How to get small scatches out of stainless steel slide

handgunfan101 · September 29, 2011, 04:00 PM

Just wondering if there is a product or anything that can remove scratches from stainless steel slides. I have a 1 inch half moon scratch on my slide from my thumb safety lever (when taking the gun apart the safety lock slid up and scratched the slide).

Or is it advised to take it in and have it done professionally and whats the general cost?

Thanks,

HGF101

NESHOOTER · September 29, 2011, 05:50 PM

I use a green Scotchbrite pad and it is the only thing I will use I do go with the grain. And it removes the discoloring and blemishes.

handgunfan101 · September 29, 2011, 06:44 PM

Cool thanks i will grap some after work tomorrow

Lurch37 · September 29, 2011, 07:01 PM

FLITZ paste works wonders.

orionengnr · September 29, 2011, 07:05 PM

I recently removed the "idiot mark" that came pre-installed on my used Kimber (and that I had been living with for about five years).

Someone mentioned the green Scotchbrite trick, and it worked beautifully.
Just go easy, and go with the grain (fore and aft, not up and down). I sure don't miss that scratch one bit.

I imagine Flitz would be great if you wanted a near chrome-like finish, but for a "matching" texture on most stainless guns, the green Scotchbrite will provide better results.

handgunfan101 · September 29, 2011, 07:21 PM

thanks

Jo6pak · September 29, 2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

FLITZ paste works wonders.

^^^this

handgunfan101 · September 30, 2011, 05:24 PM

i have tried the scotch bright pad and it doesnt seem to be working all that well. It took most of the scratch off but maybe its me because I KNOW that there is a scratch there??? My brother said he didnt notice it until i pointed it out to him. But its about 50% gone so thats a heck of a lot better than i thought it would be

NESHOOTER · September 30, 2011, 09:02 PM

handgunfan101, Are you doing just the part of the side affected (the spot) and or the whole slide if your just polishing the scratch then you will see the improvement but when you do the whole slide it will blend in better and then it may just be the trick that will please you.

handgunfan101 · October 1, 2011, 04:45 PM

I started to do the SPOT where the small scratch is but then i noticed it a great deal of luster in the SPOT as to the rest of the gun.

I dropped it off at the LGS and the guy said that he would buff the entire slide for free seeing i do a lot of business up there. I couldnt pass up that deal.

WESHOOT2 · October 2, 2011, 11:55 AM

Guns that get used get marks on them.
I ignore the marks from use.

Bill DeShivs · October 2, 2011, 03:11 PM

If the spot was shinier than the rest of the slide, the abrasive you were using was too fine. You have to match the finish grit, or it won't match.
Unless you are dealing with a fine or mirror finish, polishes like Flitz or Simichrome won't work. Even with mirror finishes, you have to sand the scratch out, and use progressively finer finishes to get back to mirror.

September 29, 2011, 04:00 PM	#1
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	How to get small scatches out of stainless steel slide Just wondering if there is a product or anything that can remove scratches from stainless steel slides. I have a 1 inch half moon scratch on my slide from my thumb safety lever (when taking the gun apart the safety lock slid up and scratched the slide). Or is it advised to take it in and have it done professionally and whats the general cost? Thanks, HGF101 __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

September 29, 2011, 06:44 PM	#3
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	Cool thanks i will grap some after work tomorrow __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

September 29, 2011, 07:01 PM	#4
Lurch37 Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2006 Location: Middle of Nebraska Posts: 941	FLITZ paste works wonders. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own.

September 29, 2011, 07:21 PM	#6
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	thanks __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

September 30, 2011, 05:24 PM	#8
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	i have tried the scotch bright pad and it doesnt seem to be working all that well. It took most of the scratch off but maybe its me because I KNOW that there is a scratch there??? My brother said he didnt notice it until i pointed it out to him. But its about 50% gone so thats a heck of a lot better than i thought it would be __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

September 29, 2011, 05:50 PM	#2
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	I use a green Scotchbrite pad and it is the only thing I will use I do go with the grain. And it removes the discoloring and blemishes.

September 29, 2011, 07:05 PM	#5
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,173	I recently removed the "idiot mark" that came pre-installed on my used Kimber (and that I had been living with for about five years). Someone mentioned the green Scotchbrite trick, and it worked beautifully. Just go easy, and go with the grain (fore and aft, not up and down). I sure don't miss that scratch one bit. I imagine Flitz would be great if you wanted a near chrome-like finish, but for a "matching" texture on most stainless guns, the green Scotchbrite will provide better results.

September 30, 2011, 09:02 PM	#9
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	handgunfan101, Are you doing just the part of the side affected (the spot) and or the whole slide if your just polishing the scratch then you will see the improvement but when you do the whole slide it will blend in better and then it may just be the trick that will please you. Last edited by NESHOOTER; September 30, 2011 at 09:05 PM. Reason: add comments

October 1, 2011, 04:45 PM	#10
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	I started to do the SPOT where the small scratch is but then i noticed it a great deal of luster in the SPOT as to the rest of the gun. I dropped it off at the LGS and the guy said that he would buff the entire slide for free seeing i do a lot of business up there. I couldnt pass up that deal. __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

October 2, 2011, 11:55 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	cheap fix Guns that get used get marks on them. I ignore the marks from use. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

October 2, 2011, 03:11 PM	#12
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,978	If the spot was shinier than the rest of the slide, the abrasive you were using was too fine. You have to match the finish grit, or it won't match. Unless you are dealing with a fine or mirror finish, polishes like Flitz or Simichrome won't work. Even with mirror finishes, you have to sand the scratch out, and use progressively finer finishes to get back to mirror. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

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