Shoe polish on bakelite phone?

[whereistom]

Hi,

I've read in a few places on the web that good old-fashioned black shoe polish works well on black bakelite - and I just happen to have a tin of Kiwi ready to use!

Has anybody tried this who can confirm it's worth doing?

One article I read (about using this technique on bakelite radio cases) seemed to suggest that the black wore off quite easily - my concerns with this would be: how quickly would the polish need reapplying, and also will the black rub off the handset onto hands?

Having worked with a few later plastic phones, this is my first bakelite phone (a beautiful Dutch Heemaf table phone - I think 1955 design but 1964 production) so it's interesting for me to see how the different material acts. I've managed to get a dullish shine back with just Brasso, but it would be nice to take it that one step further - especially using something that's already in my kitchen cupboards!

So has anybody tried black shoe polish this with success or otherwise?

Tom

[Darren-UK]

I've never tried it and, frankly, I wouldn't. Notwithstanding the likely mess, any apparent improvement would only be temporary and thus would need redoing at frequent intervals - not least because it'd make fingerprints very visible.

Subtances such as Brasso and proper bakelite polishes (Greygates or whatever it's called) are ever so mildly abrasive and do a far better longterm job.

Assuming your Dutch instrument is indeed bakelite, if all you can achieve with Brasso is a dull shine then maybe it's been exposed to damp at some point.

[whereistom]

It definitely doesn't give the impression that it's been well looked after, so that wouldn't surprise me. Will specialist bakelite polishes restore this, or is it dull forever now?

[Dave Moll]

I've never had any problems using black boot polish on black Bakelite to give the blackness an extra bit of depth, but only after using Greygate Paste Polishing No.5 - otherwise you're likely to seal in the dirt!

[Nickthedentist]

Greygate's No 5 is simply excellent. It's readily available, e.g. on eBay.

I have resorted to boot polish etc. on Bakelite that's been severely sun-damaged, e.g. a 300-series phone that I was given which had lived in a south-facing bay window for half a century. Note though that any waxy polish will result in an item that's more prone to finger marks than an untreated one.

Nick.

[russell_w_b]

A word of advice...

Don't use boot polish on the earpiece. (Captain Mainwaring and his coal-scuttle megaphone come to mind here)! 'T'-cut, or Solvol-Autosol are good alternatives to Greygate, and PO 'Polishing Paste, No:10' - I think it's 10 - is available in tubes off eBay for a fiver or so.

I've used a buffing wheel and red 'soap', but it's very easy to cut into the bakelite with this method.

[vic0239]

I have used black boot polish on a faded bellset No. 44 with excellent results. I used the Greygate first to remove any dirt and then applied the boot polish. I left the polish for an hour or so to thoroughly dry before polishing off and then applied a further coat, again leaving to dry. No residue or stickiness.

[whereistom]

Hmm, mixed reports! Thanks all.

Not sure I'm confident in the shoe polish - I might try it on a small section inside the case and see if it does come off at all, Captain Mainwaring style...

Happy to use the Greygates (I swear by their plastic polish for later phones), but I was hoping I could finish this one off for free I will T-Cut it on top of the brasso to ensure it's thoroughly clean before I do anything else.

[Nickthedentist]

Note also that Kiwi-branded shoe polish is vastly superior to the similar-looking stuff sold in 99p shops etc., and not necessarily any more expensive.

N.

[dagskarlsen]

If the bakelite are oxidised, I have used dry steel wool (with soap) as the first step. (carefully) 2. step block kiwi. 3 step dry white clothe to it stops discoloring the clothe. (no black ears )

Observe. some makers has used some paint looking top finish on the bakelite, this will not stand the steel wool!

Car polish as a last finish has been used by some, and some has used China Wood Oil.

I have tested black paint car polish, with no better result.

dsk

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by dagskarlsen

... and some has used China Wood Oil.

Is that the Norwegian for Danish Oil, perhaps?

[vic0239]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Note also that Kiwi-branded shoe polish is vastly superior to the similar-looking stuff sold in 99p shops etc., and not necessarily any more expensive.

N.

Indeed. It was Kiwi polish I used, in the old fashioned twist off lid tin. No residue at all on the cloth when polishing after allowing to dry thoroughly.

[dagskarlsen]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Is that the Norwegian for Danish Oil, perhaps?

I hadn't herd about it before herd this use on bakelite. The oil will slowly dry and may make a glossy surface. Take a look at: http://www.tung-oil.com/

Haven't tested it yet, the steel wool and kiwi made it it good enough for me.

dsk

[brenellic2000]

Drying-type finishing oils are either Linseed or Tung oil based - the majority use Tung oil but there is a huge difference between brands.

The best known is 'Danish Oil' made by Rustins - a premium product highly recommended, but both 'Scandinavian Oil' and 'Danish Oil' from Blackfriars - another highly recommended premium trade product, is noticeably different.

It really is a case of testing each product first to find the one that best suits the wood and the desired finish. If you stick (metaphorically!) to Rustins 'Danish Oil' you won't got far wrong. I prefer Linseed oil....!

Barry