Sanding and priming cover most finishing needs, but some parts call for more. Vapour smoothing and polishing can deliver a glossy, almost moulded surface, and knowing when they are worth it helps you spend effort wisely.
What each does
Vapour smoothing uses a controlled process to gently melt the outer surface of certain materials, blending layer lines into a smooth skin. Polishing, by contrast, mechanically refines a surface to a shine and suits some resins and machined parts.
Both work best on the right material and geometry, and both can soften the finest detail if pushed too far.
Choosing the finish
These methods are ideal for display pieces, watertight parts and anything that needs to look manufactured rather than printed. Tell us the look you want and we will recommend whether smoothing, polishing or a painted finish is the better route.