December 8, 2012, 02:38 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: January 7, 2008
Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Posts: 32
|
Polishing LC9 barrel
I saw a video that claimed to be step by step instructions on how to polish the barrel of a ruger LC9, it said to soak the barrel in vinegar for a few hours, then take off the dark coat with polish (they used "Mother's") and a green scrub pad, then to polish with the same polish and microfiber detail cloths...
it there any way that this might hurt the barrel, or is it outright untrue, I would like to do this, but I certainly dont want to hurt my LC9... |
December 8, 2012, 02:49 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 10,985
|
Is the barrel blued?
Removing bluing leaves the barrel susceptible to rust. There is no need to use vinegar-just use wet/dry 600 grit sandpaper on the breech area. Then, 1000 grit, then higher grits. You can finish it with metal polish. |
December 9, 2012, 12:59 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 28, 2007
Posts: 302
|
Why would you want to polish the barrel of the pistol? It is blued to help keep it from rusting. I carry a lc9 and I would want to protect the function of the pistol and as I carry concealed no one would see the shiny barrel anyway. It is your gun and do with it as you will but be aware of possible problems.
|
December 9, 2012, 01:11 AM | #4 |
Staff
Join Date: February 12, 2001
Location: DFW Area
Posts: 24,992
|
It won't exactly damage the barrel itself, but it will remove the finish and that will, as pointed out, make it more likely to rust.
You could always get it refinished later if you didn't like the effect and you'd be back to square one but out the time it took to polish the finish off and the money it cost to refinish it. If you like the metallic look, you could send the barrel off to be plated with either chrome, electroless nickel, NP3, or something similar. That would give your barrel a stainless/bare steel look without sacrificing corrosion resistance.
__________________
Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?
|
December 9, 2012, 10:04 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 14, 2011
Location: Brazos County, Texas
Posts: 1,038
|
You mean like this? I did it to my LCP and LC9.
A little 400 wet sand paper and then polish.I think they look much better. |
December 9, 2012, 01:06 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: January 7, 2008
Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Posts: 32
|
Just like that Grant, except in the video I saw, it was the entire barrel not just the chamber area...
I was also looking into a SS guide rod to replace the plastic one, I think the polished barrel and SS guide rod will look good together... While it is true that this is my carry gun and nobody will ever really see it, I will see it all the time... |
December 9, 2012, 10:19 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 11, 2010
Location: Phoenix area
Posts: 1,442
|
If it's your carry gun, I wouldn't think you would see it much. Wouldn't it be in your holster almost all the time?
If it functions good don't mess with it. If you are looking to spend some time and a little $$ on it go buy a box and visit the range. The only mods I make are for functionality. I.E. Stippling grips, polishing feed ramps, polishing bolts on bolt rifles to make them function smoother. Just me...... If you do decide to take the bluing off, a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide took the finish off a rifle barrel of mine like nobody's business (long story). |
December 10, 2012, 08:29 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 20, 2008
Posts: 11,132
|
If the LC9 stays in production a few more years, someone would probably make an aftermarket stainless barrel for it.
|
December 10, 2012, 09:30 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 23, 2010
Posts: 4,862
|
This just sounds like a bad idea all-around to me. If this is a carry gun that is functioning reliably, I can think of no rational reason to strip the barrel of its protection against corrosion (which can happen very quickly on a carry gun due to sweat and temperature changes). You are just asking for trouble down the road.
|
December 10, 2012, 10:16 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 10, 2009
Location: Small city in New York
Posts: 482
|
I CC an LC9, just as it came when I bought it. Making it more visible by shining up the barrel seems to me to be at cross purposes with my intent to have it go unnoticed as much as possible by remaining dark and dull. It's a tool after all, not jewellery, and making it more visible seems to me to diminish its efficacy as a stealthy tool.
Also, since it's going to be out and about and handled frequently and not left in my gun safe for most of its tenure with me, taking off its rust protection makes for more maintenance, to no benefit, as I see it. YMMV of course.
__________________
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains? |
December 10, 2012, 10:42 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 20, 2008
Posts: 11,132
|
Folks have been decorating their guns as long as there have been guns. They can be as much "jewelry" as a watch or luxury car. Lots of barrels have been polished and even engine turned - this isn't anything new. Heck, weren't some of the Kimber pistols made with regular carbon-steel untreated barrels at one time (which rusted)?
|
December 10, 2012, 11:59 AM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 23, 2010
Posts: 4,862
|
Quote:
|
|
December 10, 2012, 01:39 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 14, 2011
Location: Brazos County, Texas
Posts: 1,038
|
I dont have a problem with rust.I keep ALL my weapons cleaned and oiled,especialy my carry weapons.
I guess every blued pistol with holster wear on barrels and cylinders should be reblued so they wont rust? As far as stealthy...I carry nickel plated snubbies,and highly polished stainless steel snubbies,and 1911's also, that are a lot shinyer than the chambers on my Rugers. But to each his own I guess. I for one, like the look of the polished chambers. |
December 10, 2012, 04:13 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 3, 2009
Location: NC
Posts: 1,244
|
Fishbed77 nailed it IMO.
Quote:
__________________
"A man can be destroyed but not defeated". Ernest Hemingway Protect our 2nd Amendment Rights -- Join the NRA |
|
December 10, 2012, 04:27 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 10,985
|
It's not necessarily a "bad" idea. It just comes with caveats. Most automatics that were made without stainless barrels had steel exposed.
Using vinegar is a bad idea because, while it removes bluing, it does nothing to polish the steel. Polishing in itself will remove the bluing anyway- and the OP wants his bbl shiny. There is a right way to do things and far too many people spout out WRONG ways on the Internet. |
December 10, 2012, 05:04 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 20, 2008
Posts: 11,132
|
The biggest problem with polishing an LC9 barrel is that there isn't an easy source to get a replacement - Ruger factory part. That's also my biggest beef with anything Ruger - lack of aftermarket parts, and they eventually stop supporting their older guns. That said, I own an LC9 anyway because it's a great little carry gun.
Although Ruger makes good products, I'm not a big fan of not being able to get parts. |
December 10, 2012, 05:08 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 11, 2010
Location: Phoenix area
Posts: 1,442
|
Agreed that the vinegar by itself would not polish the barrel. He would need to polish after removing the bluing. The whole idea of the vinegar is to get it down to the bare metal will very little effort.
|
December 10, 2012, 06:31 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 10,985
|
The first time the barrel is touched with sandpaper the bluing will be removed. There is no need for vinegar. Vinegar in the bore will actually promote rusting, and can actually etch the bore.
|
December 13, 2012, 07:19 AM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 10, 2009
Location: Small city in New York
Posts: 482
|
Polishing chambers leads me to a question: Isn't some of the recoil transferred to the chamber walls by the cartridge case expanding against them, and so if the walls provide less friction more recoil is transferred to the bolt face, or the frame in the case of revolvers? Or is this an unimportant consideration?
__________________
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains? |
December 13, 2012, 11:52 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 21, 2010
Location: So. Cal. Unfortunately!
Posts: 134
|
Horrible idea! You would loose your tactical advantage by polishing your barrel!
Why would you want any reflective surfaces on your carry gun? The moment you go to draw your weapon the light would glint off of it and you'd be giving the aggressor the advantage! Just a bad idea all the way around.
__________________
Formerly Samuel2001 |
December 13, 2012, 01:20 PM | #21 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 20, 2008
Posts: 11,132
|
Quote:
|
|
December 13, 2012, 01:35 PM | #22 |
Member
Join Date: August 8, 2012
Posts: 24
|
Count me in the camp with those that think it's a bad idea. Having said that, if I was going to do it, I would not use the vinegar, I would just polish it. Blueing has little to no abrasion resistance and is easily removed mechanically with even mild abrasives. The problem with using vinegar is essentially it is acetic acid, this will make the steel surface more active and prone to rusting even quicker than bare steel might otherwise (which is already pretty quick to begin with). If I wanted a shiny surface, I would polish and then plate with electroless nickel or similar.
|
December 14, 2012, 10:44 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 26, 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 450
|
Vinegar? If you want to see the bluing disappear instantly, rub Naval Jelly on it. After that, I would polish with Flitz. In the old days, we would use Naval Jelly just on the muzzle of the barrel of a. 32 or. 380 to make it look more menacing.
|
December 15, 2012, 09:10 AM | #24 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 12, 2006
Location: NKY
Posts: 12,463
|
Quote:
__________________
"He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson |
|
|
|