TOUCH UP Only in the case of a very loose customer surface finish specification would the pre-polished finish be allowed to be the final surface finish. We would always recommend that at least one mechanical polish pass be performed on all surfaces to make the vessel surface appear uniform. This being the case, any repairs required after inspection will be easily blended and will not be subject to further visual scrutiny by an inspector. In most cases, the person performing the inspection will probably be a welding inspector who doesn't know much about polishing. Even though the visual look of the vessel will have no meaning by specification, the inspectors perception of the finish will. Uniformity of the finish should always be a consideration. In the case of an electropolished vessel, touch-up is a much more serious problem. After a vessel has been electropolished, the finish will be very bright an show little or no signs of visual flaw. By having to go in the vessel and perform touch-up work you risk further damaging the finish. Traffic in the vessel should be minimized at all costs after completion of electropolishing.