[Deer Hunter]

I love my new 686+, it's a hoot. Saying that, I would like to see a better shine on it. What should I use to clean it up a little bit? Not much, nothing like sandpaper-potential, but I'd just like to know how to even out the finish and make it look smooth.

[jad0110]

I recently purchased a NIB 686+ that I'm very happy with. Shoots to POA and the trigger is surprisingly smooth for a new gun, on par with my near 50 year old K-22. Too bad S&W doesn't finish the stainless as nice as they used to. It can be cleaned up very easily however. Here's what I did:

First, remove the grip. Next, put a small dab of Flitz polish on a cotton rag and gently polish/buff the gun. The more you polish, the shinier/more mirror like it will become. I just wanted to even the finish, so I would just polish/buff a bit at a time until I got the finish where I wanted it. Next, use some 0000 Steel Wool and go over the whole gun to take a bit of the edge off the shine, if you wish. Helps to even it out more.

***Be sure to seal off all the openings to the internals with some painters tape before using steel wool, it gets EVERYWHERE!***

The end result is pretty darn good! Took me about 25 minutes. I don't think you can screw it up, as if the finish gets too mirror-like for your tastes, just buff it more with the 0000 steel wool.

Note that I replaced the stock Hogue monogrips with finger groove-less Pachmayr Compacs.


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Smith%20and%20Wesson%20Model%20686%20Plus%20357%20Magnum/Large/SW686side.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Smith%20and%20Wesson%20Model%20686%20Plus%20357%20Magnum/Large/SW686wood-1.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Smith%20and%20Wesson%20Model%20686%20Plus%20357%20Magnum/686_12-2.jpg


Not the greatest pictures in the world, but they'll give you the idea.

[Deer Hunter]

Alright, that gives me some ideas. Tell me, where can I Get some Flitz polish or a comparible substitute?

[jad0110]

I picked up Flitz polish at a local gun shop. I would think most would have it in stock. Not sure if it can be found at Lowes, Home Depot, or another hardware store.

I heard aluminum wheel polish like Mothers could be used, but that stuff is pretty harsh, so I'd stay away from it.

Maybe others on THR will have some other good suggestions.

[Baphomet]

Just a suggestion, mind you, but sometimes going the opposite direction looks nice as well (at least I think so):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v149/Baphomet/PistolsII004.jpg

[Deer Hunter]

Baph, My 625 has the finish that your revolver has. I enjoy it, but I'm thinking I want to go the shiny route with my first .357.

Thanks for the information. I'll look for it at my favorite gun shop (that's 80 miles away, sadly) next time I'm visiting my sister.

[ArchAngelCD]

Deer Hunter,
Get your Flitz products here. Much better than driving 80 miles for sure!!!
http://www.flitz.com/

[SJshooter]

YIKES - be very careful with steel wool. I have seen a few revolvers ruined using this.

Try Scotchbrite pads and Flitz polish and enjoy the shine.

[GUNKWAZY]

Someone said be careful with Mothers mag polish as it's too harsh.:confused:
That's just the ticket to make your 686 sparkle. :D
I've been using it for years and people always ask where I get my Nickel plating done. Here's a S&W 629 Mountain gun I did with Mothers. :neener:

http://members.aol.com/toykwazy/swmtn44.jpg

Here's a S&W 617 I did....

http://members.aol.com/toykwazy/sw617.jpg

Here's a S&W 629 I did....

http://members.aol.com/toykwazy/sw629.jpg

Get yourself some Mothers (paste) and have at it.
Doing it by hand allows you to control just how bright, smooth & shiney you want it. You can just shine it up and smooth it out just a little, or you can polish all the tool marks out and make her look like it's been Nickel plated. How much you rub allows you all the control in the world.
You will NOT ruin your gun either.
Good luck.

NOTE*** If you try to use steel wool, the steel particles can get stuck in small places and rust your stainless gun. Remember it's Stain-LESS steel not stain-free steel.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

[JoeHatley]

I'm thinking I want to go the shiny route with my first .357.

Just about any metal polish will work. I use Flitz.

http://www.iowatelecom.net/~hatley/625mg_45lc_t.jpg

Good Luck...

Joe

[hexidismal]

Ah.. GUNKWAZY, I wanted to respond to this post with a link to where you had discussed this before, with those exact pictures you posted, but I couldn't remember whose they were or where that post was :p

[mike101]

.........unless it's stainless steel wool, or synthetic. I have been using 3M synthetic steel wool (0000) for years to even out the finish on stainless guns. I got the idea from the techs at Ruger. They use it. If you use conventional steel wool, microscopic particles can imbed themselves in the stainless, and be a catalyst for rust.

Whatever "wool" you use, it will leave a brushed finish, though. Not REAL shiney. And, GO WITH THE GRAIN.

You could also send it to Fords www.fordsguns.com and get their master polish. It will turn out looking like Colt nickel plating, VERY shiney. I once saw two Pythons side by side in a gun shop. One was that wet looking, super shiney Colt nickel. The other was polished stainless. They were indistinguishable.