Mirror-like slide?

gunnery · June 25, 2008, 07:22 AM

On another forum I saw where some people took a matte stainless slide and finished it themselves in a high gloss, mirror-like finish. Does anyone know how I can do that myself to a few of my non-carry guns?

I would appreciate any advice. I would really like to do it myself rather than send it out.

Thanks.

SilentHitz · June 25, 2008, 08:22 AM

You can polish a stainless slide ( or any part) using a Dremil and a buffing wheel. Just use a good buffing compound, something very fine like jeweler's rouge.

You can also use 0000 steel wool, and a lot of elbow grease. If you go the steel wool route, I would start with VERY fine sandpaper using a light touch...then steel wool for the mirror finish.

It's been a while since I've polished SS, so some other folks here may know of some newer compounds to make polishing easier...I've been out of the loop for a while. Might be some new stuff I haven't heard of yet.

jaguarxk120 · June 25, 2008, 09:01 AM

Stop at the auto parts store, in the paint touchup section you will find 1500 and 2000 grit wet/dry paper. Thats the stuff painters use to smooth out the clear coat before buffing.
If your slide has a brushed or mat finish, that has to be smoothed down till all the scratches are out. Work in a piece of flat plate glass, that way you won't round any edges. Good luck TF

Michaelm45 · June 25, 2008, 11:02 AM

Put the sandpaper on a sheet of glass (or any perfectly flat surface) to ensure keeping the sides of your slide flat.
If you get to aggressive with a dremel tool you will end up with wavey sides
(ripples?).

Scorch · June 25, 2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

You can polish a stainless slide ( or any part) using a Dremil and a buffing wheel.

Yes, you could, and it would look like hell.

To polish any firearm (or other large piece of metal), you work with progressively finer grades of abrasives until you get the finish you want. In the case of semi-autos with flat sides, put some fine silicon carbide (wet-dry sandpaper) on a sanding block (or a piece of heavy glass as suggested), and work the metal from end to end until the scratches form the previous sandpaper disappear. Start with 220, then 320, then 400, then 600, finish with 1000 grit, then buff. You will have a mirror finish.

Just a word of caution: if you put a high-gloss finish on a firearm, it wil show every nick and scratch you inadvertently put on it. My advice would be to polish it to 400 grit and then wet-sand it with light oil and leave it at that. It will have a slightly grained finish but will not show as many scratches.

Bill DeShivs · June 25, 2008, 01:38 PM

Scorch is correct. NEVER try to polish a large part with a Dremel.

SilentHitz · June 25, 2008, 05:48 PM

I don't know why not, I used one to polish a AMT frame...no waves or rounded corners. Just takes a light touch and patience. Sure, If you get heavy handed with it, you can ruin anything.

gunnery · June 25, 2008, 06:40 PM

I really appreciate each and evry one who assisted me on this matter. You all have given me fantastic advise. I will try to take pics when I am done.

Playboypenguin · June 25, 2008, 07:00 PM

I have only polished one gun to a mirror like shine. That is my S&W m640. I just used Mother's Mag polish and hand rubbed the gun until I got the finish I wanted. took a couple hors of slow rubbing.

It does not show to much in this pic but it is a chrome looking, mirror like finish now.

T. O'Heir · June 28, 2008, 01:14 AM

Don't polish the top of the slide to mirror. You'll get all kinds of light reflecting off it and the sights will disappear in bright sunshine.
Forget the rotary tool. Too slow and will likely give you an uneven finish. Jeweller's rouge and a cloth buffing wheel in a bench grinder is the thing to use though. Eye protection is required.

June 25, 2008, 07:22 AM	#1
gunnery Junior Member Join Date: September 12, 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 4	Mirror-like slide? On another forum I saw where some people took a matte stainless slide and finished it themselves in a high gloss, mirror-like finish. Does anyone know how I can do that myself to a few of my non-carry guns? I would appreciate any advice. I would really like to do it myself rather than send it out. Thanks.

June 25, 2008, 01:38 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Scorch is correct. NEVER try to polish a large part with a Dremel. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

June 28, 2008, 01:14 AM	#10
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Don't polish the top of the slide to mirror. You'll get all kinds of light reflecting off it and the sights will disappear in bright sunshine. Forget the rotary tool. Too slow and will likely give you an uneven finish. Jeweller's rouge and a cloth buffing wheel in a bench grinder is the thing to use though. Eye protection is required. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

June 25, 2008, 08:22 AM	#2
SilentHitz Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Ms. Posts: 1,984	You can polish a stainless slide ( or any part) using a Dremil and a buffing wheel. Just use a good buffing compound, something very fine like jeweler's rouge. You can also use 0000 steel wool, and a lot of elbow grease. If you go the steel wool route, I would start with VERY fine sandpaper using a light touch...then steel wool for the mirror finish. It's been a while since I've polished SS, so some other folks here may know of some newer compounds to make polishing easier...I've been out of the loop for a while. Might be some new stuff I haven't heard of yet.

June 25, 2008, 09:01 AM	#3
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Stop at the auto parts store, in the paint touchup section you will find 1500 and 2000 grit wet/dry paper. Thats the stuff painters use to smooth out the clear coat before buffing. If your slide has a brushed or mat finish, that has to be smoothed down till all the scratches are out. Work in a piece of flat plate glass, that way you won't round any edges. Good luck TF

June 25, 2008, 11:02 AM	#4
Michaelm45 Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2004 Location: NV Posts: 215	Put the sandpaper on a sheet of glass (or any perfectly flat surface) to ensure keeping the sides of your slide flat. If you get to aggressive with a dremel tool you will end up with wavey sides (ripples?).

June 25, 2008, 05:48 PM	#7
SilentHitz Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Ms. Posts: 1,984	I don't know why not, I used one to polish a AMT frame...no waves or rounded corners. Just takes a light touch and patience. Sure, If you get heavy handed with it, you can ruin anything.

June 25, 2008, 06:40 PM	#8
gunnery Junior Member Join Date: September 12, 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 4	I really appreciate each and evry one who assisted me on this matter. You all have given me fantastic advise. I will try to take pics when I am done.

June 25, 2008, 07:00 PM	#9
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	I have only polished one gun to a mirror like shine. That is my S&W m640. I just used Mother's Mag polish and hand rubbed the gun until I got the finish I wanted. took a couple hors of slow rubbing. It does not show to much in this pic but it is a chrome looking, mirror like finish now.