FIBRE OPTIC POLISHING TOOL

A polishing tool 1 for polishing fibre optic ferrules, contacts or pins within fibre optic connectors, comprising a handle portion 2 and a polishing probe 3, wherein the handle portion 2 comprises mounting means (4, fig 2) to attach the polishing probe 3 to the handle portion 2, a spool (9, fig 2) for holding a supply of polishing paper (10, fig 2), a store (11, fig 4) for holding used polishing paper (12, fig 2), and wherein the polishing probe 3 comprises a probe head 8 mounted at a distal end 5 of the polishing probe 3, guide means (13, fig 3) to guide the polishing paper 10 from the supply spool (9, fig 2), over the probe head 8 and back into the used paper store, and resilient biasing means (18, fig 3) to control pressure of the probe head 8 in use. A method of using the tool is also disclosed, whereby the tool head is positioned over the surface to be polished and polishing paper is passed over the probe head to polish the surface, with used paper moved to the used paper store and the dirt and debris collected from it.