Thread: Chromium oxide

Originally Posted by gcbryan

Are any compounds more effective than others for polishing blades if you don't have a Dremel and are just polishing by hand?

Currently I'm using graduated grits of sandpaper and micro film but I'd like to do the final polishing (by hand) with the most effective compound I can find.

use metal polish

For hand polish Maas, Flitz, Semi Chrome most wheel polishes, Mothers ect they are cheaper and in larger quanities. Sand to at least 1k with soapy water and polish with a Paper towel, I like the blue shop towles they are more abrasive than the white kitchen are thicker and last longer, I use them until they are completely black. If you are not unpinning, bamboo chop sticks and skewers dipped into polish can get between the scales or to spot clean as it concentrates the pressure and the bamboo end itself is abrasive.

It is hard on the fingers I use a piece of 1/4 in Craft Foam as a pad, available at craft stores in 7X11 sheets. The foam compresses and the edge is burried so you will not slice your fingers. Also keeps the razor from dancing on the bench or scratshing the other side, you just polished.

I have used and tried all of the above methods and all are good. In my shop I have started using a liquid headlight cleaning/un-hazing polish which I assume is a Cerium Oxide, not cheap but it works well for me, especially by hand. When cleaning a razor just before or after honing i most often use MAAS. MAAS also makes a liquid metal polish which I am not thrilled by. Tooth paste works quite well for cleaning scudge off blades and scales and some brands work well as a polish also. A pipe cleaner is a good brush for inside areas of scales and safety razors

Most of the polishes work the strongest just as they dry out. That does not mean that a buffing compound does.

Any separately labeled car cleaner usually works well for clean-up.

Dupont 7 and Turtle Wax also made/make a canned cleaner polishing paste, in a flat can like a car wax. Before the modern huge selection of polishing products I used them for years while employed as an industrial modelmaker. Their rubbing compounds work but are a more coarse iron oxide pumice type compound.
Have fun!
~Richard

Geezer, that's the one I use, Turtle Wax Polishing Compound Scratch Remover, flat white & green can is supposed to be a paste but mines the consistency of sour cream, it's a couple of years old. I have tried the Maas liquid and agree the tootpaste tube is much better and cheaper if you can find the big 4 oz tube. Ace hardware localy used to carry it though I havent bought any in a year or so, I buy 3-4 tubes when I do.

Maas is my favorite hand polish for final polish or touch up cleaning. A little goes a long way a dot about 3/4 inch apart and rub between thumb and forfinger.