Sanding off billboards

clintpup · July 21, 2005, 12:24 AM

Hi, I am considering getting the billboard of my 92Inox sanded off? Is this a relatively easy job for a gunsmith? And do most gunsmiths do a nice job on such a thing? In other words... should I worry about the gunsmith messing up the finish of my gun?

cntryboy1289 · July 21, 2005, 01:23 AM

Are we talking about a Baretta pistol here? Help me understand what a billboard is exactly. A gunsmith is only as skilled as the work he has undertaken. No two are trained the same way since no two have done the same jobs. The average smith should be able to remove metal and then refinish the metal without messing up the finish, but you need to make sure he feels confident first.

clintpup · July 21, 2005, 01:27 AM

Yeah, it's a stainless Beretta. And billboard refers to the writing on the top of the frame that screams WARNING... For some people, that takes away from the gun.

Handy · July 21, 2005, 09:32 AM

If you sand that part off, you'll be left with un-anodized aluminum, which is softer and less resistant to the environment. Not a good bargain, IMO.

cntryboy1289 · July 21, 2005, 03:00 PM

I know how you feel about it, but with this gun, I would leave it be. Ruger does the same thing with the warning label on their barrels. No reason other than covering their backside.

Shorts · July 21, 2005, 03:05 PM

I'm not really suggesting this be done, but is there any way to fill the voids and make even. I guess sorta like gun bondo. That's a little jery-rigged though, ain't it?

cntryboy1289 · July 21, 2005, 03:58 PM

You could if you plan to paint it. No other practice would work with this though. Get some metal paste that won't shrink too much and fill the voids higher than the top of the barrel or frame. Then sand this down and paint the whole gun. If you want to keep it blued or parked, this won't work though.

Shorts · July 21, 2005, 05:12 PM

And the blue or park won't take due to the difference in filler material and the gun's steel, right?

Handy · July 21, 2005, 05:16 PM

If we're talking the frame, it's aluminum.

This is about the most common single model pistol on the market. Why don't you just buy an older one without the warning?

cntryboy1289 · July 22, 2005, 01:19 AM

Bluing nor Parkerizing will not take correctly if you do them over a metal paste or epoxy. I wasn't talking about this gun as far as bluing or parking goes since this is one is aluminum and it would need to be painted or anodized. If you have a metal framed or aluminum gun and want to fill in a burr or divot or lettering, it can be filled with the paste or epoxy and then painted over. If you are going to anodize it or blue or park it, you need to sand or file the mark or whatever out first and then refinish it.

July 21, 2005, 12:24 AM	#1
clintpup Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2005 Posts: 109	Sanding off billboards Hi, I am considering getting the billboard of my 92Inox sanded off? Is this a relatively easy job for a gunsmith? And do most gunsmiths do a nice job on such a thing? In other words... should I worry about the gunsmith messing up the finish of my gun?

July 21, 2005, 01:23 AM	#2
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	question Are we talking about a Baretta pistol here? Help me understand what a billboard is exactly. A gunsmith is only as skilled as the work he has undertaken. No two are trained the same way since no two have done the same jobs. The average smith should be able to remove metal and then refinish the metal without messing up the finish, but you need to make sure he feels confident first.

July 21, 2005, 03:00 PM	#5
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	agree with Handy on this one I know how you feel about it, but with this gun, I would leave it be. Ruger does the same thing with the warning label on their barrels. No reason other than covering their backside.

July 21, 2005, 03:58 PM	#7
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	You can do that You could if you plan to paint it. No other practice would work with this though. Get some metal paste that won't shrink too much and fill the voids higher than the top of the barrel or frame. Then sand this down and paint the whole gun. If you want to keep it blued or parked, this won't work though.

July 22, 2005, 01:19 AM	#10
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	Yes shorts correct Bluing nor Parkerizing will not take correctly if you do them over a metal paste or epoxy. I wasn't talking about this gun as far as bluing or parking goes since this is one is aluminum and it would need to be painted or anodized. If you have a metal framed or aluminum gun and want to fill in a burr or divot or lettering, it can be filled with the paste or epoxy and then painted over. If you are going to anodize it or blue or park it, you need to sand or file the mark or whatever out first and then refinish it.

July 21, 2005, 01:27 AM	#3
clintpup Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2005 Posts: 109	Yeah, it's a stainless Beretta. And billboard refers to the writing on the top of the frame that screams WARNING... For some people, that takes away from the gun.

July 21, 2005, 09:32 AM	#4
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	If you sand that part off, you'll be left with un-anodized aluminum, which is softer and less resistant to the environment. Not a good bargain, IMO.

July 21, 2005, 03:05 PM	#6
Shorts Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Posts: 1,484	I'm not really suggesting this be done, but is there any way to fill the voids and make even. I guess sorta like gun bondo. That's a little jery-rigged though, ain't it?

July 21, 2005, 05:12 PM	#8
Shorts Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Posts: 1,484	And the blue or park won't take due to the difference in filler material and the gun's steel, right?

July 21, 2005, 05:16 PM	#9
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	If we're talking the frame, it's aluminum. This is about the most common single model pistol on the market. Why don't you just buy an older one without the warning?