Abstract: The method for polishing stainless steel laminate press plates to produce a nondirectional, high gloss surface is achieved by initially preparing a laminate press plate for subsequent polishing and polishing the stainless steel plate in a water slurry with at least one polishing pad comprising precisely shaped pyramids containing micron graded mineral. The resulting laminate press plate is then used in the manufacture of a decorative laminate manufactured by stacking a plurality of synthetic resin impregnated paper sheets, placing the resin impregnated paper sheets between laminate press plates to produce a laminate stack and heating the laminate stack to temperatures for a time sufficient to consolidate the laminate and cure the resins.