Polish comparisons

At the May, 1996 meeting at IronFlower Forge, we ran a comparion of six treatments on preserving mirror polished tool steel. The experimental design was to heat treat a section of 5160 (1500F oil quench, 425 F temper) and to mirror polish the piece. The piece was divided into six pieces, marked with the designated treatment and treated appropriately. The treated pieces were suspended over a dilute acid solution (to enhance the rusting). After 24 hours, we evaluated the treatments with regard to degradation. The treatments were: Control (no treatment) Johnson paste wax - rubbed on Mequire's auto polish - rubbed on Renaissance Wax- rubbed on folowing the instructions of the jar Mil Spec Metal treatment- wiped on and off beeswax - applied to metal warm enough to melt the wax The results were (best to worst) Beeswax Mil spec & Renaissance Wax Johnson wax and auto polish Control After six years of sitting in an empty can in my unheated shop in good ol' humid Florida, the results are pretty obvious -- beeswax beats everything else by far, i.e.,