How to polish almost anything!

How to Polish Almost Anything This is a simple way to polish any kind of surface to a high luster, from silver to bakelite. Its very simple and all you need is some time and elbow grease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cloth Rag Fireplace or Paper Ashes.

1. First: Start by procuring some ashes from your fireplace, or making some by burning paper in a fire-safe container. Make sure there are no pieces of unburned or partially burnt wood in the ashes if you are using wood ash. The ashes should be a fine powder with no grit.
2. Second: Extend your index finger into a "pointing" position. Take the cloth and press your extended index finger into the material holding the rest of the rag with your hand. Be sure to keep your finger stiff while pressing into the cloth.
3. Third: Apply saliva from your tongue to the portion of the rag where the tip of your index finger is located.
4. Fourth: Dip saliva-wet rag into cup of ashes.
5. Fifth: Press finger in rag, with saliva-ash mixture, onto surface you wish to polish. Press hard and apply a circular motion to the surface with your index finger. This is called buffing.
6. Sixth: Repeat steps 3 to 5 as necessary.
7. Seventh: After the surface intended for polish has been buffed, rinse with water thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use an ample amount of ash on the rag, and don't be shy with the saliva. You can not use too much of either. Cigarette ash works well too. In fact the author prefers to use cigar or cigarette ash for polishing.
• Do not use an accelerate such as kerosene or charcoal lighter fluid in preparing the ashes. Residue may transfer with the ash to the surface intended to be polished and leave an oily film which may damage the surface of the object or remove paint. Be careful with painted surfaces. Don't press so hard as you do not want to remove the paint with the ash, only buff it.