Polishing stainless revolvers?

[Black Majik]

Hey all,

So... looking at all the stainless S&W revolvers, they appear to be a matte stainless with quite a lot of very very fine scratches (kinda like spiderwebing in a paint for a car). Is there anyway to buff the tiny scratches out for a more "polished" look? Maybe a small dab of wax or something?

I'm not looking for a "bling" look, jus' a little more brighter stainless look as the matte stainless is kinda boring to look at

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Steve F]

2 things that work well for me are"Semi-chrome" polish in a tube and "Brass-o" in a can,both found at your friendly auto parts store

 

[JoeHatley]

Flitz and one of their Mico-Fiber polishing rags will work also. Just takes some time and effort.

Joe

 

[Standing Wolf]

I polished my pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 60 to a mirror-bright finish after verifying it worked well. I used very fine sand paper and polishing compound. I invested six or eight hours' worth of effort in the polish job, and ended up quite pleased with it—until I realized the steel acquired scratches just from being looked at hard.

I sent it to http://www.magnaport.com for bead blasting, and will never—ever—polish stainless steel again.

 

[Sisco]

I polished my GP100 but then the fingerprints drove me nuts so I bead blasted it. Used Flitz and a dremmel but still couldn't get all the "spiderwebbing" out of it.

Polished

Blasted

 

[JohnKSa]

Sisco,

You didn't like the Hogues on your GP100?

 

[Sisco]

I like the Hogue rubber grips. After I bead blasted the gun I refinished the inserts on the factory grips with a dozen coats of tung oil. They looked so good I had to put 'em on.
It now wears a Hogue cocobolo grip.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Richard my friend, I use Simichrome for just
about all cleaning applications regarding stainless steel
revolver's. However, it won't remove all the "spider-
webbing" and swirl marks found in stainless. I just keep
'em clean as best I can; and immediately after returning
from the range!

I got a couple samples of Flitz metal polish and a "Micro
Rag"; so I may give it a try soon?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[sgt127]

I've found the trick is to blend the scratches back into the original finish. I don't like the nickel look you get from polishing them out, and, as others have said, they scratch really easily after that. Get a few Scotchbrite pads and try gently buffing out the marred areas in the same direction as the original finish. You can always polish it out further if you want to. I've also been told to never use steel wool on a stainless gun. From what I've heard, the steel residue can get into the pores and act as a seed for future rust. Dunno if thats true or not, I've never tried it.

 

[bountyhunter]

Hey all,

So... looking at all the stainless S&W revolvers, they appear to be a matte stainless with quite a lot of very very fine scratches (kinda like spiderwebing in a paint for a car). Is there anyway to buff the tiny scratches out for a more "polished" look? Maybe a small dab of wax or something?

I'm not looking for a "bling" look, jus' a little more brighter stainless look as the matte stainless is kinda boring to look at

Any help would be appreciated. ,

I believe the "fine scratches" in a smith finish are from a wire wheel. That look is called "brushed". I used to pimp out my new SW's to a mirror finish when they were new. I'd use 400# paper/oil, 600# paper/oil, coarse rubbing compound by hand, fine compound by hand, then very fine compound with the fuzzy wheel on my Dremel.

Lot of work to do a gun that way, and a shiny gun leaves fingerprints pretty badly.

 

[bountyhunter]

TRUE

From what I've heard, the steel residue can get into the pores and act as a seed for future rust. Dunno if thats true or not, I've never tried it.

Absolutely true.