Not exactly Smithing: Maintaining Stainless

[SgtDog0311]

You can see the kind of surface I’m dealing with in the photos even though they appear worse here than just eyeballing. Just looks like its’s been rubbed out with something course.

I’ve read here or elsewhere that Flitz was a good way to refresh stainless. Thoughts?
And just use soft flannel?

Appreciate any insight!

 

[lihpster]

I 've never used Flitz, but I have had good results with Mother's Mag Polish. Similar mild abrasives. I just used an old t-shirt.

 

[armorer951]

If you are very meticulous, 3M brand pads can replicate the "brushed" finish from the factory, while removing minor scratches, etc. These pads come in different grades, depending on the finish you desire.

For polishing, Mother's Mag, Semichrome, or Flitz work fine. Keep in mind these polishes will remove the original factory brushed look.



Carter

 

[stansdds]

Mother's Mag Wheel Polish, Semichrome paste, and Flitz are polishing pastes and contain a fine abrasive. They will polish, as in soften and create a smoother surface than the factory surface. To recreate the factory surface, the gray color Scotchbrite pads do an excellent job, just follow the "grain" pattern, which is longitudinal on the barrel and frame, circumferential on the cylinder.

 

[dfariswheel]

Metal polishes will change the appearance to a brighter shine, altering the factory grained finish.
While you can use metal polishes to get a bright shine it'll never be a true factory mirror polish because metal polishes can't remove irregularities left by factory polishing.
To do that you have to use actual abrasives.

To clean up and restore the factory look, Scotchbrite abrasive polishing pads are best.
Pick a grade that most closely matches the factory finish, usually the Gray pad is best.

Buy Scotchbrite pads from auto supply houses that sell car painting supplies or from Amazon.

 

[Andre_Coop]

I've witnessed someone using microfiber, I highly discourage those for polishing SS, as they add a new dimension to the finished results...

 

[a5werkes]

I too like the various grades of 3M scotch pads. Seem to work nicely on firearm stainless steel scratches.

 

[fatcat3]

3 in 1 oil, old Tee shirt, and shoot the dog snot out of it. What scratches

 

[Greyman50]

Fine scotch pad as mentioned by several, just go with the grain.

 

[SgtDog0311]

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate it!

 

[Shotguncoach]

How much of a hurry are you in? Asking because I have a 67 coming up in my project rotation that used to have a brite stainless finish but is now scratched and cloudy.

To bring it back I’ll be using 3 grades of scotchbrite and Flitz. I can post pictures of how each step leaves the finish and you can decide if you like the look and choose how far to go with yours.

I’ll be working on it over the course of the next two weeks…the initial inspection starts tonight.

 

[SgtDog0311]

Thanks so much. No hurry at all.
Post a link to the thread or the title so I don’t miss it. And thanks!

 

[MyTurn]

How much of a hurry are you in? Asking because I have a 67 coming up in my project rotation that used to have a brite stainless finish but is now scratched and cloudy.

To bring it back I’ll be using 3 grades of scotchbrite and Flitz. I can post pictures of how each step leaves the finish and you can decide if you like the look and choose how far to go with yours.

I’ll be working on it over the course of the next two weeks…the initial inspection starts tonight.

Looking forward to that!

 

[sniper]

Mother's Mag Wheel Polish, Semichrome paste, and Flitz are polishing pastes and contain a fine abrasive. They will polish, as in soften and create a smoother surface than the factory surface. To recreate the factory surface, the gray color Scotchbrite pads do an excellent job, just follow the "grain" pattern, which is longitudinal on the barrel and frame, circumferential on the cylinder.

Thank you! This is the first I have read anywhere about correct polishing directions! Helpful!

 

[stansdds]

Thank you! This is the first I have read anywhere about correct polishing directions! Helpful!

Thanks, but I ain't the first to post information on direction of the polishing action.

 

[jem102]

I level them out with 400 grit paper and if that suits me , and it often does, I leave it at that. Next level would be use a chamois. Buy a good one, saturate it with water and let it dry till stiff. Work it in your hands a few minutes to soften it up (I never wet them again) and then rub the gun out. Makes for an interesting finish and the more you use it the better it works. The smooth side of an old belt is also pretty effective but more work. Depending on what I want I will use the pads already mentioned by others and I always save them no matter how beat up thy are as they can provide some interesting appearances as well especially for spot touch ups. As to polish, "I" think Renaissance Pre-Lime is better than those mentioned. It doesn't cut as fast and provides a little more of a soft luster.