#84846 - 02/03/07 09:26 PM
Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Stranger
Registered: 12/12/06
Posts: 19
Loc: CA
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Hello everyone,
I have put together an Altoids-style survival kit. I want to be able to use the inside of the lid as a signal mirror. I have tried polishing it with some fine steel wool which seemed to help a little, but it didn't get as shiny as I wanted. Does anyone know a way to put a decent mirror finish on these things?
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#84847 - 02/03/07 09:36 PM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Registered: 06/16/06
Posts: 13
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Maybe a fine polish like flitz would work. You would need to find a way to keep the contents from scratching the polished surface. Maybe have a glass shop cut a small mirror and use that instead. Plastic shop should have a mirrored type of plastic. That way you could signal and not have all of your contents strewn about.
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#84848 - 02/03/07 09:52 PM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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journeyman
Registered: 08/18/06
Posts: 85
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You could use a dremel with a polishing head and some polishing compound. I was surprised what that would shine up. As far as keeping stuff from scratching the inside, you could use a napkin or something against the lid. That would also give you extra tinder as well, an extra piece of toilet paper, an improvised bandage, or even use it as a napkin.
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#84849 - 02/03/07 10:20 PM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Old Hand
Registered: 11/27/06
Posts: 707
Loc: Alamogordo, NM
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You can use wet/dry sandpaper, starting at about 600 and working your way up (600, 800, 1000, 1200, etc) until it shines like the sun. The wool will take too long. Flitz might be ok, or Brasso on a cloth. Both have abrasives like polishing compounds in them to speed things along. I'd use wet/dry maybe followed by Flitz.Brasso.
_________________________
DON'T BE SCARED
-Stretch
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#84851 - 02/04/07 01:22 AM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Member
Registered: 05/31/06
Posts: 178
Loc: Florida
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Two cheapies: Comet cleanser (roughly 300 grit). Then toothpaste (roughly 800 grit).
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#84852 - 02/04/07 01:33 AM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Old Hand
Registered: 11/27/06
Posts: 707
Loc: Alamogordo, NM
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Yep, Brasso for buckles, keepers, and anything with a brass snap head on it. Polished my nameplates so much through the years the engraved letters were gone <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
DON'T BE SCARED
-Stretch
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#84853 - 02/04/07 04:00 AM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Geezer
Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
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Semichrome, and a lot of elbow grease...
_________________________
OBG
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#84854 - 02/04/07 10:54 AM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/18/06
Posts: 1032
Loc: The Netherlands
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Maybe you could cut a piece of mylar to size and glue that into the lid?
_________________________
''It's time for Plan B...'' ''We have a Plan B?'' ''No, but it's time for one.'' -Stargate SG-1
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#84855 - 02/04/07 07:15 PM
Re: Help with polishing lid of survival tin...
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journeyman
Registered: 11/03/06
Posts: 95
Loc: Delaware
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Good ideas - would add that my next-to-last is crocus cloth, then followed with white jeweler's rouge on felt pad. "Watch it - you could burn your retina with that!" <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Cheers,
_________________________
See 'Ya Down the Trail,
Mike McGrath
"Be Prepared" "For what?" "Why, any old thing!" B-P
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