Thread: Cleaning Scales

Hi Gang, What can/or what do you guys use to safely clean scales with? I have a few dubl ducks with brass inlays and want to polish up the tarnished inlays a bit to make them shine. But at the same time do not want to harm the scales. Any input is as always appreciated.

Well, the one thing I can caution you about is do not use a Dremel on synthetic material scales. It can melt the material, especially aroung the edges. I use a plastic polishing compound on a flannel buffing wheel operating at 1750 rpm. For just the bolsters I would use MAAS or any other metal polishing goop and a cloth.
Then clean it up with a soft tooth brush.

Hope this helps,

Usually, when I get a used razor the first thing I do as far as the scales go is just use some old fashioned soap and water and a very soft brush. That will usually clean off the gunk that has accumulated. If the material is dull and I want to shine it up I will use the Dremmel but I must warn you that you must be sure of the scale material so you know the kind of polishing media and rouge to use. If its bone or ivory it will take more speed and rougher materials but if its plastic or celluloid you must be very careful. A dremmel will burn up celluloid in a heartbeat. I usually use a chamois wheel with a special rouge I have designed for plastic and use very light and brief strokes and very low speed with it (for plastic and celluloid). If its bone type materials a muslin wheel with a red jewelers rouge works well.

There are various polishing clothes out there designed for gold and silver that work also but they take longer but are safer.

I like the soap and water with the brush for inside the scales. After drying, I use a little sewing machine oil at the pin. For the outside though, I always use Maas and a cloth. I have not seen the handle yet that won't come clean and shine after one or two applications by hand. Just rub it in and use the cloth to wipe it off and buff. Have fun. Lynn

I'm with Lynn on this one. Maas really cleaned up a nice three pin Dublduck I got off Ebay. The false tortoise scales and brass look brand new now. That Maas is good stuff!





Wayne

I stopped at a hardware store, craft store and a linens and things. none had maas.

I could not find Maas here in my area at all. This was a big letdown. But on the bright side I ordered the Internet Special directly from MAAS themselves. Now I have it on the way!
http://www.maasinc.com/products.html
And thanks fellas for the responses on cleaning the scales. Seems MAAS is the stuff for them.

Try Walgreens.

Originally Posted by Techy

I could not find Maas here in my area

In my area Wal-Mart Supercenter Stores carry it -- in the ones I've shopped locally it's always been in the grocery side of the store in the cleaning products isle (where you find windex, furnature polish, comet, etc.) -- right next to the silver polish. (When I first looked for it in Wal-Mart I searched in the automobile products dept and the housewares dept... they never heard of it in those areas.)

I use soap and water first and than Maas. Works for me.