Metal polishes, Noxon vs. Flitz............

J

JimmyJimenez

Joined
Sep 30, 2005
Messages
580
I am a big fan of Flitz metal polish.

I know many believe it has no abrasives whatsoever (removing no metal), but it does to an extrememly miniscule amount.
To test this, one can put a small amount on a soft cloth, and with a decent amount of force, rub a piece of brass for a bit (one will notice some of the goldish brass on the cloth).

While at the local Sears Hardware store yesterday, I noticed some Noxon metal polish. I had not had any of this stuff for probably 15 years, so I decided to pick some up.

I know it used to work great for me, but somewhere along the line, I started using Flitz as a general metal maintenance and final metal polish, and I was hooked.

I had forgotten the level of performance that Noxon offered, so I had to re-introduce myself to Noxon.

The first thing I did when I got home, was to do a few comparison tests of these two polishes (a head to head, so to speak).

The Noxon is a creamy colored water based cream polish, where the Flitz is a greasy and bit thicker creamy polish (thicker as in being closer to a paste).

I first tried the Noxon on a piece of brass, and after quite a bit of rubbing, only found a miniscule amount of brass on the cloth (I mean almost nothing).

I did the same thing with Flitz, and the cloth showed more brass for sure.

The sheen is about identical, with I believe the Noxon having I tiny edge over the Flitz.

My conclusion:

It seems that the Flitz, while extremely mild, does a miniscule amount of abrasive work to achieve it's high shine on metal surfaces.

The Noxon, it too seems to do this, but even at a finer level (which was hard to believe, with the Flitz already being so fine).

Which is better?............. depends on what one wants it for.

They are both great, IMO.

If I were comparing it in wood and sandpaper terms,......... it's like if the Flitz were to have been a 320 grit, then the Noxon would have been like a 420, (with both having their more appropriate purposes, but can also overlap in performing some of the same work).

I "may" now use the Noxon as my General maintenance polish (to polish things that already have a high polish that I'm happy with), while probably keeping my beloved Flitz as my final metal polish on items that I'm working a high polish onto.

Overall, I'm glad that I've added Noxon to my list of polishes again :)
 
Be careful around firearms with the Flitz. I heard reports around the gunshop that it will remove bluing. The polish A.G. Russell sells is about I use anymore.
 
DKP said:
Be careful around firearms with the Flitz. I heard reports around the gunshop that it will remove bluing. The polish A.G. Russell sells is about I use anymore.
Click to expand...

I agree on the Flitz (and Brasso, Noxon, etc.)

Just like mentioned before, Flitz works as an "extremely" mild abrasive, no matter what it claims on it's packaging. Though it may not remove hot blueing on firearms with just one polishing, it will probably start to thin it out, (especially if one continues to use it on a regular maintenance basis). I choose to never use "metal Polishes" on my guns, instead using clean soft cloth rags and a decent oil/cleaner (like Breakfree CLP), that's it.

I also noticed that both Flitz and Noxon seem to mention all sorts of metals, but not standard carbon steel. They mention things like brass, copper, stainless steel, etc., but not standard "bare" high carbon steel.

Don't know why this is, but I did notice something about the Noxon, it seems to be highly water based. If that's the case, maybe they feel that the water in the mixture may help cause oxidation (read rust) if allowed to enter certain crevices that cannot later be easily wiped or buffed out, or that are not polished off in time?

Don't know what the main base for Flitz is, but maybe it's also water based? It seems to have more of a greasy feeling to it, and my guess is that the mix is probably more of a solvent/water base combination of some sort,.......... maybe?

One thing about Flitz is that it's more of a pasty substance, so running into areas that it should not, is not much of a problem. But, it still can get into crevices that one did not intend to get them into.

Neither list standard "bare" (in the white) carbon steel, and that may mean something,............. or not.
It could be that they simply list the most common metals that the polish will be used on, or they may feel bare carbon steel may not be an appropriate task for these polishes?

In any case, I have used Flitz on "bare" carbon steel for probably the last 10 or so years now, with no ill effects (it's still one of my all time favorite gots to have metal polishing materials) :)
 
DKP said:
Be careful around firearms with the Flitz. I heard reports around the gunshop that it will remove bluing. The polish A.G. Russell sells is about I use anymore.
Click to expand...
I too keep Flitz around, but as far as I know he's right....bluing, if already thin from holster wear, will disappear. Just like with steel wool, use caution.
 
I used to use flitz an simichrome, but now all i use for blades, hamons, etc is a 6$ tub of Mothers mag polish i got at the auto store. I find no difference in performance and you can basically buy a lifetime supply for 20$
 
"tub of Mothers mag polish i got at the auto store. I find no difference in performance"

I'll 2nd the Mothers

although I lean toward the
Billet Polish
which seems to be just a bit nicer
......& a bit more expensive

just add a drop of any oil when it begins to dry out


All their polishes work well

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