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Old 04-23-2017, 06:54 PM
Russ S. Russ S. is offline
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Has anyone used this technique to slick up a revolver? Your thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated.

Slicking Up The Smith & Wesson Revolver - Part 1 - YouTube
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:07 PM
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As soon as he pried off the Side Plate I cut off the video. Any Bozo who doesn't know NOT TO DO THAT to a Side Plate, knows NOTHING I would care to know about guns!!! That's about the FIRST thing one learns in taking apart a Smith!

The proper way is to strike the grip frame with a plastic or Nylon faced mallet (or similar) and it will pop off within a few blows.
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:36 PM
Mike in Reedley Mike in Reedley is offline
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After prying off the sidplate, he cycles the action under full spring pressure. That is how sideplates get warped. This is how pivot pins become loose and fall out. What a fool.
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Old 04-23-2017, 07:42 PM
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Maybe we should license YouTube posters, not gun owners. The problem with the Internet is that any idiot with a computer and a camera can be an instant "expert". Some of the stuff out there is great, and some would be simply ridiculous if it were not for the fact that innocent folks might follow along and not only ruin a wonderful gun, but actually create a dangerous situation.

Russ:

There are some real experts here on the forum, and by the way, welcome to the forum!... Anyway, I'm sure that we have folks here who would be more than happy to give some reliable information on "slicking up" a revolver!! I'm with the chief38, when the first thing a guy does is so wrong, I'm not even going to watch to see whatever else might happen!!

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Old 04-23-2017, 07:59 PM
Russ S. Russ S. is offline
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Yeah, he was criticized in the comments section for the pry job, but otherwise gets great reviews and has a loyal following.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:07 PM
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Another self proclaimed YouTube expert spewing misinformation.
The second time he made me cringe, I shut it off.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:15 PM
gtoppcop gtoppcop is offline
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OUCH! I can't watch it. I'll bet he "Hollywoods" the cylinder too.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:28 PM
Mike in Reedley Mike in Reedley is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ S. View Post
Yeah, he was criticized in the comments section for the pry job, but otherwise gets great reviews and has a loyal following.
So did Hitler
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Old 04-23-2017, 09:10 PM
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Part 2 is even funnier........in a tragic kinda way.

I would suggest finding a better teacher.
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Old 04-23-2017, 09:37 PM
snowman.45 snowman.45 is offline
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Thanks....I'll pass. Prying off the side plate, followed by his stoning methods was enough to convince me that I didn't need his instruction.
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Old 04-23-2017, 09:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector View Post
Part 2 is even funnier........in a tragic kinda way.

I would suggest finding a better teacher.
Let me guess, he gets the hammer block safety out of position and proceeds to beat the sideplate back on. Since that is something I really do not wish to ever see I will refrain from trying to find part two.
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Old 04-23-2017, 10:19 PM
ontargetagain ontargetagain is offline
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My thoughts, don't learn from this guy!
My opinion, consider getting the DVD from Jerry Miculek (trigger job) for a better understanding of what to do.

There are plenty of good gunsmiths or armorers that can do a nice action job for $65-$125 and do it right. Your gains from stoning surfaces are minimal compared to simply what a spring set will do for your gun. Jerry Miculek sells a kit and so does Wolff Springs.

The video link you provided made me quite uncomfortable for several reasons not just the flub on removing the side plate properly. Following that guy on YouTube is heading your down the road for disaster IMO!
Karl
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Old 04-23-2017, 11:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ontargetagain View Post
My thoughts, don't learn from this guy!
My opinion, consider getting the DVD from Jerry Miculek (trigger job) for a better understanding of what to do.

There are plenty of good gunsmiths or armorers that can do a nice action job for $65-$125 and do it right. Your gains from stoning surfaces are minimal compared to simply what a spring set will do for your gun. Jerry Miculek sells a kit and so does Wolff Springs.

The video link you provided made me quite uncomfortable for several reasons not just the flub on removing the side plate properly. Following that guy on YouTube is heading your down the road for disaster IMO!
Karl
I just found out about Jerry searching some old threads, I think I'll check out his DVD and kit - thanks!
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Old 04-24-2017, 12:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ S. View Post
Yeah, he was criticized in the comments section for the pry job, but otherwise gets great reviews and has a loyal following.
Great reviews and loyal following do not a good gunsmith make!
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Old 04-24-2017, 09:04 AM
lefty_jake lefty_jake is offline
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As others have suggested, Jerry Miculek's Trigger Job video is the best source of introductory material to this subject. Note that Jerry also has a video on "assembly and disassembly" which in my opinion is not required. Those subjects are sufficiently covered in the trigger job video.

I am a fan of Jerry's trigger job video, and I frequently recommend it. Jerry is a good presenter, and the material is clear and well covered. The close up video quality is not perfect, but it is really pretty good. Overall, this is one of the best gunsmithing videos I have seen on any subject.

The question of which springs to use is a whole separate question. I believe the springs from Jerry's company are competition springs that are intended for use with Federal primers. But the question of which springs are "best" is highly dependent on your intended use for the revolver. You can find a lot more information about springs and realistic trigger pull weights on this forum.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:39 AM
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Not only did the guy in the video pry off the side plate, he started out by ridiculing the people that do it the correct way. There are just too many things that can go wrong by blindly stuffing a screw driver under the side plate.

I also endorse the Miculek trigger job video. In that video, he is pretty clear on the reality that a trigger job will get the revolver to the point it would normally be after it has been cycled 6,000 times. This is in regards to the bearing surfaces, not the springs.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:50 AM
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The old timers at my range when I was a kid use to dry fire their revolvers in a bucket of gasoline until it was smooth.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:56 AM
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You guys don't know what you're talking about I learned all my gun stuff from the internet. When I get out of the hospital next week I'm gonna learn some more stuff. The Doctor says my hands should heal up just fine.
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Old 04-24-2017, 12:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Laketime View Post
The old timers at my range when I was a kid use to dry fire their revolvers in a bucket of gasoline until it was smooth.
Wow, better be triple sure a live round isn't in the chamber?
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Old 04-24-2017, 12:13 PM
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After reading Lee's post about part 2 (didn't realize there WAS a part 2 because I never really watched the full part 1) I did view P2. He should rename his videos "how to ruin a perfectly good Revolver". I also viewed another one of his abortion videos (cleaning revolvers I think) where he takes apart the Cylinder and ER with no regard to inserting empties into the Charge Holes while doing so. This guy is a real Bubba -to say the least!

BTW - I NEVER saw anyone even suggest cutting the Bolt Spring or shortening the Thumb Release before on a Smith. I guess he just invented those himself! WHAT A BOZO! Anyone just learning should name this "the what NOT to do to a Smith" video!!
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Old 04-24-2017, 12:18 PM
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By the time Bubba's younger brother got to the point he cranked the side plate off with the screw driver, I had mostly finished jamming a sharp pencil in one ear due to the "uhs" he uttered in the first 30 seconds.

I was earnestly working to gouge out one eye when he criticized the proper method of side plate removal, and had to pause on the eye-work and return to the other ear.

Though he "played it off" I KNOW he intended to snatch the hammer out before he loosened the strain screw, but just didn't have enough finger strength.

It was like watching a snake wrap up a baby bird and begin to swallow.
I was horrified but could not turn away. Thankfully my wife heard me moaning in agony and jerked the power cord.

I have never fully atoned for the sins of my youth,....I may watch it again for penance, and pronounce my self "cleansed" of all my earthly sins. (Part two oughta give me some "spares".)
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Old 04-24-2017, 01:31 PM
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Many years ago, I purchased a DVD from the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) on "The S&W Revolvers". One of the first scenes on disassembly showed one of their gunsmiths prying the sideplate off with a screwdriver. I was always taught this is a big no-no. To me, everything else that particular gunsmith said lacked credibility. The presenter on the video you cited really bothers me in that he neglects safety by not demonstrating before he starts handling the revolver that it is unloaded. He is supposed to be an expert, and he should, in my opinion, do everything possible to show safe and proper techniques. I know that there are some gunsmiths who pry the sideplates off of revolvers, but I won't have any of my revolvers treated in this fashion if I'm around to see it. I agree with others that there are much better sources out there than the video you have cited.

Good luck,

Dave
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Old 04-24-2017, 02:09 PM
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Okay, excluding the pry-off, excluding the spring cut.

I thought the camera angle was better and did a good job of what to polish/stone, There are lots of variations and tiny tricks that different smiths will perform eh?. I have the Jerry video and thought the combo of the 2 was worth it. Especially since the youtube one was free. In combining the 2 videos, I was able to notice some rough spots that were brought out by stoning, but were not covered in either video.

Better lighting, better resolution, better close up of the parts. If the Jerry video didn't have his name on it, would people respect it as much or critique it harder...just sayin. I did learn from the Jerry video and its good but not because his name is on it.

At least there wasn't as many comments like: Just shoot it 1000 times, it will be like an action job or there is no need to do an action job, or..the famous "Just send it in to a gunsmith and let them do it.
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Old 04-24-2017, 02:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector View Post
Part 2 is even funnier........in a tragic kinda way.

I would suggest finding a better teacher.
I was so hoping when he was reinstalling the slide and spring that he would A) stab himself with the screwdriver and B) launch the spring into some dark corner of his garage. If I was grading him on his work, he would get a "C". He knows what he is supposed to achieve, but his methods of doing it need help - like his method of prying the side plate off and pounding it back in place with a mallet. And when I saw the Dremel make an appearance, my cheeks tightened up. That he has a following is proof that you don't have to know what you are doing to convince people that you think you know what you are doing.
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Old 04-24-2017, 02:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buckyjames1 View Post
Okay, excluding the pry-off, excluding the spring cut.

I thought the camera angle was better and did a good job of what to polish/stone, There are lots of variations and tiny tricks that different smiths will perform eh?. I have the Jerry video and thought the combo of the 2 was worth it. Especially since the youtube one was free. In combining the 2 videos, I was able to notice some rough spots that were brought out by stoning, but were not covered in either video.

Better lighting, better resolution, better close up of the parts. If the Jerry video didn't have his name on it, would people respect it as much or critique it harder...just sayin. I did learn from the Jerry video and its good but not because his name is on it.

At least there wasn't as many comments like: Just shoot it 1000 times, it will be like an action job or there is no need to do an action job, or..the famous "Just send it in to a gunsmith and let them do it.
Interesting take, especially since you've seen both. I wonder if this video could still be a good resource if you account/correct for a couple mistakes.
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