Rough Spots on Polymer Frame

rjinga · January 11, 2018, 06:25 PM

I’ve had my Shield 9mm for three days now, and as I’ve handled it, I’ve discovered three little rough spots in the casting of the polymer frame (see yellow ovals

At first, I thought I just needed to get used to it. However, after two days of constant irritation, I took one of my wife’s emery boards and slowly worked on the three spots until they were smooth. I was amazed at how much better it felt after I finished.

Anyone else ever do that?

Tom-R2 · January 11, 2018, 07:55 PM

Not on a S&W, but I have on several other pistols. Key is to do very little and check, then do a little more and check and stop when you've got what you want. Polymer will work VERY easy, so if you use a Dremmel or a rasp, you can take way too much off before you realize it if you're not careful. Normally it doesn't take much.

TunnelRat · January 11, 2018, 08:45 PM

Very fine steel wool also works well.

Mosin44az · January 12, 2018, 12:02 AM

Does smoothing/ sanding affect color or appearance?

TunnelRat · January 12, 2018, 12:10 AM

It can. I’ve found though that if you touch the area over with some fine steel wool you can blend it back in.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Brownstone322 · January 12, 2018, 12:49 AM

As I look at the pic, aren't two of those spots on the baseplate of the magazine? Am I seeing right?

Fishbed77 · January 12, 2018, 08:36 AM

I've noticed that the plastic casting marks/flashing on the S&W polymer pistols are considerably more prominent than those on Glock pistols, which are themselves considerably more prominent than those on Walthers, who appear to have the process down.

jimbob86 · January 12, 2018, 09:29 AM

Quote:

I’ve had my Shield 9mm for three days now, and as I’ve handled it, I’ve discovered three little rough spots in the casting of the polymer frame

It's a plastic frame that Smith and Wesson spent dozens of cents on ..... what did you expect? Finely polished finish? Does it work?

rep1954 · January 12, 2018, 09:41 AM

You don't get a Corvette for Aveo prices. If you want a Aveo to perform like a Corvette be ready to spend a lot of time and money on it.

SCmasterblaster · January 12, 2018, 11:47 AM

My Glock 17 3rd gen is a perfect cast.

jimbob86 · January 12, 2018, 12:01 PM

Quote:

My Glock 17 3rd gen is a perfect cast.

.... and those list for a couple hundred more than the Shield.

rep1954 · January 12, 2018, 12:34 PM

"My Glock 17 3rd gen is a perfect cast."

Actually it is a perfectly injected plastic molded part.
And they do a nice job.

gnystrom · January 12, 2018, 01:23 PM

JimBob86 nailed it. Grab a small piece of 300 grit sandpaper, spend all of 30 seconds sanding whatever you need smoothed (I used a sanding board from my wife's fingernail kit), take the gun to the range and shoot it like you stole it.
It is a flippin gun not a collector piece.

rjinga · January 12, 2018, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brownstone322

As I look at the pic, aren't two of those spots on the baseplate of the magazine? Am I seeing right?

Yes you are. Thanks for the clarification.

rjinga · January 12, 2018, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbob86

It's a plastic frame that Smith and Wesson spent dozens of cents on ..... what did you expect? Finely polished finish? Does it work?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. So far, I love the firearm.

rjinga · January 12, 2018, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rep1954

You don't get a Corvette for Aveo prices. If you want a Aveo to perform like a Corvette be ready to spend a lot of time and money on it.

Please see response to jimbo86.

rjinga · January 12, 2018, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnystrom

JimBob86 nailed it. Grab a small piece of 300 grit sandpaper, spend all of 30 seconds sanding whatever you need smoothed (I used a sanding board from my wife's fingernail kit), take the gun to the range and shoot it like you stole it.
It is a flippin gun not a collector piece.

I never said it was a collector piece. I don't consider it a collector piece.

January 11, 2018, 06:25 PM	#1
rjinga Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: N. E. Georgia Posts: 512	Rough Spots on Polymer Frame I’ve had my Shield 9mm for three days now, and as I’ve handled it, I’ve discovered three little rough spots in the casting of the polymer frame (see yellow ovals At first, I thought I just needed to get used to it. However, after two days of constant irritation, I took one of my wife’s emery boards and slowly worked on the three spots until they were smooth. I was amazed at how much better it felt after I finished. Anyone else ever do that? __________________ "Yo homie. Is that my briefcase?" Sig Sauer P229 SAS GEN 2 E2 9mm; PTR 91, GI model; Chinese Type 56 SKS; Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm

January 11, 2018, 08:45 PM	#3
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,214	Very fine steel wool also works well. __________________ Know the status of your weapon Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture Maintain situational awareness

January 12, 2018, 12:49 AM	#6
Brownstone322 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2017 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 277	As I look at the pic, aren't two of those spots on the baseplate of the magazine? Am I seeing right? __________________ "To me it doesn't matter if your hopes are dreams are shattered." -- Noel Gallagher

January 11, 2018, 07:55 PM	#2
Tom-R2 Member Join Date: January 16, 2017 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 90	Not on a S&W, but I have on several other pistols. Key is to do very little and check, then do a little more and check and stop when you've got what you want. Polymer will work VERY easy, so if you use a Dremmel or a rasp, you can take way too much off before you realize it if you're not careful. Normally it doesn't take much.

January 12, 2018, 12:02 AM	#4
Mosin44az Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 2,585	Does smoothing/ sanding affect color or appearance?

January 12, 2018, 12:10 AM	#5
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,214	It can. I’ve found though that if you touch the area over with some fine steel wool you can blend it back in. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

January 12, 2018, 08:36 AM	#7
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	I've noticed that the plastic casting marks/flashing on the S&W polymer pistols are considerably more prominent than those on Glock pistols, which are themselves considerably more prominent than those on Walthers, who appear to have the process down.

January 12, 2018, 09:41 AM	#9
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 1,187	You don't get a Corvette for Aveo prices. If you want a Aveo to perform like a Corvette be ready to spend a lot of time and money on it.

January 12, 2018, 11:47 AM	#10
SCmasterblaster Junior member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 5	My Glock 17 3rd gen is a perfect cast.

January 12, 2018, 12:34 PM	#12
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 1,187	"My Glock 17 3rd gen is a perfect cast." Actually it is a perfectly injected plastic molded part. And they do a nice job.

January 12, 2018, 01:23 PM	#13
gnystrom Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2006 Posts: 308	JimBob86 nailed it. Grab a small piece of 300 grit sandpaper, spend all of 30 seconds sanding whatever you need smoothed (I used a sanding board from my wife's fingernail kit), take the gun to the range and shoot it like you stole it. It is a flippin gun not a collector piece.