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Old 07-30-2017, 12:25 AM
ChiefTJS ChiefTJS is offline
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Default 3rd Gen Finish Restoration

Recently got a 4596 and wondering if I can buff out a few small scratches with a 3M pad (color?) to bring back the original finish? For some reason I was thinking these were a bead blast Finish but not certain. Thanks for any help that can be offered.
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:41 AM
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Pictures would help us diagnose what you're dealing with.
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Old 07-30-2017, 11:16 AM
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Agree that a picture of the wear you are talking about would help. But if you are talking about wear on the high spots of the slide and frame, then yes a 3m scouring pad and some CLP can be used to dull them down and blend them back with the finish.

I use a green 3m pad. I slice off a 2.5 inch strip about 1/8th wide. I put a liberal amount of CLP on both the area Im treating and on the 3m pad. Then go smoothly across the area in the same direction - NOT BACK AND FORTH.

Usually 3 passes is enough to remove the shiny holster wear from the trigger guard. Sometimes 4 or 5 passes to remove it from the side of the slide. Be advised that it will not "perfectly" blend it in. But it is pretty close and definitely less noticeable.

I had a pawn shop rescue 4506-1 that had a lot of scratches and holster wear. It also had some tiny corrosion spots on the slide and frame. I decided to redo the entire pistol using the above described method. But in that case I also used a blue 3m sanding block because I had a lot more area to treat. That gun came out looking like new.

Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI
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Old 07-30-2017, 05:59 PM
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I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow, I can't do it while the wife is home because it's her Christmas present. Very minimal markings, and an idiot scratch. I'm used to dealing with stainless Rugers and a white pad pretty much matches the standard brushed finish on those. This would be fine as is but just wanted to make it a bit better.
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Old 07-30-2017, 06:12 PM
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Roger that. If the white pad has worked well for you already, Id use it on a small area of the Smith - maybe the scratch - and see how well it matches before trying something else.

Let us know how it turns out. And how she likes her present! Regards 18DAI
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Old 07-30-2017, 11:42 PM
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I have glass beaded a couple 5906 pistols with 120 grit at 80 psi, they look brand new...
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Old 07-31-2017, 06:22 PM
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After looking at it again and putting a little break free on it, I was really over reacting. This thing looks great and the few tiny scratches hardly seem worth messing with. My eyes must have been a little more critical on first examination.



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Old 07-31-2017, 06:27 PM
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Looks to me like that one would even pass the infamous "TTSH Standard" for cosmetic acceptability! Congratulations!
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Old 07-31-2017, 07:21 PM
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I've seen where people have polished the slab sides of a 3rd gen automatic to make it look more like a 2nd gen. I don't believe it was to be deceptive so much as to appeal to their aesthetic. To restore that level of alteration, would you use ground walnut shell grit-blasting material or would you use baking soda as a grit blasting media?
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Old 07-31-2017, 07:58 PM
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What I have done in the past:

Glass Bead Media Testing on 5906 Frame

The last one I did I adjusted the ratio to 12 parts glass beads to 1 part aluminum oxide and upped the pressure to 65psi; turned out great.
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Old 07-31-2017, 08:00 PM
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That 4596 looks great! I would leave it alone. But I would shoot it. A lot!

Nice score. Those dont come along everyday. I look forward to your range report! Regards 18DAI
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Old 07-31-2017, 10:08 PM
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Bought it to be a shooter, paid more than collector price but it was an important score. Wife bought me one when they came out and like an idiot I traded it for a 1911 and have been paying the price for 25 years. This one will go under the tree for her this Christmas and will stay with us forever.
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Old 07-31-2017, 11:18 PM
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Default Glass bead blast

5906 I blasted with 120 grit glass beads at 80 psi..
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Old 07-31-2017, 11:33 PM
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That is so cool. Been there. It is a great pistol, as is. Luckily my wife/best friend, (35+,) is the same. Had to sell a few as the family grew, but it's all coming back. She is complaining now that we don't have as many of "those", (S&W revolvers.)
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Old 08-02-2017, 05:35 PM
MattyD380 MattyD380 is offline
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That 4596 looks awesome. Nice find.

Question:

Mechanically are the 4596s 4516-1s or 4516-2s?
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Old 08-02-2017, 11:02 PM
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Too technical for me, all I know is they were a 4506 frame and a 4516 slide. I'd be interested in the answer though.
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Old 08-03-2017, 01:40 AM
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I got my 4506-1 in '92, and my 4516-2 in '94. After a couple of years I decided to switch the top ends. Everything worked perfect. I didn't know it would work, Frankensmiths was not a term, and the great resource of S&W Forum was not even imaginable.

I was totally tired of my 4506 and it was only worth a couple of hundred dollars. (I actually liked the long 4506 slide on the 4516 frame.)

Luckily for me, I got a early 4513tsw, and a few years ago a cs45, so everything is back where it should be.
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Old 08-03-2017, 06:25 AM
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ChiefTJS...Kudos to you for being mindful of your wife and ALREADY getting her a Christmas gift! Most gals feel underappreciated. Thank you for honoring her.
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Old 08-03-2017, 06:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4T5GUY View Post
I got my 4506-1 in '92, and my 4516-2 in '94. After a couple of years I decided to switch the top ends. Everything worked perfect. I didn't know it would work, Frankensmiths was not a term, and the great resource of S&W Forum was not even imaginable.

I was totally tired of my 4506 and it was only worth a couple of hundred dollars. (I actually liked the long 4506 slide on the 4516 frame.)

.
FrankinSmith's for me are full size slides on compact frames..........a 915 top end on a 6906 frame is perfect for concealed carry!!!!!
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyD380 View Post
Question: Mechanically are the 4596s 4516-1s or 4516-2s?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiefTJS View Post
Too technical for me, all I know is they were a 4506 frame and a 4516 slide. I'd be interested in the answer though.
Well, the Bible says they are a 4516-1 slide on a 4506-1 (non-stepped) frame... but we have seen both hooked and round trigger guards on them so at least some of those frames (earliest ones?) aren't what most of us would consider a true 4506-1 frame but rather a step in-between a 4506 (No Dash) frame and a 4506-1 frame.
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Old 08-04-2017, 07:41 AM
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ChiefTJS,
I'm with 18DAI, shoot it! The gun looks great!
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