Armor polishing

[commandantbrice]

Hey

I just received my cold cast armor, but I don't want to mess it up. Could anyone help or point me towards a step by step guide?

 

[TheSniper9]

What I would do is wash it up to get dirt and any residue off it, then hit it with a fine #0000 steel wool until it shines. Can probably use polish and a rag after if you want as well.

 

[BudaFett]

#0000 steel wool under cold running water.

 

[DrToothache]

Wash it first. Then feel it to see how smooth it is. If there are any positive defects, get rid of those first. Make sure it is cleanly trimmed first as well.

Then go over it with #0000 steel wool under cold running water like BudaFett said. try to go back and forth in the same direction. Buff for a bit, then stop, dry and evaluate. You will know once the shine comes through. Don't go crazy with it, you can always go back and do more, even after polishing. There will be some very fine lines present from the steel wool, the polish will get rid of these (having some there looks good though imo).

Next use MAAS metal polish (the cream, not the liquid!). Apply a pea size amount on one armor piece and spread over the entire piece with a terry towel. Then remove excess with the terry towel leaving a fine coat. Switch to a microfiber cloth and buff in circular motions with good pressure (use your other hand to support the back of the armor plate, not the floor/table). Repeat one or two more times and then clean with cold water and evaluate.

Some people swear by Mother's metal polish but in my experience MAAS worked much better, at least in my hands. If you notice and defects too deep for the metal polish, you can always go back to the steel wool and then re-polish that spot.

 

[commandantbrice]

Wash it first. Then feel it to see how smooth it is. If there are any positive defects, get rid of those first. Make sure it is cleanly trimmed first as well.

Then go over it with #0000 steel wool under cold running water like BudaFett said. try to go back and forth in the same direction. Buff for a bit, then stop, dry and evaluate. You will know once the shine comes through. Don't go crazy with it, you can always go back and do more, even after polishing. There will be some very fine lines present from the steel wool, the polish will get rid of these (having some there looks good though imo).

Next use MAAS metal polish (the cream, not the liquid!). Apply a pea size amount on one armor piece and spread over the entire piece with a terry towel. Then remove excess with the terry towel leaving a fine coat. Switch to a microfiber cloth and buff in circular motions with good pressure (use your other hand to support the back of the armor plate, not the floor/table). Repeat one or two more times and then clean with cold water and evaluate.

Some people swear by Mother's metal polish but in my experience MAAS worked much better, at least in my hands. If you notice and defects too deep for the metal polish, you can always go back to the steel wool and then re-polish that spot.

Do I get rid of defects with sand paper?
I have a dremel dor the extra cutting I need to do but don't know what tip to use...

 

[DrToothache]

Do I get rid of defects with sand paper?
I have a dremel dor the extra cutting I need to do but don't know what tip to use...

Are they positive defects? Just be careful because you will eventually sand through the cold cast layer if you do too much. Sometimes it's better to leave some of the defect, but sand it a bit to make it less pronounced. Then you can mask any remaining areas with weathering at the end.

I have used sandpaper on my CC gauntlets before steel wool and polishing, but only a fine grit like 1000 or higher. You could use steel wool to get rid of defects but its harder to be precise with it if its like a small bump or something that you are trying to remove without touching other areas.

Cold cast resin is pretty soft and in the photo it appears that 99% of the trimming is already done - so for the remaining trimming you could probably just use sandpaper around the edges instead of the dremel.

 

[commandantbrice]

This specifically needs to be cut around
.

 

[commandantbrice]

Does this look right?

 

[commandantbrice]

In the sun:

 

[commandantbrice]

Is the shine coming from the sanding or the polish? I can't get it right

 

[DrToothache]

is that after steel wool + MAAS / mothers polish?

I would try a round of polish before going any further.

 

[BudaFett]

The edges of the chest armor need to be cleaned up a little more."

I would also suggest another round of #0000 wool and cold water; the armor should really SHINE.

 

[Loufett]

So recently decided to repolish my armor mainly cause it wasn't as shiney. First use #0000 steel wool as usual to smooth out and get a slight shine maybe do 3 or 4 rounds while using cold water and keeping the piece wet, next dry the piece completely than grab a paper towel, yes a paper towel like what you use in the kitchen than dip it in some mothers polish use a small amount and start buffing than get a clean paper towel and continue to buff you should see a shine. Idk what it is but the paper towel maybe add to the friction or something but it worked better than a polishing cloth. Next grab a micro fiber and wipe off all the black residue on the armor piece check and see if it's shiney enough if not continue the method with the paper towel and mothers polish, when finished you can use a damp micro fiber to clean the armor piece or a dry micro fiber which ever works.