Pen Polishing

[warblerick]

Question; can Simichrome polish be used on "plastic" type pens or just on metal pens?

[3rdlakerobert]

I have't had any problems and use it on Sheaffers all the time. Long time ago I heard it would remove chrome plating from your bumper if you tried it on rust (see, told you it was a long time ago).

[OcalaFlGuy]

I wouldn't say that Simichrome itself is a good scratch remover.

 

It's a very fine abrasive. I'd use it for general "desk wear" dullness, but visible scratches will require Repeated polishings with

Just Simichrome.

 

It's also important to get All Remnants of it off as after it dries well, that's harder to do. (And the Pros foam at the mouth when

they have to scrape the dried Simichrome off first.)

 

Plus, be sure to mask off all trim and imprints.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[rtrinkner]

Simichrome is my go-to polish for nearly all the pens I work on. It's fantastic.

 

One huge caveat: although it works well on high-quality pens (e.g., Parker, Sheaffer, Wahl, Waterman, etc.), it will quickly strip all gold plating from cheaper makes. Years ago, I accidentally stripped gold plating on several inexpensive pens. For those pens, use a milder, dedicated fountain-pen polish.

 

I've never experienced a problem on the plastic portion of pens with Simichrome. On some hard rubber pens, it can remove the shiny patina.

 

For a glossy sheen on most pens, you can do a final polish with carnauba wax.

 

Richard

[rtrinkner]

Also, don't use it on plated nibs. It can remove the silver-colored mask on vintage two-tone Sheaffer and Parker nibs.

 

If you use it on a nib at all, use it only on solid gold nibs very sparingly and be sure that no polish makes its way between the tines or into the feed where it can block ink flow. If your nib is shiny and has no hard-to-remove ink stains, don't be tempted to use Simichrome on the nib for the heck of it.

 

If you have a badly stained nib or a nib with decades-old dried ink that won't come off with ammonia and water, you're probably best off to knock out the nib/feed so you can polish the nib with Simichrome and make sure it's completely clean before you re-install it and the feed.

[Manalto]

I've had excellent results using Simichrome to bring back the shine on plastic pens. A tiny dab, super-soft flannel and a light touch does the trick. Solid (unplated) metal responds beautifully. I haven't used it on plating because of the warnings (thank you) I've read here.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Indeed, a piece of scrap flannel shirt Is a secret weapon of hand polishing.

 

$3 from Goodwill and you have a near lifetime of quality polishing material.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[JotterAddict62]

Indeed, a piece of scrap flannel shirt Is a secret weapon of hand polishing.

 

$3 from Goodwill and you have a near lifetime of quality polishing material.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

A few weeks ago I went thru my old cotton shirts with the worn out collars and cut them up for pen rags. [ 20 year old shirts ] I buy clothes to last a long long time.

[lcoldfield]

Micro gloss as used by the air force to polish canopies is a safer option for plastic pens. Microgloss is water based so will have no long term effect on plastics. I understand that Simichrome is a metal polish with solvent content. If you insist on using Simichrome, be sure that no residues are left.

Laurence

[kirchh]

I dislike Simchrome and have never found any reasin to use it over another product or method. Probably a third of the pens that cross my bench for work other than dent reversal have Simichrome traces lodged in the crevices from stem to stern. I see no reason to use it on a pen -- especially a plastic pen.

 

--Daniel

[Manalto]

I dislike Simchrome and ...see no reason to use it on a pen -- especially a plastic pen.

 

--Daniel

 

To make it glossy.

[Manalto]

Micro gloss as used by the air force to polish canopies is a safer option for plastic pens. Microgloss is water based so will have no long term effect on plastics. I understand that Simichrome is a metal polish with solvent content. If you insist on using Simichrome, be sure that no residues are left.

Laurence

 

The nice thing about Simichrome is that one is able to find it. I don't happen to have an air force handy.

[gweimer1]

I've been using the Novus 3-step product, and I've been happy with it.

[claudewick]

I've been using the Novus 3-step product, and I've been happy with it.

+1

[kirchh]

To make it glossy.

I see no reason to use Simichrome over other products to make a plastic pen glossy.

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

 

The nice thing about Simichrome is that one is able to find it. I don't happen to have an air force handy.

I believe he said Micro-gloss was used by the Air Force, not that it was supplied by the Air Force.

 

--Daniel

[gweimer1]

Here you go...

http://www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Tool-Supply-Micro-Gloss-Windshield/dp/B005VR49RC

 

http://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-7136-Plastic-Polish-Kit/dp/B002UD0GIG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_indust_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0M2H78E5Z7SRPGXES7V1

[Manalto]

Thank you! For some reason, I wasn't having any luck finding the Micor-Golss.

Edited April 4, 2015 by Manalto

[tommy_siu]

Hi guys you may want to try the Tamiya polishing compound that comes in a set. You can easily find this on ebay. It is aimed for use on plastic and should be safe on any pens made of polymer resin.

[kirchh]

I've been using the Novus 3-step product, and I've been happy with it.

I don't like the Novus products because the finer grades contain substances that are formulated to stay behind, such as silicone and wax.

 

--Daniel