Reddit mentions of 4 Way Shiny Block / 4 Step Buffing Block Shine Nail Buffer

I've always had this problem. Try taking some supplements. There are a few hair/skin/nails supplements that can help, but I've found a few things that really help.

1. Don't pick off your polish. This was my biggest problem. I love doing it, especially with glitters, and this ruins the top layer of your nails.
   
   
2. Buy a strengthening base coat. I've used several of them. Out of all of the one's I've tried OPI Nail Envy seems be the best for my nails. If you ever skip polish, a few coats of this will help seal the flakes and harden the nail so it doesn't break off as quickly. If you are painting your nails--it makes a great basecoat and prevents the polish from staining your nails. http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Original-Nail-Envy-Strengthener/dp/B000ORNKHY/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1372775387&sr=1-1&keywords=opi+nail+envy+nail+strengthener
   
   
3. Like u/paper_paws said -- file in one direction. I have a 4-sided block buffer that I use at most twice a month to file down the ridges and buff out the flaky areas if they get bad. http://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Block-Buffing-Shine-Buffer/dp/B0037O2J7I/ref=sr_1_4?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1372775474&sr=1-4&keywords=nail+buffer

I just picked up this old Lowe & Campbell referee's watch. Other than the crystal being really scratched up, it was in great shape, and it kind of worked.

I worked on it for a while yesterday. It just had a very simple problem, which was lucky. Not sure exactly what the movement is, but it looks a lot like most other dollar pocket watch movements - not a lot of screws and a lot of rivets. They weren't made to be taken apart.

I've seen these watches branded different things, but they all look the same.

The mechanics are pretty simple. It has a crown used to wind the watch and set the one (minute) hand, and a sliding lever at the 10-11 o'clock position that stops and starts the watch.

For basketball, it's broken up into two 20-minute halves, just like NCAA basketball today. Note that there's no other timing for basketball. There was no shot clock back then.

Football is broken up into 4 15-minute quarters with a red 'warning' bar for the two minute warning. Interesting that it startes at 5 min. left. I don't know much about old football rules. Did it used to be a 5-minute warning?

Regardless, the watch works as well as one could expect an inexpensive vintage watch to work.

I buffed all of the scratches out of the crystal the very best way I know how - with one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Block-Buffing-Shine-Buffer/dp/B0037O2J7I

A couple of the scratches were pretty deep. I didn't think I could get them out, but I did. If you repair and restore a lot of vintage watches, those nail polishing blocks are a must to have around. I go through them. I buy them in boxes of 10 at a time.

Basically, you start with the #1 grit, which is the coarsest, and work your way up to four. You have to buff pretty fast and constantly wipe the old acrylic dust away.

Anyway, I just thought it was an interesting piece, and it combines my love of sports with my love of watches. Double whammy!

Enjoy!

I just wanted to add 1 more tip - I also have nails that tear and crack if I just apply polish, but what I've found works well for me, as an amateur-at-best nailpolisher, my routine is:

EDIT I forgot a step which I think is important:

0. After removing old polish and washing nails in warm water then drying them, I use one of these buffer blocks and make sure to do it well. I think it has a big effect on my nails not chipping and it's much gentler than an emery board.

1. Sally Hansen Cuticle Oil Which can help if you get those straggly little cuticle tears just above your nailbed.
   
   
2. Nailtiques Formula 2
   
   
3. Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Base Coat
   
   
4. (Through N-1) Apply colored polish, glitter, whatever.
   
   N. Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Top Coat
   
   Yes this is gonna take a loooooooooooooong time, but after a week I have very few chips, my nails are able to grow a little, and I am excited to put a new coat on rather than just desperate to get the current one off. Maybe it sounds like too many coats, I am not a nail polish scientist, this is just the process I developed independently that works for me.
   
   And that said, now I feel totally justified in going and buying some new polish today as my meager collection has yet to require a DIY storage cart!

Do you still have a base and a top coat? They're both really important to reduce staining and chipping, and to increase longevity of your manicure.

What's your budget like? Base your purchases off of how much you're willing to spend, and how big you want to go. I'm a college student, but I have no real bills and nails are my only money-consuming hobby, so I get mid to high tier polish.

Dotting tools, a cuticle pusher, and a buffing block are my top three supplies, aside from acetone, cotton balls and polish.

Go to the nail care aisle of any grocery store and get a nail polishing block. Usually 4 sided with progressively finer grits. Works perfect for plastic. Ex. http://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Block-Buffing-Shine-Buffer/dp/B0037O2J7I

Rather than filing the surface you might try buffing it. Here is what most buffing blocks look like, you can usually find them in any drugstore for $2 or less. They are even numbered with the order to use each side, and you don't have to use them all. When I buff my nails I only use the coarsest side (Side 1). The only issue with these are that they are kind of large and it is sometimes hard to get a good buff on small nails like toe nails. Usually filing the surface of a nail is a no no, because if you file to deeply you can get down to the nail bed, which can cause infection (especially bad if you already suspect a possible fungus).

I apologize that I don't know any anti-fungals, the only knowledge I have of that is when my room mate had a toe fungus from a salon and had to use a prescription treatment. It worked, I think she had to use it for 30 days straight. Good luck, I hope there's something easier than that available to you!

Moisturizing your cuticles and this...

http://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Block-Buffing-Shine-Buffer/dp/B0037O2J7I

Well, you can start by taking a Biotin supplement or prenatal vitamins. Those will help speed up the growth of your natural nails. You'll also want to get a strengthening polish of some sort. OPI Nail Envy is popular, but I'm not sure what's available where you live. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Hand cream as often as possible. Apply cuticle oil at least once or twice a day. There are tons out there. File your nails gently, and if they're not too sensitive, buff the surface to even it out. Don't over buff it. It shouldn't hurt. After your nail surfaces are stronger and less sensitive, you might want to get a cuticle remover gel and some orange wood sticks. Apply the cuticle remover, let it sit for a minute, and then use the orange wood to gently push back any of the stuff growing up your nails. Wash your hands after using the cuticle remover, if left on too long it could burn your skin. Moisturize.

I linked some products on amazon. Just because I linked specific products doesn't mean that's what you have to use. It might take a little while to figure out the routine that works best for you, but you can do it.

I love butterflies

Nail item

Eskimo :-) :-) great contest....thanks

Use one of these things to smooth the edges of your nails. You want rounded corners and no snaggly bits. https://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Block-Buffing-Shine-Buffer/dp/B0037O2J7I

Something like this. I pick them up at the pharmacy:http://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Block-Buffing-Shine-Buffer/dp/B0037O2J7I

It's a generic thing, though. Any four step one will work.