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Saiko
Guest
Everyone tells me to polish my caprass( i know the spelling's wrong i want to know how spell it right) or capbadge, but no one ever tells me how...? thnx!
Michael Dorosh
Army.ca Veteran
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Saiko said:
Some badges - most, these days - are anodized and cannot be polished. Make sure yours is actually brass or a similar material that is actually able to take a shine.
Then go to the grocery store, or Walmart, and look in the cleaning supplies section and buy a can of BRASSO. It comes in a metal can. Here is a picture:
You can also use SILVO.
Shake the can well so the polish is well mixed. Put a dab onto your badge - use a drop cloth or newspaper, if you get this on the kitchen table, your bed, the floor - it will stain. This stuff is messy, and toxic.
Rub the stuff on your badge, then rub it off with a clean, soft cloth. Repeat several times, make sure it doesn't dry in the nooks and crannies or your badge will look crappy (dried brasso looks like dried toothpaste, very white and chalky). A good way of working the brasso is to use your finger, and keep moving the stuff around, then buff with the cloth. Your finger will get good and black. So will your polishing cloth. The black stuff is oxidation coming off the badge.
Oh, since you asked, it is properly called a Cap Badge, (some say Hat Badge also). A lot of people use the term "cap brass" or "hat brass" but these are incorrect; I think it is mainly in use by cadets.
There are more expensive metal polishes out there - Dura Glit, for example. If you want to cheat, go to a jeweller and have your badge chrome plated (for white metal badges) or gold plated (for brass or "yellow metal" badges).
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An old toothbrush works well for getting the gunk out without any dirty fingers.
Michael Dorosh
Army.ca Veteran
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sheikyerbouti said:
Not in my experience - it also splashes brasso all over the place and makes a hell of a mess.
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Rounder said:
Or actually polish it, whenever so required, and hence take pride not just in your appearance, but in the work that you did. Every time you polish your cap badge, remind yourself of how lucky you are to be in the Unit / Regiment / Corps, and also that it is important to look after your kit, and keep it clean. Then thank the stars that you didn't take the easy way out and "chrome it".
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Let see... we come from different worlds. Work 9-6 Mon thru Fri. Parade nights on Mon & Thurs, plus one if not two weekends a month. I come home from work and I have other priorities like getting organized for the upcoming training being conducted that week. It is not the easy way out... it is adapting to an already time crunched situation. Oh yeah.. I almost forgot, I have a family too. No CTO days for class "A". PPCLI guy I know you're going to give me a blast for saying that.
D
dutchie
Guest
Work 9-6 Mon thru Fri. Parade nights on Mon & Thurs, plus one if not two weekends a month. I come home from work and I have other priorities like getting organized for the upcoming training being conducted that week
Quit your whining. Tens of thousands of res troops take pride in their uniforms by putting in the work. Polish your brass, polish your boots, maintain your kit, show up, and do your job. You should be thankful you were given the privilege to serve in the same unit as your fellow soldiers, and especially your predecessors (vets).
If you want CTO, put in a leave pass.
ps, this is from a fellow reservist, with a lot on my plate as well.
Quit your whining. Tens of thousands of res troops take pride in their uniforms by putting in the work. Polish your brass, polish your boots, maintain your kit, show up, and do your job. You should be thankful you were given the privilege to serve in the same unit as your fellow soldiers, and especially your predecessors (vets).
If you want CTO, put in a leave pass.
ps, this is from a fellow reservist, with a lot on my plate as well.
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Toothbrush works good....and tooth paste (no I'm not joking!) Toothpaste and a toothbrush make a good parade special for capbadges (at least for mine since it's sterling silver.) It also depends on the condition of the capbrass. If it's new, toothpaste works; if it's old, silvo can dig deeper to get a new shine out of it.
Bzzliteyr
Army.ca Veteran
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There is always the option of quitting and going to work at McDonalds once a week instead.. I hear their standards of dress aren't as strict and time consuming as the military with their crazy "cap badge polishing"!!! Oh yeah.. Chroming a brass cap badge might also look a little funny.. or can they tint them?
It took one of the guys at work here the other day about 20 minutes with a piece of cardboard and brasso to bring his capbadge up to the nice burnished standard that the LDSH(RC) have. I on the other hand, joined a wonderful unit that has a cloth cap badge and I don't even have to worry about that crazy little thing called "work".. haha
It took one of the guys at work here the other day about 20 minutes with a piece of cardboard and brasso to bring his capbadge up to the nice burnished standard that the LDSH(RC) have. I on the other hand, joined a wonderful unit that has a cloth cap badge and I don't even have to worry about that crazy little thing called "work".. haha
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Question- How do i tell weather my capbadge is brass or silver, or just a cheap metal? I am with the Grey and Simcoe Foresters. This is our capbage, except it is all silver looking except for the banner across the bottom is brass coloured
the 48th regulator
Army.ca Fixture
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Rounder
one thing for you
On yer bike! dude I have always been a guy to say that the army takes too much of my party/personal time, but you know what mate?? We always found time to polish the cap badge! I would rather look like crap than my badge to look that way!
tess
one thing for you
On yer bike! dude I have always been a guy to say that the army takes too much of my party/personal time, but you know what mate?? We always found time to polish the cap badge! I would rather look like crap than my badge to look that way!
tess
the 48th regulator
Army.ca Fixture
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Ok I take it any way I can, sorry, was bit fired up at the time
hehe, me talking about polishing kit with a furious pasion
select all and save my submission, the guys at the regiment won't believe it!
cheers rounder
tess
hehe, me talking about polishing kit with a furious pasion
select all and save my submission, the guys at the regiment won't believe it!
cheers rounder
tess
- Reaction score
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Rounder:
No, you weren't.
You were slagging people who make time to look after their gear, then you added a particularly unnecessary jab about CTO which had nothing to do with anything. I was a Reserve Inf soldier for eight years, and I damned well shone my brass and silver capbadge and I was proud of it. I shine my brass and silver capbadge today.
Oh, by the way, I do use toothpaste and a toothbrush, then finish off by buffing with toilet paper or a soft cloth. Works great and doesn't leave that filthy grey-black deposit. Doesn't tarnish as fast, either. Cheers.
No, you weren't.
You were slagging people who make time to look after their gear, then you added a particularly unnecessary jab about CTO which had nothing to do with anything. I was a Reserve Inf soldier for eight years, and I damned well shone my brass and silver capbadge and I was proud of it. I shine my brass and silver capbadge today.
Oh, by the way, I do use toothpaste and a toothbrush, then finish off by buffing with toilet paper or a soft cloth. Works great and doesn't leave that filthy grey-black deposit. Doesn't tarnish as fast, either. Cheers.
