Polishing GG's

**Mac_206** · 03-30-2012, 07:42 AM

In polish heaven, thank you steve and rw my good friends for taking the time..

kudos and well done

**CaptSteve** · 03-30-2012, 08:08 AM

Excellent info RW thanks buddy, I really like the SS polishing kit, it's much better than the one I have. I'll order that for sure.

Originally Posted by rwechsler

Glad to see this thread got started. Here are some links to polishing implements that I've had a lot of success with:
Simichrome - an excellent polishing paste. Abrasive enough to strip down all of the tarnish off of brass, and even the grooves out of a telescope with a firm buffing wheel. Be careful when using it around engravings, it WILL damage them
Amazon.com: Simichrome Polish 50 Gram/1.76 oz: Everything Else

A high quality multi-gradient untreated (no polishes, be it oils, pastes, or powders) gold/silver jewelery polishing cloth.
Amazon.com: Jewelry Polishing Cloths by Hagerty [Jewelry]: Jewelry

SS buffing kit that comes with several different mops, wheels, and buffing compounds. Also includes a liquid polish. I don't personally own this kit, but it comes highly reccomended by ecosnige, who in my experience, is the buffing MASTER. I'll re-post some pics of the restoration job he did on a nickel GGTS if he's ok with that (or he can post em).
Stainless Steel Polishing Kit - Electric Drill Kits - Buffing Kits - Buffing/Polishing - Caswell Inc

Cape Cod Polishing Cloth - much less abrasive than simichrome, but excellent for on the go touchups. The oil they're treated with leaves a pleasant, yet faint, vanilla after-smell, which sounds unimportant, but makes polishing MUCH safer and easier to do indoors compared to the simichrome.
Cape Cod Polish Metal Polishing Cloth Kit

**imeothanasis** · 03-30-2012, 10:53 AM

exellent work Steve. I am always glad to see people taking care of their GGs. Its a real pleasure for me and for you I suppose

**martinc** · 03-30-2012, 11:32 AM

There is something about a shiney Storm,specially one with well polished brass accents

*****martinc looks at the one he is holding*****

**PaulieD** · 03-30-2012, 07:38 PM

Ok, time for my 2 cents I have renewed many a mod at this point. GGTS, Megalodon's, Mako's,Chucks etc.
First get some Flitz if you don't have some, and some clear coat protective wax.....I use Meguiars..to protect after polishing especially the aluminum ones.

Depending on the severity of scratches the following process is what I have done even going so far as stripping paint of cartos and mods that I want to make shiny:

I get stripping grade sandpaper if necessary...then down to 120 grit...then down to 180 grit...then down to ....scotchbrite...then down to 0000 Steel wool....then flitz applied with cotton cloth....6 coats...then 6 coats of clear coat wax.

Now I have a dremel polishing kit I use for around the emblems and so on...with black,white,red, rouges...I also have turtle wax rubbing compound...followed by turtle wax polishing compound...all depends If I am trying to clean a mess like para did.

I also use a rechargeable drill fully charged and will insert a bad carto and close it in the drill chuck which effectively spins the peice. Much much more control is able to be had polishing this way. You are applying the polish to the piece not the piece to the polish. Ultimately when I am done, I high speed spin 6 coats of Flitz and then 6 coats of Meguiars clear coat wax and it will always get to a mirror finish if I so desire.
I do NOT put the bottom tube with emblems and numbers in the chuck for spin polishing. I hand polish around that with the dremel.
Hope that helps?!

**Huffelpuff** · 03-30-2012, 08:43 PM

Quick question for those of you with a lot of knowledge of polishing. I'm not experienced in doing the whole maintenance thing and am afraid that using the methods you mention will do more harm than good. I've heard that the Mother's Polishing Cloths are good for a wipe down but are other commercial SS polishes ok to use? (of course - not on the engravings) Also wondering if cleaning with liquid jewelry cleaner and a quick polish and application of lubricant to the threads is sufficient to keep the GGs looking good. Just looking for the "GG Maintenance for Dummies" version.

**PaulieD** · 03-30-2012, 09:17 PM

Cape Cod Polishing Cloths do a nice job. The issue is to seal it after polish so get Meguiars Clear Coat. It is an automotive clear coat polish so you should be able to get at Wal-Mart, Auto Zone and so on. Then buy a small tube of Vaseline or any other petroleum jelly and some Q-Tips apply the Vaseline to the Q-Tips and then carefully apply to all the threads. You should do this first....and then clean and polish followed by wax....and Voila.....dspin quality shine!!