Question about polishing bone handles

SonnyJim

SonnyJim

Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Messages
704
I had some uneven polishing on my case CV Swayback Jack (from the factory) so I broke out the dremel. I got pretty close to a good shine with the buffing wheel, but I still can't match the glossy shine of the rest of the handle. Any thoughts on polishing compounds or other additives to get that show room shine?

~Jim
 
What polishing compound did you use with the polishing wheel? The cotton buffing wheel likely won't be very effective by itself, if used without compound. The red rouge polishing compound supplied with Dremels may or may not work very well. It's pretty soft (iron oxide), and therefore limited to soft materials in it's uses (jewelry; gold, silver, brass, etc.).

Some green compound (chromium oxide) or Flitz/Simichrome polishing paste (aluminum oxide) would probably work well enough on bone. I'm sure there are probably others that'd work as well, though these two are what I'm familiar with myself.


David
 
maybe try a brass wire wheel? the problem with polishing compound is that it might get stuck in the pores of the bone. maybe.
 
Might look into 'white rouge' compound. In searching the web, I'm seeing a few references to it, as a reliable way to polish bone scales, without worries of the compound itself discoloring the bone (if it's light in appearance).

I'd also use some caution, in not lingering in any one spot on the bone too long, when using the Dremel with the polishing wheel. There's always a risk of overheating and scorching it. Light pressure is also important.

Regarding using a brass wheel, I'd seen a post here some time back (edit: link below), about someone using a brass wheel on a blade, to strip it or remove rust or whatever. The brass itself galled/abraded off and onto the steel, leaving a brassy sheen on the blade. I'd avoid this.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1007930-So-this-is-cool


David
 
Last edited:
David, I used the cotton buffing wheel with red rouge polishing compound. Like I said, it got me most of the way there, but I do have some Simichrome and hadn't thought to try it, but I will now! FishFace, I'd be scared to try anything wire for fear of scratching, but maybe I've never seen a fine enough gauge wire wheel?

~Jim
 
SonnyJim said:
David, I used the cotton buffing wheel with red rouge polishing compound. Like I said, it got me most of the way there, but I do have some Simichrome and hadn't thought to try it, but I will now! FishFace, I'd be scared to try anything wire for fear of scratching, but maybe I've never seen a fine enough gauge wire wheel?

~Jim
Click to expand...

I'm assuming the red compound didn't stain the bone? If it didn't clog the pores of it, I wouldn't worry too much about the same from the Simichrome/Flitz. If the bone is light-colored, I'd be careful to avoid polishing bolsters (nickel/brass) at the same time. I've had some issues in the past, of the metal swarf from the bolsters becoming embedded in bone/stag (it's worse with stag) and staining it. Not impossible to clean it up, but it's not necessarily easy either.

BTW, I just edited my earlier post to include a link to another thread re: brass wheel.


David
 
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