# Polish the outside of a bearing?

**URL:** <https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585>\
**Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\
**Created:** [February 5, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585 "2014-02-05T21:22:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Noonar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/noonar/32/1244_2.png) [@Noonar](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Noonar)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/1 "2014-02-05T21:22:13Z")

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Has anyone actually polished the outer surface of a bearing?

How can I remove tarnish?

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**Author:** ![CaliBuddha](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/calibuddha/32/156_2.png) [@CaliBuddha](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/CaliBuddha)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/2 "2014-02-05T21:47:53Z")

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It won’t help anything.

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**Author:** ![Noonar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/noonar/32/1244_2.png) [@Noonar](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Noonar)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/3 "2014-02-05T22:45:38Z")

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> [@MiamiBuddha](#):
>
> It won’t help anything.

I know, I just want it to be shiny.

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**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/4 "2014-02-06T03:16:03Z")

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Not needed but a bit of metal polish will clean it up a bit.

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**Author:** ![mullicabob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/mullicabob/32/1108_2.png) [@mullicabob](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/mullicabob)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/5 "2014-02-06T04:03:13Z")

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I do it all the time. Even the ugliest can be brought back to life.

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**Author:** ![Noonar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/noonar/32/1244_2.png) [@Noonar](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Noonar)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/6 "2014-02-06T04:15:35Z")

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> [@mullicabob](#):
>
> I do it all the time. Even the ugliest can be brought back to life.

That’s awesome! Gimme more details ;D

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**Author:** ![yoyospirit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyospirit/32/219875_2.png) [@yoyospirit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyospirit)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/7 "2014-02-06T05:22:59Z")

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I’ve done it countless times before. BTW, having a polished outer race will help, a lot. It can reduce snags since the surface of the bearing is smoother so the string can slide on it easier.

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**Author:** ![mullicabob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/mullicabob/32/1108_2.png) [@mullicabob](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/mullicabob)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/polish-the-outside-of-a-bearing/63585/8 "2014-02-06T16:59:53Z")

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Little know fact about polishing in general is it helps to harden the surface. Only a little but does help.

A stainless bearing is already much harder than aluminum but like spirit said above it is that little edge that can help overall.

I use a felt bob to do my bearings.