can you polish matte blue[black] to make it shiny?

[JERRY]

Charter Arms blue finished guns are a matte black color. I was wondering if that finish can be polished up a little to make it shine like their old guns used to be.

anyone know? thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

No, it cant.

Matt blue is applied to a bead blasted surface to make it dull / non-reflective..

If you try to polish it, it will just remove the bluing.

rc

 

[JERRY]

that's what I thought, but hoped I was wrong.

thanks.

 

[bannockburn]

PM sent.

 

[CraigC]

A talented hand at the buffing wheel can take a bead blasted finish down to a mirror polish but it will have to be reblued and the whole process will probably cost more than the gun did.

 

[HankB]

A talented hand at the buffing wheel can take a bead blasted finish down to a mirror polish but it will have to be reblued and the whole process will probably cost more than the gun did.

And if all that's used is a buffing wheel, the sharp edges will be rounded, you'll see ripples in the light reflected from the larger surfaces, and the screw holes will be dished in. A good amount of hand work is required, hence the cost.

 

[CraigC]

And if all that's used is a buffing wheel, the sharp edges will be rounded, you'll see ripples in the light reflected from the larger surfaces, and the screw holes will be dished in. A good amount of hand work is required, hence the cost.

Did you actually read my post that you quoted? Do you really think Colt did a bunch of hand polishing on their Pythons? No. Like I said, talented hands at the buffing wheel.

 

[HankB]

Did you actually read my post that you quoted? Do you really think Colt did a bunch of hand polishing on their Pythons? No. Like I said, talented hands at the buffing wheel.

The topic was polishing out a bead blasted finish - are you now asserting that Pythons were bead blasted before polishing?

 

[Rule3]

Wow, from Charter Arms to Colts

 

[CraigC]

The topic was polishing out a bead blasted finish - are you now asserting that Pythons were bead blasted before polishing?

Do you not understand that a "talented hand" at the buffing wheel is not going to leave "sharp edges will be rounded, you'll see ripples in the light reflected from the larger surfaces, and the screw holes will be dished in"???

Wow, from Charter Arms to Colts

It has to do with metal prep. The point being that Colt's Royal Blue is not the result of hand polishing. So roll your eyes at someone else.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Can a bead blasted finish be polished out? No

Can a talented hand polish out a firearm on a buffing when without waves and dished out screws? Yes.

 

[HankB]

This recent thread has pix of a polished pistol from the Colt custom shop. Shiny at first glance, not so much when you look closer. Guess the "talented hands with a buffing wheel" are all gone from Colt - assuming they were ever there. (And I bet the pistol was never bead blasted first.)

 

[CraigC]

I must be talking out of my posterior orifice again.

Here's three USFA's that started out as bead blasted Rodeos. YES, a bead blasted finish can be polished out.







Hank, hence the difference between a talented polisher and the 800lb gorilla that polished most 3rd generation Colt's. Ya know, that stuff I said in my first post??? God, it gets frustrating having to continuously repeat myself only to reiterate the same points because someone can't read for comprehension.

As far as buffing wheels, according to people who have actually been to the Colt finishing room, it's all done on buffers and has been for decades. You can take whatever stupid singular example you wish and try to make that mean something but properly done bright polishing is accomplished at the buffer ALL THE TIME. If this is a foreign concept to you, maybe you need to read a little more. I'd suggest A History of the Colt Revolver by Haven & Belden.

http://pistolsmith.com/pistolsmiths/22966-royal-blue-bluing.html

 

[JERRY]

what about mother's mag polish applied by hand with a cotton t-shirt? the charter arms flat black finish is what I have, I'm not looking for a mirror finish.

 

[mavracer]

what about mother's mag polish applied by hand with a cotton t-shirt?

Try a heavy paste wax.

 

[CraigC]

what about mother's mag polish applied by hand with a cotton t-shirt? the charter arms flat black finish is what I have, I'm not looking for a mirror finish.

You can't polish the metal without removing the bluing.

 

[buck460XVR]

You can't polish the metal without removing the bluing.

^^^This. Unlike a stainless finish that can be polished from a brushed or matte finish and then left in the raw, a regular steel gun will have to be reblued. In either case, one has to remove metal to change the appearance of the finish.

 

[Rule3]

It has to do with metal prep. The point being that Colt's Royal Blue is not the result of hand polishing. So roll your eyes at someone else.

My post had nothing to do with you and your perceived belief of self importance.

It was on the irony of Charter arms "Metal work" VS Colt nothing more.

 

[CraigC]

My post had nothing to do with you and your perceived belief of self importance.

We getting all personal now, what's that about???

It was on the irony of Charter arms "Metal work" VS Colt nothing more.

The discussion is about metal polishing and Colt is a fine example of what can be done with "a talented hand at the buffer". Nothing more.

 

[Rule3]

We getting all personal now, what's that about???



The discussion is about metal polishing and Colt is a fine example of what can be done with "a talented hand at the buffer". Nothing more.

It became personal When you told me to go roll my eyes at someone else. Would you prefer a wink?

 

[Drail]

"Polishing" is removing material. It is an abrasive process - just on a very fine scale. Bluing is extremely thin. Polishing it will simply remove the bluing. On a blued gun all polishing must be done before the bluing is done.

 

[MrBorland]

Pretty sure the OP got their answer.