POLY FINISH

Polish finish is a finish that is achieved by taking solid brass and buffing the brass to a high luster using polishing wheels, on a spinning arbor, absorbed with cutting compound. A mirror finish is then achieved by a final buffing process that uses polishing wheels, on a spinning arbor, absorbed with coloring compound (tripoli).

IMPORTANT NOTE: A polish brass finish will only keep its mirror finish if maintained by polishing on a periodic basis. Polish brass finish that is not maintained will tarnish over time, and take a brownish and green tinge normally referred to as patina.

Items are sometimes returned when customers are not pleased that their item tarnishes. Typically the note will read that the brass came off or it no longer looks good or it is a piece of junk. Sometimes customers write that "I spent a lot of money and didn't expect the brass to tarnish". This is why a P code is prominently placed within the copy of any item that has a polish finish. There is of course no brass to come off as only solid brass is used unless specifically noted in the description. These customers expect solid brass with a P finish to be like a plastic product where the color remains relatively stable without any maintenance. These same customers will not use sterling silver as flatware because it tarnishes and then looks like a piece of junk as well. Tarnished brass can, of course, be returned to its mirror finish but it takes a lot more effort and elbow grease to start with a tarnished piece rather than periodically maintaining the mirror finish.

It is impossible to gauge exactly how often a P finished item needs to be polished. The time is dependent on several factors. Some individuals have a high acidity content in the sweat of their hands and these individuals would cause a doorknob to tarnish much faster than a chandelier, which is not handled in the same environment. Salt in the air by the ocean also accelerates the tarnishing process. It also depends on the polishing product used. Some products have a wax or other ingredients that keep brass from tarnishing for quite some time. In a normal environment, brass with a P finish that is not handled and a good polish is used, will need to be maintained at least twice a year. Brass items in a restaurant with a P finish that are handled or in a bathroom, with high humidity content, will probably need to be maintained monthly. The more often an item is maintained, the faster it is to bring back or keep the mirror finish.