Blackington Badge - Varnish comming off??

[gbcop]

Anyone have any idea's on how to get that luster back to my badge? The county issued me a Blackington badge with what I believe is a "Rho-Glo" finish, that has a fine clear varnish that was suppose to keep a good shine on it.

Well over the course of 2 years at my new department, the finish is slowly but surely coming off, and it is starting too look pretty bad. I followed the instructions to a T on how to keep it clean, which was a simple as lathering your hands up with soap and rubbing the badge in your hand.

Any idears?

[navy03]

You may just want to contact Blackinton... they will normally refinish the badge for you (and usually not even charge you).

[gbcop]

I'll probably just get with my Captain after March 4th(Election), were HOPEFULLY I'll get to enjoy my current Sheriff another 4 years, to do that. If I get a new boss Jan 1st, there will be no point in getting this badge fixed because that seems to be the "In Thing" with new Sheriff's is to change the badge.

I don't know what type of metal or materials make up this badge, and at a distance it looks okay, but if you are within 3-4 feet it's noticeable, where you are most of the time talking to victims, I want my badge to be a good reflection on myself and my department. So any hints on maybe a metal polish??

Thanks for the suggestion Navy03!

[TXStateCop]

Be careful with a metal polish. Even though they often claim to be non-abrasive, many do have some mild abrasives in them. Flitz is an excellent example of what I mean. It is a great item to use on feed ramps to polish them out, but I would use it carefully on a plated surface. I recommend the call to Blackington as it should not be flaking off.

[Jedi]

GB--

I've got the same type of finish on my badge, and have the exact same problem. Initially I thought I had chipped it on something, but it just seems to flake off. I sent mine to Blackington and they refinished it free of charge. Took a few weeks, but it came back good as new. However, the first week I put it back on my uniform, the seatbelt rubbed it wrong and now it's happening all over again.

Not sure what the reason is. Everybody at our department was issued these badges in the last few years and a vast majority of people still have that nice shine to it. I feel your pain though--I don't like having a badge that looks like it's falling apart either.

[JI603]

My blackinton badge did the same thing. The 'gold' sections of it started flaking off, so I said to hell with it and got the brasso out. I just brasso'd it until the gold polished to silver, and it stays that way as long as I hit it once a week with my other brass stuff.

[DennisNJ]

Are you switching the same badge into & out of a badge wallet for off-duty carry? Depending on design of the badge case & how it's carried (back pocket = lots & lots of wear) you can wear the finish off pretty quickly.

[Jedi]

Mine stays on my shirt except for on my days off, at which point I switch it to a badge clip. Got a separate badge entirely for my creds case.