Mirror finish ?

Joe 543 · December 21, 1998, 03:29 PM

How do you polish the feed ramp to get that mirror finish??????????

George Stringer · December 22, 1998, 12:08 AM

Joe, I use a wood dowel wrapped with progressively finer grit paper starting with 320 and going to 600. I finish up with a round hard Arkansas stone. If you attempt this be sure not to change the angle of the ramp. I've had 5 1911s in the shop this year that had to have ramped barrels installed because of overzealous polishing by the owners. George

**4V50 Gary** · December 23, 1998, 12:56 AM

Joe,

I schooled under Bob Dunlap (who made all those AGI video tapes) in 1986. Bob told us that it isn't how shiny something was polished, it was how smooth that mattered.

Gary

ShadedDude · December 23, 1998, 11:22 PM

then take it to 1500 grit

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Mouse Assassins inc.

Harry Bonar · January 30, 2005, 04:29 PM

Dear Sir:
Do as the other fellow say but use a dremel tool with a felt "bob" and use Brownells 555 grey polish; do not change angle - I also use the dowel with 240 grit around it and then finish up with the 555. Don't change angle; with your bbl. ramped clear back you should have about 1/32" space there.
The angle must be maintained perfectly straight to the factory angle. Take your time; and then your barrel (1911) & clones ought to be dealt with also; see a diagragm; Ed Browns shop manual is pretty good!
Have fun Harry

Dave Sample · February 2, 2005, 12:37 AM

Harry uses the same tool but a different polish. Throating a barrel wrong can cause a KABOOM and I would not advise anyone to try it without proper instruction. I keep a few over throated barrels around here that have blown the grips off of a gun just for giggles. If the gun works, forget it. Unless you like picking splinters out of your shooting hand.

mete · February 2, 2005, 08:51 AM

Remember that anything finer than 400 grit is just for show. I would never recommend a Dremel , too easy to ruin it !!

January 30, 2005, 04:29 PM	#5
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	re-feed ramp Dear Sir: Do as the other fellow say but use a dremel tool with a felt "bob" and use Brownells 555 grey polish; do not change angle - I also use the dowel with 240 grit around it and then finish up with the 555. Don't change angle; with your bbl. ramped clear back you should have about 1/32" space there. The angle must be maintained perfectly straight to the factory angle. Take your time; and then your barrel (1911) & clones ought to be dealt with also; see a diagragm; Ed Browns shop manual is pretty good! Have fun Harry

December 21, 1998, 03:29 PM	#1
Joe 543 Member Join Date: December 21, 1998 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 92	How do you polish the feed ramp to get that mirror finish??????????

December 22, 1998, 12:08 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Joe, I use a wood dowel wrapped with progressively finer grit paper starting with 320 and going to 600. I finish up with a round hard Arkansas stone. If you attempt this be sure not to change the angle of the ramp. I've had 5 1911s in the shop this year that had to have ramped barrels installed because of overzealous polishing by the owners. George

December 23, 1998, 12:56 AM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,833	Joe, I schooled under Bob Dunlap (who made all those AGI video tapes) in 1986. Bob told us that it isn't how shiny something was polished, it was how smooth that mattered. Gary

December 23, 1998, 11:22 PM	#4
ShadedDude Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: TN Posts: 254	then take it to 1500 grit ------------------ Mouse Assassins inc.

February 2, 2005, 12:37 AM	#6
Dave Sample Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,002	Harry uses the same tool but a different polish. Throating a barrel wrong can cause a KABOOM and I would not advise anyone to try it without proper instruction. I keep a few over throated barrels around here that have blown the grips off of a gun just for giggles. If the gun works, forget it. Unless you like picking splinters out of your shooting hand.

February 2, 2005, 08:51 AM	#7
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Remember that anything finer than 400 grit is just for show. I would never recommend a Dremel , too easy to ruin it !!