Kenmore Black Roto-swirl agitator

[whitekingd]

Does anyone know how to make the black agitators shiny black again? I've wondered if car polish or something of the sort would bring them back to life. Any ideas?

 

[gyrafoam]

I use Rust-Oleum's "Crystal Clear Enamel" Spray, and it does just fine. Get it at your hardware store or Lowe's. I do three or four coats and let it dry 48 hrs. or so before use.

Makes an old agitator look like new----and not just the black ones either.

 

[jeffg]

I'm not sure enamel paint on an agitator will hold up over time. I'd try several coats of a bonding acrylic polish (something like Klasse All-in-One in the red container, not the Glaze in the the gray container!) first.

http://www.autogeek.net/klasse.html

 

[peterh770]

Jeff,

Is that like Lee Press On Nails?

What machines do you have that this has worked on? The clear enamel has worked great and held up quite well.

 

[gansky1]

The clear enamel or clear polyurethane will put a lovely shine on the bakelite. Even if it doesn't last forever, you can always re-spray in a few years.

I think a wax-type product would wash away with the first addition of detergent.

 

[christfr]

hey guys i have done several with the spray clear and did good with me.. and it smells so good to ha ha, but honest i had good luck

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I think some of the sprays that the well informed posters above talked about are probably pretty durable, especiall after several coats. The bakelite material is porous enough (why it dulls in the first place I think) that a clear spray will adhere very well for a good while.

If the spray option is not for you, I think the material can be polished. I know the Polypropylene agitators of the later 60s and forward can be for sure, however they don't dull as much.

You would need to find the right compound and a good buffing wheel, etc. but I feel strongly that a small surface layer of plastic AND the build-up of minerals and detergent residue could be buffed off, sort of like buffing out an old car's weathered paint.

 

[jeffg]

Gansky, Klasse isn't a wax, it's a bonding finish. It binds to surfaces on a molecular level. 2 or 3 coats and it's pretty much impervious to anything, at least for 6-12 months.

I plead almost complete ignorance when it comes to Bakelite, if it's porous enough you shouldn't have any chipping or peeling problems with enamel.

 

[foobar]

One word: plastics.

Bakelite comes in dark colors because it's actually sawdust or carbon black stuck together with phenolic plastic. The dark colors hide the fillers.

Phenolic plastic without the fillers is called Catalin... it usually comes in bright colors.

 

[bajaespuma]

Thanks for that explanation. Is Phenolic called "Phenolic" because pine resin is used at some point?

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Bakelite has a hard shiny outer finish and a core of filler. Once the finish is worn away you cannot polish it. I have some bakelite radios that I had to paint.

I would think that anything sprayed on an agitator would wear away quickly under daily use. Maybe just leave it rough and decrease the wash time by a minute or two.

Ken

 

[gyrafoam]

There are plenty of us using "daily drivers" with bakelite agitators treated with clear spray enamel.
I have yet to have it wear off and I use hot water to wash AND rinse with regularly, oh, and strong Mexican detergents.

Even if, over the years, it does wear off---so what----spray it again. The stuff is cheap. Duh.

 

[foobar]

Too much information...

I don't think the phenol used to make Bakelite comes from pine... probably from coal or petroleum.

Molding Bakelite is more involved than molding thermoplastics (like polypropylene). Bakelite has to be done at higher temperature and pressure. It also can't be melted back down after it's molded. The advantage though is it's very heat resistant.

Personally, I'd see what antique radio collectors do to preserve their Bakelite radio cabinets and to keep them looking pretty...