Flame Polishing

Flame polishing is a method of polishing thermoplastics by applying heat or a flame. An oxyhydrogen torch is used to heat up the plastic material, usually an acrylic substrate. The torch is powered using distilled water and electricity to create the hydrogen and oxygen used as fuel. Creating and using these two elements as fuel helps to avoid any chemical reaction between the flame as it burns, and the plastic being polished. The heat liquifies the surface of the material, releasing surface tension, which in turn smooths and levels itself out creating a highly polished appearance. 

Usually after cutting the acrylic material, most of the unwanted marks can be sanded away initially by hand to remove the largest and the worst of the blemishes and bumps that cutting might leave behind. Then the surface can be finally polished back to a glossy and clean finish with the application of flame polishing. The advantages of this method are the outcome is aesthetically pleasing, it is hard-wearing and durable, it’s clean and is very cost-effective.