4516-1 + 3M 320 Grit = Nice Finish

[ScubaSig]

Decided to head to my local Home Depot and picked up some 3M 320 grit x-fine Pro Grade flexible sanding sheets to see if I could remove some minor scuffs and clean up a 4516-1 I picked up last week. It think it turned out quite nicely for a 1st time attempt, flats and frame are smoooooth and it looks 100% better

 

[18DAI]

Nice job! Great little 45. Enjoy it! Regards 18DAI

 

[t-bird]

Thanks for the info and pics. Best of luck.

 

[bilmc]

Very nice! Did you sand by hand or use dremel? Use any liquids? I have a 5946 I need to clean up but I don't know how.

 

[ScubaSig]

Very nice! Did you sand by hand or use dremel? Use any liquids? I have a 5946 I need to clean up but I don't know how.

Hey Bill, no sir no dremel, just by hand and always trying to keep it in the same direction. I also started by applying some pressure at first for the light marks then finishing it with very light pressure until I got it to be a smooth and even finish. I actually got the idea from a tutorial on a 1911 in this forum. I removed the slide and grips, wiped down the gun to remove any lube on it, cut the sanding sheets into small pieces where just my index finger would do the sanding. No liquids needed, just wiped it down when I was happy with the finish the re-lube. It was quite easy actually the scuffs came off with just a little pressure then it was just very light sanding for that "finished look". Hope this helped

 

[yeti]

Looks like it turned out beautifully. Nice job!

 

[loeman]

Really nice ScubaSig. I'm really impressed that the end result is not too shiny. I've seen several polish jobs that have gone way too far. Yours looks right! Now I might consider a scratched up 3rd Gen knowing that it is possible to bring it back to looking good! Nice work.

 

[nocents]

that 4516-1 looks great....the reason I love SS guns without a factory coating is that they are user friendly when it comes to finish repair.....

 

[ScubaSig]

Really nice ScubaSig. I'm really impressed that the end result is not too shiny. I've seen several polish jobs that have gone way too far. Yours looks right! Now I might consider a scratched up 3rd Gen knowing that it is possible to bring it back to looking good! Nice work.

Thanks loeman, yes I didn't want that polished mirror like finish either, best way to describe it would be a smooth brushed stainless steel, looks even better in person than the camera pics on top

 

[bilmc]

Thanks for the tips and instructions ScubaSig! I'll give it a try!

 

[waffenmac]

Sweet, now I have to buy a 5906 police trade in and try this. Thanks for sharing.

 

[WallaceWalcox]

Nice work and how very appropriate. I get to pick up my 4516-1 in about 3 weeks due to California gun laws...yay. There is some holster wear which I wanted to remove. Why did you go with 320 grit versus the grey pads (800 grit)? Did you use a block for the flat surfaces also? Just doing research. Your 4516-1 looks great BTW.

 

[Jaymo]

Nice satin look.
I have a 5906 that spent a lot of time in a duty holster.
I'm torn between blasting it and using Scotchbrite.
One S&W accumulator I spoke with said he uses a sandblaster with walnut hull media to return stainless 3rd gens to their factory finish.
I may give it a try.

 

[ScubaSig]

Nice work and how very appropriate. I get to pick up my 4516-1 in about 3 weeks due to California gun laws...yay. There is some holster wear which I wanted to remove. Why did you go with 320 grit versus the grey pads (800 grit)? Did you use a block for the flat surfaces also? Just doing research. Your 4516-1 looks great BTW.

Hey Wallace, I used the 3M 320 grit x-fine flexible pads out of coincedence. I went into Home Depot looking for the ScotchBrite Ultra Fine pads but they didn't have them so I figured I would give these a shot. Didn't use a block either, just index finger or thumb and applied a little more pressure in the beginning (though not much is needed for light scuffs) to get the scuffs out and ended with very light pressure for the finish. Just make sure to always go in the same direction and for the finish passing it the entire length of the slide to for an even look. It really does come out nice

 

[ScubaSig]

Nice satin look.
I have a 5906 that spent a lot of time in a duty holster.
I'm torn between blasting it and using Scotchbrite.
One S&W accumulator I spoke with said he uses a sandblaster with walnut hull media to return stainless 3rd gens to their factory finish.
I may give it a try.

Makes sense, if you don't like the sanding finish you can always go ahead and sandblast and all you lose is $4.99

 

[icemn]

Very nice! You also did the frame?

 

[ScubaSig]

Very nice! You also did the frame?

Thanks! yes both frame and slide, the slide had the famous idiot mark and some small marks.

 

[ace22]

looks real good but some before pics would have helped us see the difference.

 

[ScubaSig]

Ask and you shall receive LOL, Ok found some before pics:

 

[WallaceWalcox]

Hey Wallace, I used the 3M 320 grit x-fine flexible pads out of coincedence. I went into Home Depot looking for the ScotchBrite Ultra Fine pads but they didn't have them so I figured I would give these a shot. Didn't use a block either, just index finger or thumb and applied a little more pressure in the beginning (though not much is needed for light scuffs) to get the scuffs out and ended with very light pressure for the finish. Just make sure to always go in the same direction and for the finish passing it the entire length of the slide to for an even look. It really does come out nice

Thanks so much for the tips on polishing these pistols. I just got a set of scotch brite pad (light grey and maroon) to polish up my 4516-1 (10 more days to pickup). I plan to respring the pistol and do a scotch-brite polish along with some internal polishing of trigger parts. Try post pics when I figure how to post pics on this forum. Thanks again scubasig!