Plastic Polish & Scratch Remover

[agross]

Hi All

 

has anyone used Novus plastic polish & scratch remover on their resin pens, or any other suggestions

cheers & thanks

[Beechwood]

I havent used it myself, I have used Meguiars PlastrX and an older plastic product called Plastic Cleaner by Meguiars and was happy with the results.

 

There are many threads on polishing in this section, many people use Simichrome as the opening salvo and work on from there. some people swear by Micro-Gloss.

 

Will be following this thread to see the comments made by others who have used Novus.

 

 

Edit: Just done a search and one member found Novus to be ineffective at removing scratches.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/308638-novus-scratch-remover/?hl=novus

Edited September 16, 2017 by Beechwood

[Ron Z]

I do worry about what may be in some of the plastic polishes available at auto stores. A modern acrylic or other plastic may not be effected by the solvents or other chemicals in them, but celluloid may be, especially vintage celluloid. For quite some time carnauba wax was popular, and I used it, until I found that it contains natural acids, and also seals the surface of the plastic so it can't breathe. Not big deal, but with vintage celluloid it can be.

 

There are two grades of Microgloss, and neither contains solvents or chemicals that can harm a pen. Its the safest stuff I know of.

[Chi Town]

For the most part, I alway use SimiChrome, followed up Renassonanice Wax in the white can, and it never fails me. I use the SC, very sparlyingly....There is a Red Can that is sometimes sold with the white can, and I use that on the Gold and Nibs that are very tarnished. I am down stairs and all my stuff is upstairs. If anyone needs the name of the Red can, just let me know and I'll go up and write it down and post it here.......You cand find the white can and Red Can on Amaz___ or the bay......

 

PS - I have also used Ron Zorn's Wax and that is some very Good stuff also!

Edited September 21, 2017 by Chi Town

[gweimer1]

I have used the three step Novus products, but avoided using the final #1 bottle. I know there are elements in there that put something like a coat of wax over the pen. I switched to Microgloss a couple years back after reading the discussions here. Microgloss works better for me, and costs less in the long run.

The only time I use the Novus #3 or #2 now is for some materials that just won't shine up.

[PaulS]

Micro Mesh creams are water based and don't leave any residue on the pen - they may not be the cheapest, but don't imagine this is an area to become overly worried about cost since some of the pens are worth vastly more - developed originally so the story goes for polishing aircraft Perspex canopies).

Time was that Renaissance was all the rage, and I did use it for some while, but it does leave a very thin (silicone?) residue which dries hard and which is apparently difficult to remove (would you need to?). It's supposed to freshen colours, so might appeal from that point of view, and was one time a darling of the British Museum, but have a feeling some one said they no longer use it.

I've used Carnauba wax, but on leather for bookbinding only, so no idea how it might react on 'plastics', and never tried Novus.

 

I'd go with Ron's suggestion that microgloss is the safest - that's assuming it is the same product as Micro Mesh.

 

'Scratches' is a rather vague word - are we talking micro scratches or much more visible things - if much bigger if might prove easier to remove them by starting out with some w. & d. paper in the region of 6,000 to 12,000 grit, then moving on to the creams.

Edited September 22, 2017 by PaulS

[Beechwood]

Micro gloss and micro mesh

[Menuhin]

​I use a set of micro mesh pads and some metal polishing cream.

[PaulS]

thanks for the pix of Micro Gloss and Mesh pads. The pads are harmless since they simply require water similar to other w. & d. material, and there aren't any chemicals involved. Obviously the liquid Gloss is a different product to Micro Mesh creams, but they sound to both achieve the same result.

I don't know if there are any 'nasties' in metal polish

[PAKMAN]

Semi Chrome works for me, but stay clear of thinly plated metals!

[Beechwood]

Semi Chrome works for me, but stay clear of thinly plated metals!

 

 

And Simichrome also for me, whether I am too heavy handed I dont know, I have to mask off the threads and any engraving, and the particles from the polish do tend to get everywhere.