Polish - Glaze - Wax.... what do you use?

[revvinkevin]

 

 

You have a vintage washer, dryer (or refrigerator or stove) etc.... it may already be nice and clean (or not), but you really want to make it shine and look like NEW or better than new again.

 

It may have a painted surface with or w/o oxidation or a porcelain surface, or both.

 

What products / process do you use to bring the luster back to that 40 - 50 - 60 year old painted surface (without going to the trouble of a full repaint)?   OR... give it that extra luster it maybe never had??  

 

~ Windex and a paper towel....?

 

~ A quickie "spray it on / wipe it off" automotive type detailer product....?

 

~ Rubbing compond or paste wax and some good 'ol "elbow grease"....?

 

~ An automotive "clay" to remove oxidation, then polish....?

 

~ Polish or glaze and an electric buffer....?

 

What do you use and how far do you go?

 

Thanks,

Kevin

[this post was last edited: 7/17/2013-16:28]

 

[danemodsandy]

Resin Glaze:

TR3 Resin Glaze is my product of choice - nice oxidation removal and a great gleam when you're done.

Hand-applied only - I find that machines give too much luster, creating a level of shine that vintage appliances never had new. They were shiny, but not that damn shiny!

TR3 is in any good automotive store. Expensive, but a little goes a long way with appliances.

 

[kb0nes]

Kevin,

I have spent a lot of time polishing paint, albeit mostly on motorcycles when I worked in a paint shop. Similar rules and products should apply to appliances too.

Start with the weakest solvent first (least chance for damage) then work up, but you already know this... Only resort to abrasives if the solvents fail to remove the soil. I am still POed at the one employee of the pool hall I used to work at that used Scotchbrite to clean a perfect RCA Whirlpool washer/dryer pair. The dirt was only from storage, Windex would have sufficed!

Products that stand out for me:

S100 total motorcycle cleaner - An amazing detergent that is a spray on hose off product. Removes oil and grease and filth, has optical brighteners and corrosion inhibitors too. I've never found a surface it harmed.

3M Perfect-It Rubbing coumpound - Will remove any scratches and heavy oxidation. Moderate cut, beware. I wouldn't use it with a power buffer!

Meguire's Mirror Glaze 7 - A glaze/sealant to use after polishing compound before wax. Makes swirl marks on dark paint disappear

S100 Carnuba Wax - Super durable, no abrasives and no messy powder left behind. Last step to perfection!

Also S100 Detail + Wax - An aerosol spray detailer, good for fast touch-ups.

Also be sure to have some Novus Plastic Polish #2 to restore clear plastics to new.

On painted surfaces if you do the 3 step process of rubbing compound, Mirror glaze then Wax you will have a perfect shine (perhaps too perfect?). Porcelain will require more polishing as the glass is much harder but it should respond like very hard paint.

 

[goatfarmer]

I use a paste type car wax on everything I sell .I prefer Turtle Wax, but usually use whatever is on sale.

 

[joelippard]

If it needs a little "help" or if it's never been waxed before I use Meguiars Cleaner/Wax on the painted surfaces. If it's a spruce up then I turn to Turtle Wax Spray, I use the for control panels as well where the surfaces are more delicate.

 

[revvinkevin]

Thanks all for the tips!

 

 

Sandy:  I used TR3 Resin Glaze a hundred years ago on a heavily oxidized '73 Corolla I had, and as I remember it worked pretty well. 

 

Phil:  Wow, LOTS of great info, thank you!  

 

Kenny:  I've heard others mention Turtle Wax but have yet to try it.

 

Joe:  Thanks for the Meguiars Cleaner/Wax tip!

 

All sound like great ways to get your (my) machines to shine again!

 

Thank you!

Kevin