polishing a S&W 686 and the warranty?

CCCLVII · March 24, 2016, 10:54 PM

I recently acquired a 686 in decent shape out side of the finish wearing off. The Mechanicals seem good. Any way would getting the gun polished to a mirror like finish void the warranty? I saw a use one in cabelas a few months back and it was so pretty. I would like to make this gun loo like that.

Will polishing the out side with flitz (or some other method) void my warrenty?

mikejonestkd · March 25, 2016, 04:58 AM

Polishing a stainless revolver will not void the warranty.
Newer ones are bead blasted, its going to take quite a bit of work to get it smooth enough to shine.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...4_757812_image

dahermit · March 25, 2016, 05:21 AM

Quote:

1. Lifetime Service Policy
We will repair any defect in material or workmanship without charge to the original purchaser for as long as you own the handgun.

The key words seem to be, "...any defect in material or workmanship...", and "...original purchaser...". It would seem that you are not the original purchaser and there is no defect. In short, you have no warranty to void.

NoSecondBest · March 25, 2016, 08:07 AM

Quote:

The key words seem to be, "...any defect in material or workmanship...", and "...original purchaser...". It would seem that you are not the original purchaser and there is no defect. In short, you have no warranty to void.

Yep, he got it right. No warranty for you.

Guv · March 25, 2016, 11:35 AM

686's are stout Buggers. I'd enjoy it and finish it like I wanted.

lamarw · March 25, 2016, 05:08 PM

I do not use Flitz, but I do polish mine with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish.

roashooter · March 25, 2016, 06:23 PM

"out side of the finish wearing off."

Being the 686 is stainless steel....just how do you wear the finish off?

INMY01TA · March 25, 2016, 09:37 PM

Using a scotch brite pad for touching up leaves it looking just like the bead blasted finish.

Homerboy · March 27, 2016, 06:00 AM

Ive sent in at least 5 guns to S&W and was not the original owner. They never asked. Sent it to Frank at LSG Manufacturing. He's an authorized repair center and he is a great guy to deal with.

Cheapshooter · March 27, 2016, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Being the 686 is stainless steel....just how do you wear the finish off?

Yes that???

Deja vu · March 27, 2016, 10:02 PM

I'd guess that either the gun was at some point blued or that the stainless is just warn

Old 454 · April 14, 2016, 06:00 PM

I have the 686 PC +7... i would like to have it blued.... that blue that looks black....i think it would be a beauty with that blueing and the wood grips

BoogieMan · April 16, 2016, 02:58 PM

You can't blue ss. You can plate it with products such as Caswell black chrome or black nickel. Needs to be polished first. Other options for a ss gun are simply polishing, glass bead, or cerakote. I have the Caswell kit for my 686. I have not had the time to plate it yet.

Hal · April 17, 2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Any way would getting the gun polished to a mirror like finish void the warranty? I saw a use one in cabelas a few months back and it was so pretty. I would like to make this gun loo like that.

Don't do it.....

I took the flats of my Ruger Mark II "slabside" up to a mirror finish.
I started with fine grit sharpening stones and worked up - using wet/dry sandpaper - to 1600 grit.

I have to admit they look "killer good" - - when they are all spiffed up.
The real problem is, SS isn't really intended to be polished to a mirror finish. It's too soft.

Just normal range handling means spending an hour or so with wet/dry sandpaper putting the mirror finish back & getting all the tiny scratches out.

Well - not really tiny scratches since even the smallest of the small looks huge...

Quote:

I recently acquired a 686 in decent shape out side of the finish wearing off.

You sure it's a 686 and not a nickel finished 586?
If it is a nickel 586, you can have it refinished and it'll be as shiny and bright as can be.

fastbolt · April 17, 2016, 10:05 PM

S&W stainless has a passivated finish, and polishing can remove that advantage.

It can be redone, but it's usually not covered under warranty, and it's not exactly cheap (I asked once, when one of our folks thought it would be cool to polish the slide of their issued gun).

zx9rt1 · April 18, 2016, 06:24 PM

I did my wife's 5906 and it was one hell of a job! It was worth it though.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

texagun · April 20, 2016, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Ive sent in at least 5 guns to S&W and was not the original owner. They never asked.

I too have sent in guns to S&W for warranty work that had been purchased 2nd hand by me. I have never been asked if I was the original purchaser.

Polishing the finish on your gun with Flitz will not void the warranty.

March 24, 2016, 10:54 PM	#1
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	polishing a S&W 686 and the warranty? I recently acquired a 686 in decent shape out side of the finish wearing off. The Mechanicals seem good. Any way would getting the gun polished to a mirror like finish void the warranty? I saw a use one in cabelas a few months back and it was so pretty. I would like to make this gun loo like that. Will polishing the out side with flitz (or some other method) void my warrenty? __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

March 25, 2016, 04:58 AM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	Polishing a stainless revolver will not void the warranty. Newer ones are bead blasted, its going to take quite a bit of work to get it smooth enough to shine. http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...4_757812_image __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

March 25, 2016, 11:35 AM	#5
Guv Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2012 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,126	686's are stout Buggers. I'd enjoy it and finish it like I wanted. __________________ Walnut and Gloss Blue, mostly!

March 27, 2016, 10:02 PM	#11
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	I'd guess that either the gun was at some point blued or that the stainless is just warn __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

April 16, 2016, 02:58 PM	#13
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	You can't blue ss. You can plate it with products such as Caswell black chrome or black nickel. Needs to be polished first. Other options for a ss gun are simply polishing, glass bead, or cerakote. I have the Caswell kit for my 686. I have not had the time to plate it yet. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

March 25, 2016, 05:08 PM	#6
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I do not use Flitz, but I do polish mine with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish.

March 25, 2016, 06:23 PM	#7
roashooter Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Posts: 508	"out side of the finish wearing off." Being the 686 is stainless steel....just how do you wear the finish off?

March 25, 2016, 09:37 PM	#8
INMY01TA Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2008 Location: Marylandistan Posts: 262	Using a scotch brite pad for touching up leaves it looking just like the bead blasted finish.

March 27, 2016, 06:00 AM	#9
Homerboy Junior member Join Date: June 16, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,320	Ive sent in at least 5 guns to S&W and was not the original owner. They never asked. Sent it to Frank at LSG Manufacturing. He's an authorized repair center and he is a great guy to deal with.

April 14, 2016, 06:00 PM	#12
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	I have the 686 PC +7... i would like to have it blued.... that blue that looks black....i think it would be a beauty with that blueing and the wood grips

April 17, 2016, 10:05 PM	#15
fastbolt Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2002 Location: northern CA for a little while longer Posts: 1,931	S&W stainless has a passivated finish, and polishing can remove that advantage. It can be redone, but it's usually not covered under warranty, and it's not exactly cheap (I asked once, when one of our folks thought it would be cool to polish the slide of their issued gun). __________________ Retired LE - firearms instructor & armorer

April 18, 2016, 06:24 PM	#16
zx9rt1 Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Posts: 23	I did my wife's 5906 and it was one hell of a job! It was worth it though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk