Tripoli Polish for hard rubber

[Martin]

Well this isn’t exactly a saxophone problem, but I think someone here probably knows the answer, so here goes...

I’m stripping down my old hard rubber clarinet for re-padding and I thought I would take the opportunity to polish out some of the stains on the body. The book I have on instrument maintenance recommends Tripoli polish for hard rubber, so I dutifully ordered some. Now that it has arrived, I find that I don’t know how to use it. It looks like clay and is in the shape of a lead ingot (or presumably a gold ingot, too, but I’ve never seen one of those). Does anyone know how it should be used? Perhaps I should break some off the bar and mix it into a paste? Or perhaps it is supposed to be applied onto a buffing wheel (sounds a bit too aggressive for a clarinet body)?

Looking forward to some advice,
Martin

 

[half diminished]

JEWELLERS TRIPOLI POLISH POLISHING BLOCK BAR

Used for the initial polish before rouge polishing of most metals after using emery paper etc- It will also remove fine file marks.

Can be used with a polishing motor & polishing mop or can be shaved & mixed into a paste with hot water to use with a cloth.

From ebay

 

[Martin]

Thanks Ian.

It sounds like I'd be best off to mix it into a paste and polish by hand then.

Cheers,
Martin

 

[Steve M]

Cut a strip of cloth. Hold one end in a vice. Rub some tripoli on the cloth and then rub the clarinet on it. You don't need break it up.

Did your source say tripoli powder? An old method was to use powder to make a polish.

 

[Martin]

Cut a strip of cloth. Hold one end in a vice. Rub some tripoli on the cloth and then rub the clarinet on it. You don't need break it up.

Did your source say tripoli powder? An old method was to use powder to make a polish.

Excellent. I still haven't done the job, so when I do, I'll try it as you describe.

I think the book did say powder.

Martin