polishing stainless steel with a dremel tool?

[bassoneer]

I have a stainless gun (686-4(P)) that I would like to polish with Mother's Mag Polish. I have had two sessions with a rag and have not gotten it to the level of polish that I desire. I have considered purchasing a small dremel type tool with a felt polishing attachment to use with the Mother's Mag Polish, but don't want to do so if it will damage the gun. Please advise...I think I know the answer, but I was hoping the Dremel would speed things up...

Thanks, B

 

[ronnie gore]

DREMEL

DREMEL TOOLS ARE GREAT FOR CERTAIN APPLICATION, BUT NOT FOR POLISHING GUNS, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THE MIRROR POLISH, DO IT BY HAND JUST TAKES LONGER BUT WON'T MESS UP THE GUN. I DON'T LIKE THE MIRROR FINISH AS IT MARKS UP MUCH EASIER, I LIKE TO RESTORE THE FINISH TO FACTORY LOOK WITH 3 M ABRASIVE PADS. JUST MY 2 CENTS WORTH.

 

[chief38]

I agree with ronnie gore......Dremel tools are NOT for buffing and polishing large objects. A Dremel would leave a zillion marks because the wheels they use are too narrow. Just keep hand polishing and you will eventually get he results you want.

chief38

 

[Sgt 127]

It will never look right and you will see waves in it. Now, if you have a big felt wheel (Like, 6-8 inches) and want to give it a shot, it can be done. Stay with a rag and Mothers.

 

[JM4151]

[email protected]

I like Simichrome for polishing SS guns. You can actually sit and watch television and get your gun polished. Simichrome is available at Eastwood Auto, most HD shops and Brownells. If you are not pleased with the finish you can polish the gun with the 3 M pads and bring it back to the origional finish.

 

[bountyhunter]

I used my dremel to bling up my 686. Use fine polish and a wide wheel which is soft cotton. IMPORTANT: keep moving so you don't heat up any area of the metal.

 

[srgvaz]

The dremel is a great tool as long as you have experience / practice with it.

 

[bassoneer]

The dremel is a great tool as long as you have experience / practice with it.

I don't have much Dremel experience and it sounds like it would be easy to screw it up. I'll keep going with the Mother's Mag Polish and a soft cloth. When I finish I'll post a photo. Thanks, B

 

[jepp2]

An excellent tutorial on Dremel polishing of SS

DIY Barrel polishing write-up - XDTalk Forums - Your XD/XD(m) Information Source!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I agree with ronnie gore......Dremel tools are NOT for buffing and polishing large objects. A Dremel would leave a zillion marks because the wheels they use are too narrow. Just keep hand polishing and you will eventually get he results you want.

chief38

That's why you use bench grinders

 

[dant]

you can use an old washing machine motor , 1/4 hp., mount it on a board, clamp it to the work bench ( or as said above, enough cheap bench grinders for sale at Harbor Freight or such) and get yourself a few 1/2inch thick, 6 or 8 inch diameter ,loose stictched muslin wheels and put them on the shaft and use your fine polishes, jewelers rouge, ,etc and knock yourself out......BUT doing it by hand you will NOT "booger" anything up....stay away from any power tools if you do NOT have the experience or the junk stuff to practice on, and practice some more............

 

[bountyhunter]

I reccomend 600 then 800 grit sandpaper and oil then progressively finer polishes by hand. I use the Dremel to put the final polish on it for a mirror shine if that's what you want. The thing is be very careful around corners or edges when using a Dremel. Also, keep the wheel damp and keep it moving so you don't heat the metal up.