Polish on assembled pen

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MPVic

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Dec 23, 2011
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The vast majority of posts suggest NOT buffing after a pen is assembled due to risk of damaging the plating ..... BUT has anyone used a high shine polish LIGHTLY, VERY lightly applied to remove fingerprints, etc. and give it an extra shine?
 
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Terredax

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The hardware, likely won't shine any more than it does. A wipe down with a micro-fiber cloth will remove the finger prints and dust.
 

penicillin

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Feb 27, 2019
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Renasance (spelling?) wax. Wipe it on and buff within 10 seconds. Works nicely. I got mine at either Rockler or Woodcraft. Goes a long way.
In the US, Woodcraft carries Renaissance Wax. Rockler does not. You can also buy it online from many sources. I assume there are places in Canada that sell it too. Renaissance Wax is made in the UK. It was developed for museum conservation - protecting old stuff.

https://picreator.co.uk/renaissance-wax/
US Distributor: https://restorationproduct.com/shop/renaissance-wax/
More info from the US Distributor: https://restorationproduct.com/about/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Wax

You don't need much. It has a strong smell when applied, but the smell fades after you buff it out. I use it mostly for protecting tools, especially the hand tools. If I need to apply wax on something in the shop, I use Renaissance Wax out of convenience.

I tried it on finished pens. Rub on, buff out. Sorry I can't give you anything better than, "It seems okay to me." It shines when buffed out. My friends teased me when I told them that I had tried it on CA finished pens, asking me why I would degrade the polished look. Renaissance Wax probably made it less glossy than raw CA finish polished with nine Micro-mesh pads up to 12,000 grit, my usual finish. Honestly, I could not tell the difference between CA and Renaissance Wax'ed CA finishes, but I am not as picky as some people here. It was an experiment, and I stopped using Renaissance Wax on top of CA because it didn't seem to matter.

(Related, but somewhat off topic: I do some pens with CA finish, and others with a wax finish. When I want a wax finish, I use Hut Crystal Coat friction polish. I am not 100% pleased with it, but it works okay. I will definitely try something different when it is used up. I get a shine, but not a high gloss shine. I have seen others get a very high gloss finish with it, and Hut advertises that it yields a high gloss. I have spoken with them about it to get technique hints. I will keep trying until I get that perfect gloss from Crystal Coat, or I run out, whichever comes first.)
 
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TonyL

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Mar 9, 2014
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I bought some on ebay. It is supposed to be some super-duper stuff. Can't say that I am impressed. It has a step#0, 1 and 2. I just consulted the instructions and can't find a company name or anything. It was about $30 for the 3 parts.
 

Dalecamino

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Jan 2, 2008
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Indianapolis, In.
Mark asked for polishing assembled pens. Friction polish won't work. Renaissance wax is the only product that I am aware of. As I stated, you need to remove it soon after you wipe it on. If it dries, it is harder to remove. I have never found any dullness on CA or pen parts using this product, and have never heard of anyone else complaining about it. Until this thread. It was recommended 10 years ago. I like it. Very good for finger prints.

I found these polishing clothes at Rockler, which I really like for polishing

https://www.rockler.com/polishing-cloth I think they are better than micro fiber clothes.

Mark, good luck in your search.
 

mecompco

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Fairfield, Maine
I have, very carefully, open occasion buffed a completed pen (after the sale maintenance) on my carnauba wax wheel. I do try to avoid the hardware. Not a recommended practice, but sometimes you have to.
 

cozee

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Oct 4, 2005
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Sadorus, IL.
Being a a collision repair tech, I have always finished the pens I turn, acrylics and CA finished ones, the same way I would a vehicle. For daily care, I use Wizard Mist-n-Shine. Great for both the finish and the plating!
 

Dalecamino

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I should have been more specific. I assumed the finish was CA. Ren wax would not be good on another finish. It works on acrylic and CA finishes.
 
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