Boards

MrNoo

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Cirencester
How do you get a mirror finish on your boards
Use them!!!
If rusty and pitted then shot blast them, then set to with flap discs in the grinder, keep them flat and try and ensure the scratches from the pad align with soil flow. Use coarse and then as they get better use some finer flap discs. I then use some decent quality 80 sandpaper (wet and dry) with some diesel and by hand rub the paper along direction of soil flow.
I normally find that is enough for our ground here (which will stick like sh*t to a stick) then it'll take a season or two to get them spot on. But it all depends what ground you have to plough, anything abrasive with a bit of body and you'll be fine but on our brash they have to half decent. I do have one field here that will polish the boards up so much that you could use them as a mirror for shaving!
I recon on a full day per board (Fergie) to get them spot on.
Mirror finish wont last 5 minutes and will actually not be helpful when ploughing in some soils but if that is what you want then using granite polishing pads, going in finer grades and then use a polishing mop (cotton) with polishing compound (like a wax bar, coarse and fine) a lot of work and no good for match ploughing.
 

TrickyT

Member
I can be done, but as mentioned, takes a lot of time and effort.

I did my boards all with a flap disc, but if I was to do it again, I would either make sure the boards were decent before buying or do as @MrNoo suggests and get them shot blasted first.

This is after I had done some work on the front board. You can see all of the pitting on the rear board.

IMG_20140831_114536.jpg


This was the finished result.

IMG_20140905_153334.jpg


However, this soon disappears in stony soil or if you forget to treat them after a match and get some road salt on them on the way home. :)

Trevor
 

Howard150

Member
Location
Yorkshire
How do you get a mirror finish on your boards

A lot of people expend far too much money and effort on their quest for the perfect mirror finish.
Mr No provides an admirable description of how to get there.
I got some RWM’s a while back. Not rusty but they would not plough. Took them off in the end.
Klingspor brought some abrasive discs out called ACT. Rep called with some which I tried on the RWM’s. I got 36 grit for the rougher bits then 80 or 100 for the last bit. 80’s are more durable than the 100’s. Put the boards back on and never looked back. The boards were bright after this treatment but not Mirror finish. No need for it. As mr Noo says work in line with the soil flow. Kristeel boards are reliant on microscopic grooves on their face to stop soil sticking.
whatever you do to your boards there will never ever be any substitute or replacement for soil polish. Give them some work. It will pay dividends.
 

arcobob

Member
Location
Norfolk
A lot of people expend far too much money and effort on their quest for the perfect mirror finish.
Mr No provides an admirable description of how to get there.
I got some RWM’s a while back. Not rusty but they would not plough. Took them off in the end.
Klingspor brought some abrasive discs out called ACT. Rep called with some which I tried on the RWM’s. I got 36 grit for the rougher bits then 80 or 100 for the last bit. 80’s are more durable than the 100’s. Put the boards back on and never looked back. The boards were bright after this treatment but not Mirror finish. No need for it. As mr Noo says work in line with the soil flow. Kristeel boards are reliant on microscopic grooves on their face to stop soil sticking.
whatever you do to your boards there will never ever be any substitute or replacement for soil polish. Give them some work. It will pay dividends.
To hasten the natural process you enhance friction by the following physical factors--abrasive property, pressure and speed. Gritty, light soils don`t work as well some with body to provide pressure and the faster you travel the degree of friction increases.
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
exactly, and why Ploughing out the headlands does the best job of it (all other things being equal,) and also why greasing the boards (or what ever you use ) should be done as soon as when finished / before you leave the field :sneaky:,
well that is unless youre starting the next field right on....
 

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