Polishing Mops & Bars - Getting That Perfect Finish
Whether you’re chasing a true mirror finish on aluminium, a bright gloss on stainless, or a deep glow on brass, the secret isn’t just the machine - it’s the right pairing of polishing mops and bars.
At Millin, we stock a full range of polishing mops, cutting buffs and both cutting and finishing compound bars to help you get professional results, whether you’re restoring metal, detailing vehicles, or finishing a fabrication project.
Understanding Bench Mounted Polishing Mops
Polishing mops (also known as buffing wheels) come in different constructions and densities, some are designed for use with handheld grinders doing edge buffing, while others as we are looking at in this blog are for use with bench or pedestal grinders.
The 3 Main Type Of Mop - Cutting, Polishing & Combo
Sisal Mops
Are great for the initial cutting stage on Ferrous Metals, remove heavy scratches, casting marks, rust, scale, and other surface defects, leaving the material ready for finer polishing stages.
White Stitched Mops
Versatile middle ground cutting and polishing, are mostly used for polishing non ferrous metals and will give a high shine finish on ferrous metals
Loose Leaf Cotton or Calico Mops
Are used for final finishing, leaving a bright, high gloss surface.
Choosing the right mop depends on the material and stage of polishing you’re at.
View Our Range Of Bench Mounted Mops Here
Polishing Bars – The Perfect Partner
Polishing bars are designed to work with mops to deliver specific results. The bars are solid compounds loaded with abrasives and lubricants.
Each formula has a specific abrasive blend for metals like stainless steel, aluminium, brass, or chrome.
Colour conventions vary by brand, but generally the following is true:
Cutting Compounds
Designed to remove scratches, oxidation, sanding lines
Grey - Carbrax is a fast cutting compound for ferrous and non ferrous metals.
Brown - Tripoli designed for the first cut on non ferrous metals.
Black Polish - Is a coarse cutting compound for ferrous metals.
Finishing Compounds
Designed to work the buffing process to bring out the final shine.
Green - lime is for final polishing on ferrous and non ferrous metals and stainless steel.
White - Hyfin is used for a high finish on ferrous metals.
Blue - Multi Shine designed to give a high gloss finish on soft metals and alloys.
View Our Range Of Polishing Bars Here
For the best results, always pair the right mop with the right bar, for example, a sisal mop with a brown cutting compound, followed by a soft cotton mop with a white finishing bar.
Pro Tip: I recommend having one mop for each compound. Mark the hub (e.g., “Tripoli,” “Blue,” “White”) to avoid cross contamination and grey haze.
Pairing the right mop with the right polishing bar for each stage is the secret to professional glossy results.
If you keep your mops clean, match with the correct compound and work methodically from cut to colour to finish - you’ll transform your results from simply good to true showroom shine, every single time.
If you have any questions please get in touch Ask Matt