Anyone Used MAAS metal polish?

[KCat]

I picked up some for work around the house - the stuff works great on chrome and says it's safe for gold and most other metals. Not for plating of course.

 

Seemed to work very well getting the gunk off an old stainless nib - but wanted to know if anyone has tried it or if they know of any warnings about it. I can't tell you anything about it other than it got a purple ink stain off my fiberglass sink and months of lime build-up as well. So it seems to be pretty powerful. But it doesn't have a strong smell like Flitz which makes it much more pleasant to use. I would *think* that as long as I clean parts thoroughly after using it - that it would be safe

 

even if I can't use it on pen stuff - wow the chrome will shine in this place when we put it on the market!

[Gerry]

I have never seen the product up here in Canada, but it sounds very interesting.

 

How much would a tube of it cost?

 

Would you be interested in swapping it for an equivalent value in Shellac flakes?

 

Gerry

[KCat]

it was either 4USD and change or 5USD and change. For a 2 oz (57g) tube. Much cheaper than the prices I've seen for simichrome or flitz though I'm suspecting it's stronger than either of these. Thus far I see no damage to the one plastic pen I used it on (test case). But it's biggest value for me is in what it does for Chrome.

 

They're based in Il. I'll try to find a website or something.

 

The box, if I can find it, lists about 30 metals it can be used safely on including antiques. It only excludes plated finishes I think, though a response on PT indicatest that it probably would be bad for laquer finishes. I think you could use it on anything that isn't a "coating" basically.

 

shoot yeah, I'd swap some. Not sure how much flakes cost but even just a small supply would be great.

[kathywc]

How about Flitz metal polish? I was looking through one of my catalogs this week where I buy small tools for my armoring, and saw it. Any one know it? Use it?

 

kathy wc

[Keith with a capital K]

Flitz is an excellent polish for pens as it is very mild and the results you get are very good.

 

The polishes I use are Simichrome, Flitz, and the range of polishes and scratch removers I get from Tryphon, I only use Simichrome on pen barrels and caps and never on any plated surfaces as it is more abrasive. Any repeated polishing of plated sufaces will eventually remove the plating and I would prefer that a pen's gold surfaces has a nice patina than be bright and shiny.

 

Simichrome is also an excellent material to use when cleaning cap and barrel threads, a little Simichrome on a damp q-tip works wonders to remove those stubborn ink stains.

[danvshea]

I once used a product called "Mother's Mag and Aluminum" polish. Typewriter collectors use this to clean and polish their machines. Keith, the duofold you have of mine now, when I found it in the wild, it was pea-green colored. I used this stuff and got it back to its glossy black.

[KCat]

I've used flitz for the past year or so. Got a "free" sample of it from Flitz folks. I think they charge for the shipping. But yes, it's quite good. Very gentle but works well. I just have to use it in moderation because of the odor. I'm a wimp about smells for the most part so that shouldn't be a deterrent to most buyers.

 

Flitz is supposedly "non-abrasive". I don't know if the same is true for Maas.

 

Here is their website which may provide a little more info. I don't know enough about it yet to say it's safe for pen plastics. The nib I cleaned yesterday looks very nice (it was pulled, polished, then washed to get any polish residue off.)

 

http://www.maasinc.com/products_metalpolish.html

[Gerry]

From the list of plastics given I would think it was generally safe. Perhaps a little test is indicated, but they list plexiglass, formica, corian, polycarbonate, acrylic as being safe. Not much missed except celluloid (the *real* celluloid I mean)

 

If there is any abrasive, it is very fine or else they wouldn't be suggesting it for antiques and silverplate I would think.

 

Gerry

[kathywc]

Cool! Thanks for the info. I'm going to check into ordering some Flitz the next time I need some of the other parts in the catalog......

 

Hmmm....you know, those little drill bits looked useful...

 

kathywc