Storing Polishing compounds

Hi there,

Just a quick question.I recently bought an assortment of tools etc
from a bankrupt jewellery store. Amongst other items were several
bars of different polishing compounds including a bar of Tripoli
that is almost a pound, rouge, white diamond etc. The question is, do
these compounds dry out over time as they seem very hard, and if
they do is there a way to rejuvenate them?

Thanks
Gerry

Hi Gerry,

some of my polishing compounds are over 25 years old and are still
fine. Yes, they are hard, but they need to be to press up against
your wheels.

Jennifer

The question is, do these compounds dry out over time as they seem
very hard, 

No, they don’t deteriorate with time. The binders are wax or grease
based. They’re stable.

There are some commercially used abrasives that are water based
pastes, usually not polishing compounds, but coarser abrasives, and
of course things like lapidary or optical polishing compounds that
are often used as suspensions in water, which then acts in part as a
coolant. But your rouge and tripoli and white diamonds compounds are
not of that sort, most likely. I have some compounds around that I’ve
used only occasionally, so they’ve lasted a long time. One block of
rouge I’ve got was bought in the early 80s. Still fine, when I need
it…

Peter