I just did my barrel but it didn't give me the "mirror finish" that I'm looking for. Can you guys help me so that when I finish my slide(its stainless) it will come out shinny like a mirror! Please and thank you.
I have a lot of experience polishing all types of metals, and, in order to get a
"mirror" finish, you generally need the heat generated by mechanical
polishing methods. Something like a dremel tool with a felt wheel.
If you don't have experience with mechanical polishing methods,
then I wouldn't recommend doing it. Things can get away
from you in a very, very short period of time.
Having polished a lot of SS guns to a mirror finish, I'll add the following:
Look closely -very closely- at the surface. If it is anything less than perfectly smooth (no milling marks or media blasting pits) it can take a very long time to polish with a just a rag and Mothers. I have seen very few S&Ws with such a smooth finish that only rubbing was necessary. These are usually early SS revolvers.
The best way to do the job is using various grades of abrasives (sandpaper) working finer and finer up to #2000, then polishing with Mothers or other paste.
I'll 2nd the sage advice given above to not use any powered polishing equipment unless you REALLY know what you're doing.