Design Nomenclature / Physical Model Making

Abrasive finishing

Also called sanding, linishing, lapping, honing, buffing

This entry has not been translated yet and is shown in English.

Cutting a surface with bonded or loose abrasive — sanding, brushing, lapping, honing, polishing. Each works by replacing the last operation's scratches with finer ones, so a finish is named by its final grit and by the direction that grit ran. None of it adds anything; it removes form as readily as it removes flaw.

Four panels left to right, numbered, each a small section with the step named beneath it. A hatched patch ruled with parallel scratches all running one way; the same patch scratched at unrelated angles in every direction; a block whose surface curves, with loose media riding over it and following the form it is pressed against; and a plain panel carrying the specification itself — the grit number 320 above the words "+ LAY".

In practice

Directional or not is the whole specification. The same 320 grit gives a brushed finish on a linisher and a uniform matte on a random orbital, and two panels finished the two ways will not meet at a corner.

Not to be confused with

How this term connects

Abrasive blastingBrushed finishGrainGrit progressionPolished finishRoughnessAbrasive finishing
Related Confused with