Polish and finish jewellery or silverware to meet commercial needs

URN: CCSJ314
Business Sectors (Suites): Jewellery Manufacture, Silversmithing and Allied Trades
Developed by: Creative & Cultural Skills
Approved on: 14 Aug 2015

Overview

This standard covers the skills to polish and finish components using techniques to achieve a commercial standard.  This can include using polishing lathes, pendant motors, ultrasonic methods on a range of metals.  You will use a range of mops, bobs and compounds to achieve the finish required for different products.

In polishing the items, you will be required to work to instructions and to use a range of polishing and finishing techniques appropriate to the type of material and finish required.  During, and on completion of, the polishing operations, you will be expected to check the quality of the work using specified guidelines appropriate to the type of finish required.

You will need to be able to recognise any defects and take appropriate action to put right any faults that occur ensuring that the finished work meets the specification required.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. research commercial finishes on work for different projects in line with industry best practice
  2. polish work made in a range of precious metals for different projects in line with industry best practice
  3. finish work using a range of equipment in line with workplace instructions
  4. check components are dimensionally accurate, the forming is correct and there are no excessive marks visible in line with project needs
  5. produce commercial finishes in line with project needs
  6. seek support and guidance when problems arise in line with workplace instructions
  7. check the work for defects in line with the needs of the project
  8. take action to rectify any defects detected in line with industry best practice
  9. complete the work to the given specification in line with workplace instructions

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. safety precautions to be taken when polishing and finishing to commercial standards
  2. common compounds such as abrasive, polishing, finishing and matting
  3. common mops, brushes, felt bobs, composition wheels
  4. how to dress mops and bobs
  5. where to find sources of information about commercial finishing and polishing
  6. safe methods for presentation of objects to the polishing lathe
  7. the correct sequence in removing fire-stain, preliminary abrasive polishing, bright polishing and finishing
  8. how to achieve commercially acceptable finishes
  9. hand polishing techniques
  10. who to ask for support and when to do so
  11. how to check finished work pieces for dimensional accuracy
  12. how to check final pieces meet needs of specification
  13. functions of the materials used in barrel polishing
  14. uses of ultrasonic cleaning machines and hand methods of cleaning
  15. uses of sawdust drying
  16. uses of plating equipment including the micron thickness for different products
  17. how to check that the finishing meets the needs of the specification
  18. best practice in commercial finishing within chosen jewellery industry
  19. the importance of following the given specification and timescales
  20. common defects and ways to rectify these

Scope/range

1.       Precious metals and equipment can include:


Group 1 – Jeweller


Precious metals:


    1. silver
    2. gold
    3. platinum
    4. palladium


Equipment:


    1. polishing lathe
    2. pendant motor
    3. ultrasonic
    4. rhodium and gold plating 


OR


Group 2 – Silversmith


Precious metals:


    1. silver
    2. gold

 

Equipment:


  1. polishing lathe
  2. pendant motor
  3. ultrasonic
  4. silver plating and gold plating​


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

14 Aug 2018

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Creative & Cultural Skills

Original URN

CCSJ3.14

Relevant Occupations

Design Associate Professionals, Skilled Trades NEC

SOC Code

5449

Keywords

Jewellery; design; technique; production; manufacture; silverwork; silversmithing; commercial; finishing; polishing; motor; lathe; finish