brush. Cork or felt wheels are usually used with pumice. Brush wheels can also be used to create a more satin finish. Pumice should be regularly re-applied to the wheel or the piece as it is polished. The piece may need to be rinsed off and dried to check how much remains to be polished. After using pumice, cerium oxide (sometimes known as rouge) can then be used. This is applied in the same way, as a slurry with water onto a wetted felt wheel. Cerium oxide will bring the glass up to a highly polished surface.