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Polishing Compound Calculator

Plan polishing compound stages for jewelry finishing. Free online jewelry making calculator with instant, accurate results.

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Polishing Compound Calculator
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Reference & details

How it works

Progressive Grit Sequence

Start with the coarsest compound needed to remove tool marks, then step through progressively finer grades. Never skip more than one grit stage on precious metals.

Stages: Cut → Tripoli/Emery → Bobbing → Rouge (fine)

Compound-to-Wheel Matching

Harder wheels (felt, hard muslin) carry fine compounds; softer wheels (soft muslin, chamois) distribute coarse compounds. Match wheel speed to compound: 3,450 RPM for cutting, 1,750 RPM for rouge.

Wheel hardness ∝ compound fineness

Compound Application Rate

Apply compound sparingly — excess creates build-up that transfers coarser grit to fine wheels. A pea-sized amount per wheel session is typical for bench-scale work.

Compound per session ≈ 0.1–0.3 g per wheel face

Updated: July 2026

Example Scenarios

A cast silver ring needs scratch removal through four polishing stages.

Stage 1: Gray Star (cut) on hard muslinStage 2: Tripoli on soft muslinStage 3: White diamond on feltStage 4: Red rouge on chamois

→ Mirror finish in 4 stages; total time ~8–12 minutes per piece

A 14K gold band with minor wear, skipping coarse cutting stages.

Stage 1: Orange/brown tripoli on muslinStage 2: Green rouge (Zam) on feltStage 3: Red rouge on chamois

→ High polish in 3 stages without removing measurable metal

Hard platinum requires dedicated wheels to avoid cross-contamination.

Stage 1: Platinum blue compound on dedicated muslinStage 2: Platinum white rouge on dedicated felt

→ Bright platinum finish; never mix platinum wheels with gold/silver wheels

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the same wheel for multiple compound grades

Dedicated wheels for each compound grade prevent grit contamination. A coarse particle embedded in a rouge wheel will scratch instead of polish.

Skipping tripoli on cast pieces

Cast surfaces have porosity and investment residue. Starting directly with rouge wastes time and embeds compound in pores. Always cut first on cast work.

Over-polishing prongs and fine detail

Excessive polishing thins prongs and rounds sharp edges. Use a smaller wheel or hand-polish delicate areas after bulk finishing.

FAQ

Gray Star or emery (cut) → brown tripoli → white diamond compound → red rouge on progressively softer wheels. Each stage removes scratches from the previous grade.

Red rouge works on both, but keep separate wheels. Silver compounds contain abrasives that can contaminate gold wheels. Use green rouge (Zam) specifically for gold's final polish.

Use 3,450 RPM for cutting and tripoli stages. Reduce to 1,750 RPM or use a variable-speed motor for rouge finishing. High speed with fine compound generates excess heat.

Use a split mandrel with emery or sandpaper for initial cutting, then a small felt wheel with tripoli and a string buff with rouge for the final mirror finish.

Stop after the tripoli or bobbing stage and apply a linear scratch pattern with a wire brush or abrasive stick. Do not proceed to rouge, which creates a mirror finish.

About Polishing Compound Calculator

Jewelry finishing follows a progressive sequence from coarse cutting compounds through fine polishing rouges. Using the correct compound grade and wheel for each metal and stage prevents scratches and achieves a mirror finish efficiently.