Easiest to Polish Yourself: Matte, Satin, or Polished?

Aristides · July 30, 2012, 08:09 PM

I recently purchased a Smith & Wesson revolver that has the Matte Stainless finish. I've always preferred their Satin Stainless, and am thinking about sending the revolver to Smith & Wesson to have it refinished.

But I'm also wondering which type of finish would be easiest for me polish myself, if the gun got a nick or scratch. I'm thinking that might be their Polished Stainless. Would that finish be any easier for me polish than the Matte or the Satin?

Thanks.

45_auto · August 2, 2012, 05:16 PM

Matte is by far the easiest to maintain. Stick it in the blasting cabinet with the appropriate media and it will look like new in about 5 seconds. The scratch will just disappear.

Slopemeno · August 2, 2012, 10:11 PM

Don't. Send it to Smith & Wesson and have it done right.

Aristides · August 2, 2012, 11:04 PM

I've read about guys using Flitz and Mother's Something or Other. I'm talking about doing little touch-ups myself, not big overhauls.

Surely one type of finish is easier to touch-up than others. I'm just wondering which version is easiest for using something like Flitz.

Bill DeShivs · August 2, 2012, 11:36 PM

Satin finish/grey Scotchbrite pads.

Creeper · August 2, 2012, 11:48 PM

Quote:

I'm just wondering which version is easiest for using something like Flitz.

Everyone that has commented has it right, from one perspective or another.

High polish is beautiful and in SS is reasonably scratch resistant. However, Flitz, Semichrome, Mothers... none of that stuff will remove scratches from polished SS. Super light scratches from aluminum, sure... with a lot of work.

To remove scratches from polish requires removing metal from the area surrounding the scratch, and blending the surfaces. This requires multiple steps and a good amount of skill to do it right... hence Slopemeno's comments.

45_auto is right in that a blasted (some call a "frosted" finish) finish is easy to touch up, if you have a blast cabinet and the scar is not too deep.

Bill DeShivs has it right with Scotchbrite pads... A finely "brushed" surface can be easily re-brushed, and costs you nothing but the pads and a bit of time. Again, if the scar is not too deep... but at least, like blasting, you can blend it so it's not so noticeable.

Cheers,
C

wolfstein · August 3, 2012, 01:20 AM

]I know you guys are discussing scratches on SS. However, when I shoot my 500Smith I get powder burns on the front edge of the cylinder. I used to use two different solvents to scrub and scrub for the longest time to remove it. I discovered that using Ceramabryte will take it right off. If you are not familiar with it , we use it for the flat ceramic top of our stove. It is for SS, smooth surfaces and a lot of things. Works Great.Here is a pic.

July 30, 2012, 08:09 PM	#1
Aristides Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 352	Easiest to Polish Yourself: Matte, Satin, or Polished? I recently purchased a Smith & Wesson revolver that has the Matte Stainless finish. I've always preferred their Satin Stainless, and am thinking about sending the revolver to Smith & Wesson to have it refinished. But I'm also wondering which type of finish would be easiest for me polish myself, if the gun got a nick or scratch. I'm thinking that might be their Polished Stainless. Would that finish be any easier for me polish than the Matte or the Satin? Thanks. __________________ If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back...Regina Brett ------ The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else...Dr. Adrian Rogers

August 2, 2012, 11:04 PM	#4
Aristides Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 352	I've read about guys using Flitz and Mother's Something or Other. I'm talking about doing little touch-ups myself, not big overhauls. Surely one type of finish is easier to touch-up than others. I'm just wondering which version is easiest for using something like Flitz. __________________ If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back...Regina Brett ------ The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else...Dr. Adrian Rogers

August 2, 2012, 11:36 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Satin finish/grey Scotchbrite pads. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

August 2, 2012, 05:16 PM	#2
45_auto Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2011 Location: Southern Louisiana Posts: 1,399	Matte is by far the easiest to maintain. Stick it in the blasting cabinet with the appropriate media and it will look like new in about 5 seconds. The scratch will just disappear.

August 2, 2012, 10:11 PM	#3
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Don't. Send it to Smith & Wesson and have it done right.