Removing a scratch from stainless steel

[stgdz]

What is the best way to remove a scratch from a stainless steel pistol?

I don't have a picture of it and it was a idiot mistake made by me. The scratch is a bit long and the only ways that I currently know how to remove it is with flitz or take a dremel pad to it and try to polish it out.

I have also heard very very fine wet sand paper works.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Can you catch it with your thumbnail?

 

[stgdz]

From what I remember last night I could not catch it with my thumbnail.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Does the rest of the pistol have a highly polished or matt finish? Heck, let's just get on with it. If it's a matt finish, the Flitz/Dremel method will remove the scratch...but you've THEN got to match the matt. If it IS matt, then you're in luck & Scotchbrite (3M) pads are your friend. They come in a variety of "grits" and determined by color. They contain no abrasive other than the material itself. Stainless steel is relatively soft (not hardened) so you can go slow without serious scratching. Start out with a Green Pad & be patient rubbing with medium pressure. If necessary, then move to a lighter "grit" Pad color (I forget the color, it'll tell you on the package). By matching the Pad color results to the rest of the pistol finish, you should be able to "blend" the previously scratched area to the undamaged areas. Done. Good Luck!

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Ghost Tracker has it about right. Just be careful to match the direction of the work to the scratch pattern( Most all polished areas of stainless handguns have a minute scratch pattern) Don't go back and forth because when you change direction you will end up with a semicircle. DAMHIKT
Joe

 

[stgdz]

Its one of the springer stainless models. From what I remember its sort of a dull polish.