Looking for information on getting my 686 bead blasted wondering on cost and any recomemdations im in the ne ohio area thank you

andy Horvath he is the only real gun smith around google his name he is the real deal lots of hacks here in north east ohio that I wouldn't let touch one of my guns andys number is 440 458 4369 you wont be sorry

Smith & Wesson does it for $170.

A forum member just posted a picture of his revolver after having them refinish. It turned out great.

Performance Center(R) Precision Gunsmithing | Smith & Wesson

There is a member on this forum “BMCM” who does excellent work, although I’m not sure what he would charge for this, but he’s a good guy who does a lot for the forum members and you may want to check with him


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andy Horvath is local cuts out shipping charges and he is better than any one at smith and wesson

Here is my 67 No dash original born in 1972.
I got it twelve years ago. It was pitted & scratched up,
so I had it bead blasted by a local gunsmith.
I really like the finish.
I like the black Spegel designed Uncle Mike's from Butler Creek.

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In Omnia Paratus

Just be careful who you have do it.

Bead blasting of stainless steel or aluminum must be done in either a dedicated blaster that's used ONLY for stainless or aluminum, or the blaster has to be thoroughly cleaned out and filled with all new blaster media.

If you blast stainless or aluminum in a blaster that's been used to do carbon steel the air pressure will embed tiny particles of carbon into the stainless or aluminum and it can rust later, ruining the surface.

I once had a customer who blasted an aluminum pistol frame in a garage blaster that was used for auto parts.
Later he was astounded when his aluminum frame started rusting.
It was the carbon particles that were embedded in the aluminum that was rusting.

If the blast media has been contaminated with carbon steel, it can still be used on stainless steel. Except the stainless steel must be passivated afterward by acid immersion. For a long time, nitric acid was used but at present most use a citric acid solution. I have done SS passivation with citric acid. I don't know how it would work on aluminum.