polishing stainless steal

superpelly · February 20, 2006, 10:44 AM

I just purcahsed a used S&W model 66 revolver stainless. I want to polish it up. I Have dremel with a flex cable attachment for it. Could I use this tool with some buffer's? and what kind of rubbing comound should I use. Would the dremel produce too much heat friction for SS? Or any suggestions!

Thanks.

JoeHatley · February 20, 2006, 10:53 AM

Flitz and a rag. Dremel really is needed, just a little time.

Good Luck...

Joe

superpelly · February 20, 2006, 11:18 AM

Nice looking, thats what i'm hoping. Whats flitz? and what kind of compound did you use or is flitz a rubbing compound? thanks

fisherman66 · February 20, 2006, 12:20 PM

I used Mother's Mag polish. My GP100 wears a mirror finish (it is easy to clean, but fingerprints are very noticible.) If I had it all to do over again, I'd probably leave it in it's factory finish.

Phxdog · February 20, 2006, 02:16 PM

Joe- Your .45 looks fantastic! Did that star out as a brushed stainless pistol? How long did that labor of love take? If Superpelly or I polish our guns, do we need to disassemble and clean out any leftover polishing residue?

JoeHatley · February 20, 2006, 04:56 PM

superpelly, www.flitz.com has several products. I use the basic metal polish.

Phxdog, I actually didn't start out to polish that PC625. The last step of my normal cleaning routine is to wipe the gun down for a couple minutes with a cloth and Flitz. It not only removes any fouling from the front of the cylinder, but it also leaves a protective finish that makes the next clean up easier. After a few "cleanings" I started noticing the brushed finish was starting to shine up, so I went ahead and spent an hour or so.

Joe

superpelly · February 20, 2006, 05:04 PM

Thanks -Did you use any type of high-speed buffer?

Logs · February 20, 2006, 06:56 PM

Also look for Lead Clean Gun Cloth by Pro-Shot Products, usually around $4-5. The work great for getting the black residue off of the cylinder.

superpelly · February 20, 2006, 08:09 PM

Anybody use scotch brite pads on their SS guns ? read some stuff on it.

brickeyee · February 20, 2006, 08:56 PM

Scotch brite works very well.
Never use steel wool. It will embed in the metal and cause rust to form.

JoeHatley · February 21, 2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Did you use any type of high-speed buffer?

No. Just a rag.

Joe

Rimrock · February 21, 2006, 06:40 PM

Though I've used Flitz for several years. I've also used Simichrome Polish and Wenol Polish as well. All three are German polishes and are very effective for shine and protection. The down side is they don't come cheaply. $17.00-$20.00 for the tube of 150 gr of Flitz.
The best bang for the buck in my experience is the Blue Magic metal polish, available anywhere auto supplies are sold. It's about .50/oz
...and yes Mother's is a winner as well.

Rimrock

superpelly · March 2, 2006, 03:44 PM

OK ,Almost all done polishing it. Looking good. I have about 5 hours of polishing so far, Wow, long process. Will post pics when done.

Rainbow Six · March 2, 2006, 10:14 PM

I had a 686 that was polished to a mirror finish by a jeweler. That thing was nice, but as mentioned above it showed fingerprints and smudges very easily. As sweet as it looked, I've never done it to any of my other guns.

And fwiw, here's a site with some good info and top notch polishing supplies for metal. I've used their stuff on some motorcycle parts and loved it.

http://www.caswellplating.com

**4V50 Gary** · March 2, 2006, 10:32 PM

No dremel. The buffing wheel is too small and it'll give you an inconsistent polish. However, the dremel may be used to polish out the cylider flutes. I'd use Simichrome and rub, rub and rub.

February 20, 2006, 10:44 AM	#1
superpelly Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 499	polishing stainless steal I just purcahsed a used S&W model 66 revolver stainless. I want to polish it up. I Have dremel with a flex cable attachment for it. Could I use this tool with some buffer's? and what kind of rubbing comound should I use. Would the dremel produce too much heat friction for SS? Or any suggestions! Thanks.

February 20, 2006, 10:53 AM	#2
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	Flitz and a rag. Dremel really is needed, just a little time. Good Luck... Joe __________________ Go NRA

February 20, 2006, 04:56 PM	#6
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	superpelly, www.flitz.com has several products. I use the basic metal polish. Phxdog, I actually didn't start out to polish that PC625. The last step of my normal cleaning routine is to wipe the gun down for a couple minutes with a cloth and Flitz. It not only removes any fouling from the front of the cylinder, but it also leaves a protective finish that makes the next clean up easier. After a few "cleanings" I started noticing the brushed finish was starting to shine up, so I went ahead and spent an hour or so. Joe __________________ Go NRA

March 2, 2006, 10:14 PM	#14
Rainbow Six Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2000 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 1,314	I had a 686 that was polished to a mirror finish by a jeweler. That thing was nice, but as mentioned above it showed fingerprints and smudges very easily. As sweet as it looked, I've never done it to any of my other guns. And fwiw, here's a site with some good info and top notch polishing supplies for metal. I've used their stuff on some motorcycle parts and loved it. http://www.caswellplating.com __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum... "An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." -Jeff Cooper

March 2, 2006, 10:32 PM	#15
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	No dremel. The buffing wheel is too small and it'll give you an inconsistent polish. However, the dremel may be used to polish out the cylider flutes. I'd use Simichrome and rub, rub and rub. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 20, 2006, 11:18 AM	#3
superpelly Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 499	Nice looking, thats what i'm hoping. Whats flitz? and what kind of compound did you use or is flitz a rubbing compound? thanks

February 20, 2006, 12:20 PM	#4
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	I used Mother's Mag polish. My GP100 wears a mirror finish (it is easy to clean, but fingerprints are very noticible.) If I had it all to do over again, I'd probably leave it in it's factory finish.

February 20, 2006, 02:16 PM	#5
Phxdog Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 236	Joe- Your .45 looks fantastic! Did that star out as a brushed stainless pistol? How long did that labor of love take? If Superpelly or I polish our guns, do we need to disassemble and clean out any leftover polishing residue?

February 20, 2006, 05:04 PM	#7
superpelly Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 499	Thanks -Did you use any type of high-speed buffer?

February 20, 2006, 06:56 PM	#8
Logs Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 1999 Location: BLUEGRASS STATE KY USA Posts: 1,780	Also look for Lead Clean Gun Cloth by Pro-Shot Products, usually around $4-5. The work great for getting the black residue off of the cylinder.

February 20, 2006, 08:09 PM	#9
superpelly Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 499	Anybody use scotch brite pads on their SS guns ? read some stuff on it.

February 20, 2006, 08:56 PM	#10
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	Scotch brite works very well. Never use steel wool. It will embed in the metal and cause rust to form.

February 21, 2006, 06:40 PM	#12
Rimrock Junior member Join Date: February 19, 2006 Location: CA Posts: 273	Though I've used Flitz for several years. I've also used Simichrome Polish and Wenol Polish as well. All three are German polishes and are very effective for shine and protection. The down side is they don't come cheaply. $17.00-$20.00 for the tube of 150 gr of Flitz. The best bang for the buck in my experience is the Blue Magic metal polish, available anywhere auto supplies are sold. It's about .50/oz ...and yes Mother's is a winner as well. Rimrock

March 2, 2006, 03:44 PM	#13
superpelly Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 499	OK ,Almost all done polishing it. Looking good. I have about 5 hours of polishing so far, Wow, long process. Will post pics when done.

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