Using auto polishing products on blanks.

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mredburn

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My bottle of Hut Ultra Gloss polishing compound is about gone. I have read by a couple of our good members, Penman1 in particular, that use automotive polishing compounds to polish their pen blanks. So I used the fact that I am about out to buy some different products and try them out for myself.

For this test I bought Turtle Wax Premium Polishing compound, Meguiar's- Scratch 20, Plastx. and ultimate Polish for polishing and Mequiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax for the final coating.
There were some off brands I did not recognize and some lens polishing compounds that probably would have worked as well but the "Works even faster" left me to believe it would be courser than I wanted.

I turned all the blanks the same using some odd ball blanks I have. I sanded all the blanks the same, wet sanding 320, 400, 600, grits then MMesh 4000,6000.8000,12000, also wet sanded. I sanded laterally with all grits as well.

I then applied all the finishing compounds the same. Slow the lathe down, apply the compound, speed the lathe up, rub quickly back and fourth at first then slowing down to final pass that will about scorch your fingers.

I then applied a coat of the Ultimate liguid wax to all 4 test blanks.

I believe the Turtle wax was the cheapest of the 4 just under $7.00 and the other compounds (with the exception of the liquid wax, $19.00 for the kit)were $7 to $10.00

THe turtle wax is 18fl ounces, the ultimate Polish is 16 fl oz, the plastx is10fl oz, and the scratch 20 is 7fl oz. All of these are thicker than the Hut product. A couple, the Turtlewax in particular was very creamy. (Full bodied with a hint of fruit):biggrin:

I had excellent results with all of them. I showed them to my wife and she couldnt tell any difference between them for shine.

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I know I now have enough polishing compounds for 25 years of pen making.:eek:
I may have to think about polishing the car to use some of it up. It may go bad before I can use it all. :biggrin:

All in all great results from reasonable sources and prices.
 

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Great test !! It should help alot of us out here who were wondering about different polishes. I have used several of these products in the past with no problems. I could bring a couple of my cars down if you want to use up some of that wax.
 
My bottle of Hut Ultra Gloss polishing compound is about gone. I have read by a couple of our good members, Penman1 in particular, that use automotive polishing compounds to polish their pen blanks. So I used the fact that I am about out to buy some different products and try them out for myself.

For this test I bought Turtle Wax Premium Polishing compound, Meguiar's- Scratch 20, Plastx. and ultimate Polish for polishing and Mequiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax for the final coating.
There were some off brands I did not recognize and some lens polishing compounds that probably would have worked as well but the "Works even faster" left me to believe it would be courser than I wanted.

I turned all the blanks the same using some odd ball blanks I have. I sanded all the blanks the same, wet sanding 320, 400, 600, grits then MMesh 4000,6000.8000,12000, also wet sanded. I sanded laterally with all grits as well.

I then applied all the finishing compounds the same. Slow the lathe down, apply the compound, speed the lathe up, rub quickly back and fourth at first then slowing down to final pass that will about scorch your fingers.

I then applied a coat of the Ultimate liguid wax to all 4 test blanks.

I believe the Turtle wax was the cheapest of the 4 just under $7.00 and the other compounds (with the exception of the liquid wax, $19.00 for the kit)were $7 to $10.00

THe turtle wax is 18fl ounces, the ultimate Polish is 16 fl oz, the plastx is10fl oz, and the scratch 20 is 7fl oz. All of these are thicker than the Hut product. A couple, the Turtlewax in particular was very creamy. (Full bodied with a hint of fruit):biggrin:

I had excellent results with all of them. I showed them to my wife and she couldnt tell any difference between them for shine.

attachment.php


attachment.php


attachment.php


I know I now have enough polishing compounds for 25 years of pen making.:eek:
I may have to think about polishing the car to use some of it up. It may go bad before I can use it all. :biggrin:

All in all great results from reasonable sources and prices.
I like Turtle. Big fan...however I need to focus on better/fine sanding.
 
Was going over this forum section to find a solution to a glitch. Flitz is also sold by restaurant supply houses for silver chafing dishes, etc. It can be used on firearms as it polishes and preserves.
 
I've been a fan of both Plast-X and Meguire's polishes for a long while, but while attending the Mid-Atlantic Woodturners Symposium (MAWTS) last fall in Lancaster, PA, one of the vendors in the trade show was a supplier to the body shop industry. He had a piece of Alumilite clamped into a drill and was showing polishing it with something I had never heard of - Rupes High Performance Polishing Compound. This stuff is made in Italy and it comes in course, fine and extra fine grade. Not a big believer, I roughed up the test piece pretty good and then following his instructions proceeded to polish the Alumilite stub - and it worked exceedingly well. He suggested needing only the course and fine for turning, claiming the extra fine was only needed to buff out black finishes like Amish black buggy finish (which really shine around here). I bought two starter bottles from him and have not looked back. I did invest in the extra fine as well, and using the three polishes in succession, applied with a micro-cloth towel, I am getting really high shine with no scratches on Alumilite, Liquid Diamonds, and now DiamondCast resin from Tim McKenzie. You can order it from Amazon. I recommend it over both the Mequire's and Plast-X.
 
Bodyman/custom painter by trade. Though done many years ago, the bottle stopper was cut and buffed with 3M Perfect II compounds and waxed with plain ol' Turtle wax. It looks just as good today as it does in the picture. Today, I compound with Magic Juice and wax with Wizard's Mystic Nano wax. I am experimenting with a couple ceramic formulated waxes.
 

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I've posted this polishing chart a few times before when I see someone comparing polishing compounds in the hope that it might be useful to some (Its several years old now so it might be getting outdated). I personally use the Novus 3-2-1 system I get on Amazon. I wet sand from 320-800. I used to use a 9 step micro mesh from 1500 to 12,000 (wet as well), and then I used the Novus 3, 2, and 1 plastic polish products. However, one day I was curious and I went straight from the 800 to the Novus, eliminating all the micro mesh. I compared 2 pens, side by side, one using the micro mesh and one skipping it. I absolutely could not tell any difference so I was very happy to eliminate the 9 steps of the micro mesh. Not only was it a big time saver, but it really cut down on the mess that the wet pads made.
 

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