The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Smithy

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 8, 2012, 08:38 PM   #1
willmc33
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 25, 2012
Location: Mobile,Al
Posts: 473
Help with matte Stainless finish on a Smith & Wesson?

I have a Smith & Wesson 5906 thats bead blasted finish has finally got some smooth spots and small scratches. I heard you can use steel wool to clean up the finish like new and keep it matte. Any truth and can anybody tell me what I need and the process please?
__________________
"Perfection is the enemy of good enough"
willmc33 is offline  
Old June 8, 2012, 11:10 PM   #2
Bill DeShivs
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 10,967
No, you can't.
The bead blasted areas will have to be refinished by bead blasting to match. Gun refinishing should not be attempted by the uninitiated. You have much more to lose than gain.
__________________
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
www.billdeshivs.com
Bill DeShivs is offline  
Old June 9, 2012, 07:27 PM   #3
Dfariswheel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 4, 2001
Posts: 7,477
Also, NEVER use steel wool on a stainless or aluminum gun.
Tiny particles of the steel will embed into the metal and will rust later, ruining the surface.

The only practical way to restore a bead blasted gun is to have it bead blasted again.
As another "watch-out' make VERY sure the bead blaster is one that's been used to blast ONLY stainless or aluminum, OR clean it out and re-fill it with new blast media.
If you use a blaster that's been used to blast carbon steel, again, tiny particles of the carbon steel will be embedded into the metal and will rust.

These is one way to "sort of" touch up a small scratch on a bead blasted surface and that's to lay a piece of wet or dry metal type sand cloth on the area and tap it with a small hammer. After every tap, lift and move the cloth to keep a fresh part on the area.
This will mimic bead blasting to a lesser extent, just enough to make a scratch less noticeable,.
Dfariswheel is offline  
Old June 30, 2012, 11:13 AM   #4
gsmith711
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 12, 2008
Location: ky
Posts: 4
if its bead blasted only way is to bead blast . but if its a brushed stainless like many are you can use the 3m scotchbrite pads the grey ones works great on stainless much better then steel wool. gl
gsmith711 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06094 seconds with 10 queries