Comments on: Scotch-Brite Scratching

By: Brau

Brau — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:17:58 +0000

Jeez I’m glad to read I’m not the only one to haze a car window with a Scotch-brite pad! I used an old one on my own car and it did wonders, then later I thought I’d impress my girlfriend by cleaning her sap spotted window but used a much newer pad and ruined the glass. Boy was I red-faced when I saw the damage after it dried. She said yes and married me anyway, despite wrecking her car.

As for abrading metal, I can vouch for Scotch pads attached to a drill sanding disc. Another neat finish can be had by using one of those nylon “wire wheels” as they leave a consistent matte pitted finish in any soft metals.

By: Whimsy

Whimsy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:54:13 +0000

For achieving a matte finish without a machined look (streaks or circles), I usually put a piece of Scotchbright in a palm sander (the kind you can clamp a quarter sheet of sandpaper into - as you can imagine, I dislike the Velcro-style kind for it’s lack of versatility). Works like a charm, especially on stainless steel, since the scratches don’t get very deep.

http://www.mytoolstore.com/makita/mak04-01.html

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:16:55 +0000

We polish and/or patina finish much larger pieces of copper and stainless steel for kitchen applications. While we use Makita 7 inch bonnet (automotive type) polishers we have a couple of Fein Tools that produce great results.

http://www.feinus.com/p/stainless/stainlessmain.htm

By: bc

bc — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:27:19 +0000

yep. did the same thing. used the thing on glass. oops. had mineral spots…

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:03:15 +0000

Nick, I think we’re all dying to hear more details about this jewelry you’re making. Or at least I am…

Jonathan: Might I recommend the excellent Goo Gone, available from most stores in the same area as laundry detergents/stain removers? It works wonders on sap and won’t harm glass (or fabric, its intended surface). Just put some on the sap and lay a damp rag over the spot for an hour or two.

You might be able to polish out the haze with some glass polish, however. The best way to polish glass is with a torch, but that won’t work on a windshield, which is made of plastic sandwiched between glass layers.

By: BC

BC — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:37:54 +0000

jonathan, thats what 0000 steel wool is for

Norton also makes a synthetic pad, called Bear-Tex. It’s usually cheaper than Scotch-Brite. My company is an abrasive conversion business, and we go through sandpaper in 24-1/2″ x 50 yard rolls like nothing - 3M’s stuff is usually 4x the price of anyone else’s.

Bear-Tex can be ordered from an industrial distributor.

By: jonathan peterson

jonathan peterson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:59:44 +0000

DON’T use the damned things on glass. I incorrectly assumed that a plastic pad would be perfect to get some hard to clean sap off my windshield and put a substantial haze on my windshield with a green scotch brite.