POLISHING A MARRED 4046

[bobsleatherworks]

Hello,

I just picked up a marred and dirty 4046 on Auction Arms...waiting for it to arrive. I'll be replacing the cracked Delrin grip with a Houge. What are your suggestions for good polishing agents to use?

Also, what are good sources for replacement recoil springs: Brownells, Midway?

Thanks,

[Racer X]

recoil springs are $1.45 from S&W I believe.

[tgwillard]

As far as recoil springs, you can go right to the Wolff web site and purchase their springs directly.

If by marred you are referring to smooth spots caused by holster wear, then you can use a 3M green scrubbing pad to eliminate the shiny spots. First I would use a 3M white scrubbing pad and some metal polish to clean the surfaces using light pressure. Then go after the shiny areas with the green pad. I have a 4006 coming with similar issues and will be doing the same thing. Luckily the grips look very good.

[10mm Sonny]

Yep, the green scotch-brite pads.

[bobsleatherworks]

Thanks, guys...keep those suggestions coming! Anything about replacing the paint in the sights?

[Redwin89]

For the sights I used appliance/tub/sink touch up paint readily avail at Lowes or Home Depot. Bright white--comes in small bottle like nail polish and lasts forever thru slide cleanings. Used toothpick to apply a dot.

[bobsleatherworks]

Redwin,

Thanks for the Lowes tip...did they have red too for the safety dot?

[sniper47]

I just tried the green scouring pad on my 1076. It does remove the shinyness, but the wear is still evident. I'd love to polish the sides of the frame and slide, ala 645. What would I need to do this job?

[bobsleatherworks]

I'm going to try and post the pictures of the 4046 that were posted by Superpawn on the auction I won...I still don't have the gun in hand...here goes:

[sar4937]

Is the hammer missing?

[hhb]

For stainless steel, I have a 5" bench grinder with a felt wheel, and I hold a bar of Jewlers Rouge to it, and polish the part. Works like a charm, lot faster than hand polishing. Just be aware the red rouge will fill every nook and cranny on the piece you are polishing, and you'll have to go to extra lengths to clean it.

[sniper47]

Originally Posted by hhb

For stainless steel, I have a 5" bench grinder with a felt wheel, and I hold a bar of Jewlers Rouge to it, and polish the part. Works like a charm, lot faster than hand polishing. Just be aware the red rouge will fill every nook and cranny on the piece you are polishing, and you'll have to go to extra lengths to clean it.

Thanks. Looks like I will have to get a felt wheel and the Jewlers Rouge bar.

[raw6464]

For what it's worth on a 6906, along with the slide, I've polished a part of the frame just above the trigger guard (both sides) using a polishing wheel and jewlers rouge because of holster wears. It came out fine. The aluminum can be brought to a bright high polished level. Just don't polish away the hard anodized finish in critical metal to metal contact areas like the slide rails.

[Forsmithers]

If your make, model and serial numbers are stamped as opposed to laser engraved you can probably get a local gunsmith or someone with a blasting tank to bead blast your stainless slide, frame, hammer and trigger and that will return the finish to the original matte finish. I've done this with several stainless third generation Smith's and they all came out looking like new. Which to me looks better than the Scotch Brite pads which polishes the metal. If I wanted a shiny gun with the "Pimp Nickel" finish I'd get one that was chromed or nickel plated.

[bobsleatherworks]

No...hammer not missing...or decocker and safety system. This is a Double Action Only (DAO) police trade-in. The hammer is bobbed because it can't be cocked anyway.