Tranz4mr’s Bakelite Page

 
 

Polishing Bakelite & Plastic

Most Postwar Lionel and American Flyer transformer cases are made from a synthetic material called Bakelite. Bakelite is one of the first synthetic plastic materials. It is durable, chemically inert, fire resistant and pretty hard to mess up. It was used to make telephones, radios, heavy electrical equipment, jewelry and a thousand other consumer devices. Besides being susceptible to cracking the only thing that can ruin mess up the surface is oxidation due to long term exposure to moisture and or sunlight.

Polish with a cotton wheel mounted to a drill or purchase a polishing machine with several polishing compounds at your local Chinese tool store.

 

To restore the handles which are a softer vinyl plastic purchase plastic polish. If the finish isn’t too bad start with the #2 polish. If the finish is scratched up bad start with #3 polish then finish with #2 polish.

Polish with a cotton wheel mounted to a drill or purchase a polishing machine. Purchase several grades of polishing compounds at your local Chinese tool store. Work your way through the grades of polish.

 

Same transformer all reassembled, polished and tested.