Polishing tools and associated methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a tool for polishing a work piece is provided. Such a tool may include a solid substrate with a greater than 10 wt % graphite having a high degree of graphitization. The solid substrate may have a working surface which has asperities having a tip-to-tip RA value of less than or equal to about 10 .mu.m, and the working surface may have a surface roughness RA value of less than or equal to about 50 .mu.m. A method for making such a tool and a method for polishing a work piece are also presented.