Brushed stainless hairline removal

[RD-1]

I have some very faint hairlines on a brushed stainless clasp.

I know everyone will say leave them, but it’s perfect except for these and I want to remove them.

Anyone tried Scotchbrite or similar? Cape cod seems the go to for polished, but brushed is a little more difficult.

I’m scared of making it worse or not matching the factory finish after I mask it off etc.

Will obviously start with a fine grade, but wondered if anyone had any practical advice?

[LC23]

My honest advice. If they are really that minor just leave them. You'll be highly unlikely to get the same factory finish no matter how careful you are even with the right tools.

[steveo3002]

red scotch pad seems to work fine , be sure to only move back n forth so that the grain is correct

[The Goat]

Cape Cod polishing cloths are great for things like that. Readily available on Amazon.

[Sheepshanks]

The Goat said:

Cape Cod polishing cloths are great for things like that. Readily available on Amazon.

A few of the reviews say they mustn't be used on brushed SS.

[popeyewhite]

Sheepshanks said:

The Goat said:

Cape Cod polishing cloths are great for things like that. Readily available on Amazon.

A few of the reviews say they mustn't be used on brushed SS.

No don't use a polishing cloth - you don't want the brushed to become shiny. For that reason scotchbrite or very very fine sandpaper works well. Be careful though not to touch any shiny parts of the strap!

Edited by popeyewhite on Monday 29th January 23:27

[catso]

I use grey Scotchbrite pad on brushed stainless and titanium watches, does a great job of removing scratches and leaves a perfect brush finish, just be sure to 'go with the grain'.

[don logan]

Don’t use Cape Cod if you want to retain a brushed finish!

Keep going with Cape Cod and you’ll end up with highly polished finished and fked!

Alternatively someone with experience could get the scratch out with a polishing wheel of the correct grade

[thebraketester]

RD-1 said:

I have some very faint hairlines on a brushed stainless clasp.

I know everyone will say leave them, but it’s perfect except for these and I want to remove them.

Anyone tried Scotchbrite or similar? Cape cod seems the go to for polished, but brushed is a little more difficult.

I’m scared of making it worse or not matching the factory finish after I mask it off etc.

Will obviously start with a fine grade, but wondered if anyone had any practical advice?

Looking to sell?

[RD-1]

thebraketester said:

RD-1 said:

I have some very faint hairlines on a brushed stainless clasp.

I know everyone will say leave them, but it’s perfect except for these and I want to remove them.

Anyone tried Scotchbrite or similar? Cape cod seems the go to for polished, but brushed is a little more difficult.

I’m scared of making it worse or not matching the factory finish after I mask it off etc.

Will obviously start with a fine grade, but wondered if anyone had any practical advice?

Looking to sell?

No, but I keep my watches absolutely mint (even dailies).

It was an unfortunate accident with an airport security tray

I’m going to put on my big boy pants and give Scotchbrite a go.

Thanks all

[sandman77]

The Goat said:

Cape Cod polishing cloths are great for things like that. Readily available on Amazon.

Please do not listen to this person.

[Louis Balfour]

RD-1 said:

I have some very faint hairlines on a brushed stainless clasp.

I know everyone will say leave them, but it’s perfect except for these and I want to remove them.

Anyone tried Scotchbrite or similar? Cape cod seems the go to for polished, but brushed is a little more difficult.

I’m scared of making it worse or not matching the factory finish after I mask it off etc.

Will obviously start with a fine grade, but wondered if anyone had any practical advice?

You want a fibreglass pen.

Bergeon will be very good, cheap alternatives are available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bergeon-Scratch-Removal-P...

[Gastons_Revenge]

Louis Balfour said:

You want a fibreglass pen.

Bergeon will be very good, cheap alternatives are available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bergeon-Scratch-Removal-P...

How well do these Bergeon pens deal with scratches in titanium- polished and brushed? My daily, a Casio Oceanus, needs a little attention!

[The Goat]

Doh!
Yeah, ignore me, I don't know how I missed the 'brushed', apologies for that.

I bought one of these for getting hairlines out of brushed stainless, it's very good.

[catso]

Gastons_Revenge said:

Louis Balfour said:

You want a fibreglass pen.

Bergeon will be very good, cheap alternatives are available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bergeon-Scratch-Removal-P...

How well do these Bergeon pens deal with scratches in titanium- polished and brushed? My daily, a Casio Oceanus, needs a little attention!

Fibreglass pens are OK but don't blend in the brushed look very well, the grey scotchbrite is far better. My titanium, Omega Planet Ocean is a scratch magnet, especially on the curved/flat of the clasp but the scotchbrite clears it perfectly every time.

Edited by catso on Tuesday 30th January 23:16

[Louis Balfour]

catso said:

Gastons_Revenge said:

Louis Balfour said:

You want a fibreglass pen.

Bergeon will be very good, cheap alternatives are available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bergeon-Scratch-Removal-P...

How well do these Bergeon pens deal with scratches in titanium- polished and brushed? My daily, a Casio Oceanus, needs a little attention!

Fibreglass pens are OK but don't blend in the brushed look very well, the grey scotchbrite is far better. My titanium, Omega Planet Ocean is a scratch magnet, especially on the curved/flat of the clasp but the scotchbrite clears it perfectly every time.

Edited by catso on Tuesday 30th January 23:16

They do if you know how to use them.

[catso]

Louis Balfour said:

catso said:

Gastons_Revenge said:

Louis Balfour said:

You want a fibreglass pen.

Bergeon will be very good, cheap alternatives are available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bergeon-Scratch-Removal-P...

How well do these Bergeon pens deal with scratches in titanium- polished and brushed? My daily, a Casio Oceanus, needs a little attention!

Fibreglass pens are OK but don't blend in the brushed look very well, the grey scotchbrite is far better. My titanium, Omega Planet Ocean is a scratch magnet, especially on the curved/flat of the clasp but the scotchbrite clears it perfectly every time.

Edited by catso on Tuesday 30th January 23:16

They do if you know how to use them.

For scratch removal they work well especially for the deeper scratches but I find that to blend in in afterwards the Scotchbrite just finishes it off better, the pen alone tends to leave a patch that is a little shinier and without the brushed/lines.

The same applies to other brushed metals, e.g. stainless steel fridges etc. where a Scotchbrite just blends in nicely with the existing effect, how do you think the brushed effect is done in the first place?

[BrokenSkunk]

Fibreglass pens are good as you can adjust the coarseness of the finish by adjusting how long the 'nib' is. If you get a patch that's too shiny (or too brushed), it's because the pen is not correctly adjusted for the brushed finish you're trying to match.

Scotchbrite bads or wet & dry paper will work too, but you may need a selection of grades to get a finish that matches the rest of the bracelet.

[wax lyrical]

So for a bracelet and clasp that has a brushed centre but polished edges, one needs something like scotchbrite or that Bergeon 5444 pad for the brushed and a cape cod cloth for the edges? Watch in question is an Omega Speedmaster 321 reissue.

[RD-1]

I’m probably outing myself as an anal weirdo for doing this to a daily, but it might help someone in the future to update this thread.

Used 7448 ultra fine Scotchbrite (dark grey) and the ‘grain’ match is very good.

Scratching your watch on purpose feels weird, but just take your time, mask off well, apply light pressure, in straight lines.

Thanks all for your input.

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