03-23-2022, 02:26 PM
NeilS
It sounds like you did well with your old Tamaya.
Don't worry about cleaning up the scales on the arc with a bit of Brasso. After all if you can't read them the sextant is pretty much useless, so you have got to do what is necessary. I have an old Simex (private label Tamaya) that I had to do the exact same thing to. Cleaning up the arc is fine, polishing it daily so ti gleams is overkill. Once you get it cleaned up so it is read-able try to keep your fingers off the brass and don't polish it again until you absolutely have to!
Be careful of the machined teeth in the arc which are called the rack. A little contamination in them from the Brasso can throw you off. Use a soft toothbrush to keep them clean, and only infrequently.
Don't use regular oils if you can help it because they harden and gum up over time. Just a teeny little bit of watch oil or quality sewing machine oil is all you need. A touch of petroleum jelly also works, but use very sparingly. Also avoid penetrating oils like WD-40 as they tend to creep around and get on things you would prefer they didn't.
Clear Skies
PeterB
It sounds like you did well with your old Tamaya.
Don't worry about cleaning up the scales on the arc with a bit of Brasso. After all if you can't read them the sextant is pretty much useless, so you have got to do what is necessary. I have an old Simex (private label Tamaya) that I had to do the exact same thing to. Cleaning up the arc is fine, polishing it daily so ti gleams is overkill. Once you get it cleaned up so it is read-able try to keep your fingers off the brass and don't polish it again until you absolutely have to!
Be careful of the machined teeth in the arc which are called the rack. A little contamination in them from the Brasso can throw you off. Use a soft toothbrush to keep them clean, and only infrequently.
Don't use regular oils if you can help it because they harden and gum up over time. Just a teeny little bit of watch oil or quality sewing machine oil is all you need. A touch of petroleum jelly also works, but use very sparingly. Also avoid penetrating oils like WD-40 as they tend to creep around and get on things you would prefer they didn't.
Clear Skies
PeterB