Feinwerkbau, fingerprints, and Flexopol Mittel

dante · Post by **dante** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:16 pm

Does anyone have access to Flexopol Mittel, which is the polishing compound that FWB recommends to clean skin oil discoloration from the nickel finish on its guns? Flexopol looks a block of some kind of mild ammonia-free polish in a rubber binder, like a little bar of soap.

To ship to the U.S., the German company that makes it wants a EUR 1,000 opening order (comprised of blocks that cost EUR 2.50 apiece... one of which would probably outlast the gun). Not very cost effective. In fact, for that kind of money, you could have the gun stripped, blued with a better finish, and still have hundreds of dollars left over.

Or has someone else in the U.S. experienced this fingerprinting on the front strap and found some kind of solution? I would have to think that some rubbing bar used on car paint or plastic would be similar. I know ammonia based polish like Brasso or Haggerty's is out.

In retrospect, yeah, I know nickel looks cool - but it's probably one of the worst finishes FWB could have chosen. Not only are a lot of people allergic to it, but it's also allergic to people and normal metal polishes...

Thanks!

Misny · Post by **Misny** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:01 am

I've used Simichrome on Smith and Wesson revolvers with nickel finishes. It gave good results. I would think that Flitz would work as well. Mostly these work as a polish to buff out very fine scratches. If your nickel finish is stained brown-black, I've never found anything that would get it out. I believe that the brown-black stain is all the way through the nickel plating.

Walter · Post by **Walter** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:35 am

It sounds similar to a detailers clay one would get from an auto parts supply store.

Something like this:
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G1001

Metal polish will put a shine on the metal, which you may or may not want.

dante · Post by **dante** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:38 pm

FYI - Novus Plastic Polish #2 (no ammonia) is an ultrafine polish that is designed for cleaning haze from plexiglas. A little of this with light finger pressure took the buildup right off. It's very similar to auto clay, just more of a liquid. It's also excellent for buffing plexiglas watch crystals.

FYI#2 - FWB says this is a buildup that sits on the surface.