In my TV Restorations, I have come up with many shortcuts and aids.
The only one that springs to mind at present is how I clean and polish circular Control Knobs. I saw off the end of a dead Control Shaft, chuck it in a Drill, attach a Knob to the end, and with it spinning, polish it with the terry towel dipped in progressively finer polishing agents, like Meguire's.
They come out flawless.
LJB