04-11-2004, 02:41 PM
Hello all<br>
<br>
A while ago I made a shield boss. After the boss planished and heat treated I set about it wit a file to get the few divets it had picked up.<br>
<br>
After that using various sands and oils and a lot of time it was ground to a very nice close to mirror finish.<br>
<br>
After the finish was as good as I wanted it to be (better than matt, but not fully mirrored, this is a personal choice, using sands, grits and oils it is more than achievable to get a mirror finish with iron or high carbon steel) I took some pure warm bees wax, still solid but only just and coated the boss and left it for about two hours.<br>
<br>
Using a linen cloth and some time I stroked the wax away going in the same way as the motions I had made with the oils and sand. After this I repeated the wax process a number of times until the boss was bak to its near mirror like finish.<br>
<br>
I have not cleaned this boss in 18 months, except once where I gave it a dust with a rag and it is still near mirror finish.<br>
<br>
The back was left rough with the iron flakes and dirt from the forge after quenching, no rust there at all.<br>
<br>
So near melted bees wax (sun melted), time, elbow grease and patience will look after your armour.<br>
<br>
If you can't be bothered to wait for the wax to melt double pot melt it and add to it 1 part surgical spirits to 3 parts wax and that will act as a platiciser for those not patient enough to wait, but you will smell. Olive oil might also do the job, but I haven't done that yet, I will let you know when time allows.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps. <p></p><i></i>
<br>
A while ago I made a shield boss. After the boss planished and heat treated I set about it wit a file to get the few divets it had picked up.<br>
<br>
After that using various sands and oils and a lot of time it was ground to a very nice close to mirror finish.<br>
<br>
After the finish was as good as I wanted it to be (better than matt, but not fully mirrored, this is a personal choice, using sands, grits and oils it is more than achievable to get a mirror finish with iron or high carbon steel) I took some pure warm bees wax, still solid but only just and coated the boss and left it for about two hours.<br>
<br>
Using a linen cloth and some time I stroked the wax away going in the same way as the motions I had made with the oils and sand. After this I repeated the wax process a number of times until the boss was bak to its near mirror like finish.<br>
<br>
I have not cleaned this boss in 18 months, except once where I gave it a dust with a rag and it is still near mirror finish.<br>
<br>
The back was left rough with the iron flakes and dirt from the forge after quenching, no rust there at all.<br>
<br>
So near melted bees wax (sun melted), time, elbow grease and patience will look after your armour.<br>
<br>
If you can't be bothered to wait for the wax to melt double pot melt it and add to it 1 part surgical spirits to 3 parts wax and that will act as a platiciser for those not patient enough to wait, but you will smell. Olive oil might also do the job, but I haven't done that yet, I will let you know when time allows.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps. <p></p><i></i>
