Flitz or Brasso for restoring scuffed plastic handles?

[daily_grind]

I've got about 5 of those tiny Swiss Army knives that were, I suppose, confiscated by the TSA and resold to eBay people. The plastic handles are scuffed up, but there's nothing wrong with the knives themselves. I was going to polish them up and give them out as gifts to friends.

I was using 000 steel wool, then Brasso to restore the handles. It works okay I guess, but I was hoping for better. Wondering if Flitz would work better?

(I have a buffer, but I also have bad luck with buffers and I'm not quite ready for round two. Hard to hold on to those little knives and not have them flung at me.)

 

[SharpBits]

Replacement handles are very easy to source. Much better use of your time to replace the old beat up scales, IMO. On the other hand, there a products made for polishing plastics that will work better than metal polishes. Try searching automotive and boat repair and you'll come across many options.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Use 0000 steel wool, and then use plastic polish. Plastic polish usually comes in a three-step system. Novus sells a three bottle kit for around $13 on Amazon.

Do NOT use a buffer or you will likely ruin the scales. Hand sanding and polishing will restore them quickly.

 

[daily_grind]

I might stop using steel wool - it leaves steel fuzzies magnetized to everything.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

400 grit wet-or-dry paper will work just as well as steel wool. They are the same grit. Use it wet.