What kind of steel wool for polishing a bolt?

[Jason_W]

I recently purchased a Zastava M85 with a bit of a rough action. I tried polishing the bolt with a treated wadding designed for polishing metal parts, but I'm thinking I might need something just a little more aggressive. I'm considering a very fine steel wool but I don't want to muck anything up.

Any thoughts?

 

[zoom6zoom]

I would try a bronze wool with a bit of oil before steel. It's gentler, won't harm bluing.

 

[Jason_W]

Good suggestion. I've never heard of bronze wool. Are there different grades? My intent is to polish and I'm afraid that if I select too coarse of an abrasive, I'll only make matters worse.

 

[LeonCarr]

When you say rough action, is the bolt/bolt carrier sluggish or gritty going forwards and backwards?

 

[Jason_W]

If I work the bolt hard and fast (as I would if I was frantically trying for a followup shot on a deer) it will bind if i don't have everything lined up just right. This may be the result of ultra sloppy tolerances, but I figure a good polishing won't hurt.

 

[greyling22]

I polish using the black sand paper. 400-1000 grit. Be advised that you will never get that m85 bolt very smooth. It's just a loose and wobbily bolt. I turned down the firing pin spring on mine and that helped as much as anything.

 

[LeonCarr]

This is an AK type correct?

 

[rcmodel]

0000 Grade, Super-Fine steel wool is what you use for gunsmith work such as removing rust, carding new bluing, finishing stocks, etc..

Bronze wool is less then worthless, as it is softer then any steel, and leaves bronze rub-off you then have to figure out how to remove.

But in the end, no kind of 'wool' is going to do a darn thing as far as removing enough metal to polish a bolt.
It just won't.

See post #6 about black Wet or Dry emery paper in fine grades - used with oil to prevent the grit loading up with loose abrasive and clogging up so it will not cut..

This will actually do something to burs and rough spots if you rub long enough.

rc

 

[greyling22]

This is an AK type correct?

I don't think the little ak ever actually got imported did it? This is most likely a bolt action mini-mauser. kind of a scaled down mauser/sako hybridized gun. push feed. It looks a lot like a sako vixen, a little like a cz, and is not as good as either. Beautiful blueing on the ones I have seen by interarms and charles daly.

 

[MaterDei]

0000 steel is what you need.

 

[LeonCarr]

I went to Gunbroker and the Zastava M85s I saw were AK pistols.

Just curious, I was gonna tell him if an AK type is rough, it is normal, just go put a buncha rounds through it .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Trueno]

I recently purchased a Zastava M85 with a bit of a rough action. I tried polishing the bolt

If you're new to AK's, I would stay away from polishing the bolt. The lugs dictate headspace and the last thing you want to do is remove metal from the wrong area.



* KABOOM *
(eta - dibs on your ammo!)


Break it in with a hundred rounds or so before doing any mechanical alterations like changing tolerances.


enjoy and welcome to the darkside,

t

 

[Jackal]

Thats just the way those Mini Mauser's are. I had a Charles Daly 7.62x39 that was the same way (I sold it at a loss, hated that rifle). Thats why CZ added extra length of steel to guide the bolt at full backwards position. Here's a pic. http://www.realguns.com/images/boltrvlguiddiff.jpg

 

[Picher]

RCMODEL is correct in recommending fine grit, emery paper, with oil. Afterwards, bolts can be polished with 0000 steel wool and polishing compound.

Engine turning is a bit more difficult, but accomplishes the job in one step. You need a drill press and holding fixture to get a good-looking job.

 

[YZ]

I start with a rough nylon scrub pad. It can be surprisingly effective, especially with some polishing paste.

 

[X-JaVeN-X]

It's probably not exactly what you're looking for as it sounds like you want to actually remove some material...but I love birchwood casey polishing cloths. I've used them to take a satin steel finish to an almost mirror finish.

 

[adelbridge]

Buffing wheel and jewellers rouge

 

[dprice3844444]

get bronze wool at supermarket for cleaning pots/sink.black paper is called crocus cloth,you can use flitz polish.

 

[rcmodel]

black paper is called crocus cloth

Black paper is called WetorDry sand paper.



Crocus cloth is red and is called crocus cloth because it has a cloth backing.



rc