Aaronw Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I've seen some of you use this to get a really smooth finish. Is this a hobby product or something I can get at an auto supply store like Kragens or NAPA? Thanks
Zoom Zoom Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Either a well-stocked hobby shop, internet are the best sources for Novus. I have seen it at motorcycle dealers (great for polishing scratches out of visors), commercial plastic supply houses, and I used to see it at The Container Store. You won't Novus at common auto parts stores. If you want a good cream polish that is easy to find and very similar to Novus #2, get some Meguiars Scratch X or Kit Scratch Out, those can be found in a lot of stores like Target, Wal Mart, etc. If you use Tamiya sprays w/any frequency, get their three grades of compound...coarse, fine, finish...they work amazingly well on their own paint.
MonoPed Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I get mine at a local sign shop, they keep it on hand for all the clear and translucent plexi they use.
Pete J. Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I get it as my local plastic fabricator. Those are the places the make things out of Lucite, Plexiglass, etc. They will have it in bottles up to a quart. I use #3 and then finish it off with Tamiya extra fine.
MikeMc Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 (edited) Most Harley Dealers stock it. All good motorcycle shops do also...and I much prefer #2 Novus over scratch x for both Cycles and Paint Micro Mark has a nice kit http://www.micromark.com/NOVUS-TRY-IT-PACK,8054.html http://www.micromark.com/SearchResult.aspx...rchPhrase=novus Edited February 2, 2009 by MikeMc
Olle F Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Are Novus, Scratch X and similar products safe on enamel? I had a real nasty experience once when I tried Turtle wax on a model painted with Testors enamel, and I don't want to repeat that mistake...
Zoom Zoom Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Are Novus, Scratch X and similar products safe on enamel? I had a real nasty experience once when I tried Turtle wax on a model painted with Testors enamel, and I don't want to repeat that mistake... Yes, they are safe. I would never recommend a polish that wasn't safe on enamel nor one I had not already tried. Novus/Meguiars Scratch X and Kit Scratch Out work by friction/buffing, not by chemical reaction. They don't have the petroleum-based additives that make some polishes kill enamels. They're quite safe on enamel. Tamiya compound is also good on enamel. I can usually tell by the smell of a polish whether it's good on hobby paint or too strong. I'm pretty certain the Bare Metal Foil polish is just re-packaged Novus #2. Smells and works exactly the same. Found that out 20+ years ago, long before Novus became a standard for polishing model paint jobs.
Aaronw Posted February 2, 2009 Author Posted February 2, 2009 Thanks, I'll have a look, I'm pretty sure I can at least get the Meguiars. Just thought I'd try to step up my paint jobs a bit. I put some Meguiars wax over a coat of Future last last year. It really increased the shine, but didn't deal with some of the small imperfections in the finish.
Pete J. Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Yes, they are safe. I would never recommend a polish that wasn't safe on enamel nor one I had not already tried. Novus/Meguiars Scratch X and Kit Scratch Out work by friction/buffing, not by chemical reaction. They don't have the petroleum-based additives that make some polishes kill enamels. They're quite safe on enamel. Tamiya compound is also good on enamel. I can usually tell by the smell of a polish whether it's good on hobby paint or too strong. I'm pretty certain the Bare Metal Foil polish is just re-packaged Novus #2. Smells and works exactly the same. Found that out 20+ years ago, long before Novus became a standard for polishing model paint jobs. The only issue that I know of with novus is that there seems to be a small amount of silicon in it. After you have polished, if you need to apply a coat of paint over the polished bit(the dreaded rub through) you need to use alcohol to clean the surface, or it will fish eye on you.
chrismooney Posted February 3, 2009 Posted February 3, 2009 Aaron I use the Meguiars scrath X, formula 2001, and kit scratch out, the best would be the Meguiars, and works great on the Krylon paints....
Olle F Posted February 3, 2009 Posted February 3, 2009 Yes, they are safe. I would never recommend a polish that wasn't safe on enamel nor one I had not already tried. Novus/Meguiars Scratch X and Kit Scratch Out work by friction/buffing, not by chemical reaction. They don't have the petroleum-based additives that make some polishes kill enamels. They're quite safe on enamel. Tamiya compound is also good on enamel. I can usually tell by the smell of a polish whether it's good on hobby paint or too strong. I'm pretty certain the Bare Metal Foil polish is just re-packaged Novus #2. Smells and works exactly the same. Found that out 20+ years ago, long before Novus became a standard for polishing model paint jobs. Thanks for the detailed answer, you actually answered my next question as well. And no, I didn't suspect you of suggest something unsafe, I just wanted to make sure that this tip wasn't for laquer only. I have already been there and done that, that model I mentioned was waxed 10-15 years ago and the surface is still tacky...
Aaronw Posted February 3, 2009 Author Posted February 3, 2009 Aaron I use the Meguiars scrath X, formula 2001, and kit scratch out, the best would be the Meguiars, and works great on the Krylon paints.... Thanks, you know me and my Krylon.
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