Metal refinishing

yggorf · May 31, 2011, 09:29 PM

I need some guidance in finishing a rifle project I inherited. Right now all parts are bead-blasted a uniform gray. I plan to Duracoat the barrel and receiver, but am wondering about the other parts (the action). I assume they shouldn't be duracoated, and that they should be polished and blued, or left bead blasted and blued. To be clear, I'm talking about the bolt, safety, trigger -- internal parts.

Any good reasons for or against leaving them with a coarser bead blasted finish rather than polishing?

One part I have special concerns about is the bolt face. First, I can't really "get in there" with any of the sanding or polishing tools I have. (I can get to parts of it, but not into all the corners). Second, I worry that polishing too much could change headspace. But there are some pits there now which I think should be taken out.

I thought about throwing all the action parts into my reloading case tumbler, with walnut shell media, and "polishing" them that way. Anyone ever tried that?

GURU1911 · June 1, 2011, 03:44 PM

Send all the small parts & the bolt assembly, to robar company in arizona & have them plate those parts with their famous "np3" plating, in fact, it would be a good idea to have them plate the complete rifle. Go to their rocking website & check out what they can do to make that rifle look like a million $$$$$$.

Guru1911

yggorf · June 1, 2011, 05:34 PM

NP3 looks like a nice finish, but their price list shows it to be $350 for the complete rifle -- that is about twice what the rifle might be worth.

I don't mind polishing the parts and leaving them polished (some may call this "in-the-white" but I don't), especially if I can use my case polisher.

May 31, 2011, 09:29 PM	#1
yggorf Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2009 Posts: 125	Metal refinishing I need some guidance in finishing a rifle project I inherited. Right now all parts are bead-blasted a uniform gray. I plan to Duracoat the barrel and receiver, but am wondering about the other parts (the action). I assume they shouldn't be duracoated, and that they should be polished and blued, or left bead blasted and blued. To be clear, I'm talking about the bolt, safety, trigger -- internal parts. Any good reasons for or against leaving them with a coarser bead blasted finish rather than polishing? One part I have special concerns about is the bolt face. First, I can't really "get in there" with any of the sanding or polishing tools I have. (I can get to parts of it, but not into all the corners). Second, I worry that polishing too much could change headspace. But there are some pits there now which I think should be taken out. I thought about throwing all the action parts into my reloading case tumbler, with walnut shell media, and "polishing" them that way. Anyone ever tried that?

June 1, 2011, 03:44 PM	#2
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	Parts refinishing Send all the small parts & the bolt assembly, to robar company in arizona & have them plate those parts with their famous "np3" plating, in fact, it would be a good idea to have them plate the complete rifle. Go to their rocking website & check out what they can do to make that rifle look like a million $$$$$$. Guru1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"

June 1, 2011, 05:34 PM	#3
yggorf Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2009 Posts: 125	NP3 looks like a nice finish, but their price list shows it to be $350 for the complete rifle -- that is about twice what the rifle might be worth. I don't mind polishing the parts and leaving them polished (some may call this "in-the-white" but I don't), especially if I can use my case polisher.