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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Mandurah, WA
    Posts
    41

    Default Wax free, solvent free polishing compound ?

    Gents,

    I am doing some polishing work that then requires me to use a hot blue finish. Any sort of wax residue will compromise the hot blue process. Brownells, in the USA sells a wax free polish http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...--prod543.aspx

    Does anyone know of a local product or source I can use instead of ordering from the US ?

    Thanks,

    Mike

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Perth W.A
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Hi Mike you could try jewellers rouge or something similar from here,


    http://jewellerssupplies.com.au/adva...keywords=rouge

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,410

    Default

    Many polishing compouds, both cheap and expensive ones, contain as the abrasive agent lava pumice. A well known example is Brasso. But its also used in car polish and even in ceramic cooktop polish and airplane acrylic window polish..... Of course always mixed with some sort of more or less nice smelling solvent and wax mixtures to justify the price.

    So if you are just after the abrasive component, it's pumice. Obtained from finely grinding lava rock. Now, where can you nowdays buy pumice powder in small quantities, I do not know. By the way, when applying pumice the fine granules break down ever further, become smaller the longer you rub. So the longer you rub, the finer the polish result gets.

    What about scouring powder (remember the white Ajax powder?) coud that do your job? Contains no solvents or waxes or oils, but it contains detergents/soaps.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    490

    Default

    There are a range of polishing compounds for automotive paint - they'd certainly be wax free, and the only sort of solvent is either water or something ammonia based (by the smell of them anyway). Ask in an automotive paint trade store, I'm sure they'd have something.

    Ubueat sells pure rottenstone/tripoli powder.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Bellingen
    Posts
    278

    Default

    Pumice powder is used in the traditional shellac finishes. I'm sure you can buy a small bag of it somewhere.
    I normally use #0000 steel wool when I'm doing and cold bluing.... I can't say I'm good at it! Decent results but never mind blowing. Hot bluing is a different is in a different league all together..
    Have you got a tip to share?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas, USA
    Posts
    17

    Default

    If you don't have a very large area to polish these will do a great job and leave no residue.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICRO-MESH-F...item27e5363367
    The stone age didn't end because the cavemen ran out of stones...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    It should not be a problem if the polish contains wax as you need to clean the item with a solvent befofe you
    hot bue

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Toogoolawah, Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    44

    Default

    Both Pumice and Rottenstone are available from the Woodworks Tool & Book Company in Sydney. Either product should do the job you're looking at.

    http://www.thewoodworks.com.au/shop/...ttenstone-talc

    Regards,

    RoyG
    Manufacturer of the Finest Quality Swarf.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Tallahassee FL USA
    Age
    82
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Several years ago, NASA found the best polish for aluminium (for airplanes to reduce wind resistance and improve fuel consumption) was India ink. I believe it's water based, so should clean up readily.

    Cheers,
    Joe
    Of course truth is stranger than fiction.
    Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
    Posts
    4,255

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ben Dono View Post
    Pumice powder is used in the traditional shellac finishes.
    are you sure?...is that for a specific type of shellac

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Bellingen
    Posts
    278

    Default

    Eskimo yep it's one of many products used for different effects...from memory anyway when I did a bit of searching on the topic a lot of years ago. Exactly where it was used in the process.. Well that was forgotten a long time ago. At a guess it can be used as an abrasive to cut back the shelac, maybe as a filler... Maybe not. Or maybe it was used in the burnt shelac finish..

    I did a quick search on it before I posted to make sure I remembered correctly...

    Actually, If I'm going to post it up, I should do the search!

    It is used to fill pores

    http://www.mandolinluthier.com/Hfini...nchpolish3.htm

    Their was an article I read years ago on a cracked, burnt on shelac finish that they used a lambs wool buffer at high speed. I think they used pumice to create a bit of friction/heat to help the finish flash off faster.

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