Chris Burton
Member
What do you like to use? Is Novus the accepted standard, or is there something better?
polish for 'plastic'?
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Drstrangefart
Member
I use Simoniz Vista car wax. Works great for me. I'm not particular about the brand of wax, just as long as it's a liquid wax. Makes it easy to apply. A few coats and I'm done! It also brings an unreal shine to CA finishes, as they're plastic, too.
glycerine
Member
I use the HUT Ultra Gloss Plastic Polish...
Texatdurango
Member
I never use plastic "polish" to shine my pens after sanding, instead I use polishing compounds.
Compounds or "scratch removers" are designed to remove scratch and swirl marks left by sanding, using a finer polish does little to remove these scratch and swirl patterns.
I use Novus and they make three products; #3 Heavy scratch remover, #2 Fine scratch remover and finally #1 Plastic clean and shine.
Needless to say, after sanding I will usually start with #3 then #2 then off to the buffer. Depending on the material, often the Novus #3 and #2 are sufficient without buffing.
The only time I use the Novus #1 is to periodically polish the pens on display. It's anti-static so helps the pens from collecting dust while sitting on my display racks.
I save the car waxes for my cars and brasso for my brass.
Compounds or "scratch removers" are designed to remove scratch and swirl marks left by sanding, using a finer polish does little to remove these scratch and swirl patterns.
I use Novus and they make three products; #3 Heavy scratch remover, #2 Fine scratch remover and finally #1 Plastic clean and shine.
Needless to say, after sanding I will usually start with #3 then #2 then off to the buffer. Depending on the material, often the Novus #3 and #2 are sufficient without buffing.
The only time I use the Novus #1 is to periodically polish the pens on display. It's anti-static so helps the pens from collecting dust while sitting on my display racks.
I save the car waxes for my cars and brasso for my brass.
IPD_Mr
Member
Brasso and even semichrome are an abrasive. They can remove plating so be aware. Here is the problem with rubbing, buffing and wax compounds meant for cars: The chemicals do not play nice with vintage materials. No we do not generally use vintage materials in the pens that most of us make. I do use ceboplast when I can get it, I use celluloid with some segmenting, I use Ebonite and I have even used old Sheaffer rod. We had looked into a 5 part polishing system that we thought about offering. We sent samples and MSDS to prominent vintage pen people. This was a product that was designed for Mercedes coming out of the factory. Everybody said this stuff will hurt your pens. Everyone has a preference, I loved the new 5 part system but I could not in good conscience offer something that would have a potential to react chemically.
OKLAHOMAN
Member
I used to use Mequires swirl remover until I started using Novus and I use it the same as Tex, but what is car polish:wink:? People still polish cars? Once a week to the car wash for the deluxe job:biggrin:
? Once a week to the car wash for the deluxe job:biggrin:gwilki
Member
I follow George's regime of Novus. I've used it on all the different plastics that I've turned and never had a bad reaction. As Mike said, be careful of auto products.
warreng8170
Member
Mequires PlastiX for me. I get hundreds of pens from one bottle. Easy to find locally.
Lenny
Member
Novus 2 followed by Meguiare's PlastX for me.
philb
Member
Have just bought a tube of Megs and seems to shine up very nicely! I applied after buffing, don't know if before buffing would of been better ?