Polishing Stainless

Rogue Wizard

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I have a 5906,... and soon will have a 4566. I like to keep my firearms well kept and polished. I saw a reference to "Flitz" metal polish. I looked it up,... and it looks like a good SS polish. I have one cued up to buy... but thought I would do a sanity check. Is this the recommended polish for 3rd gen SS firearms?

Heck,... got a PA63 that has a SS frame.....
 
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I know Flitz is the product of choice with a lot of people for their guns.......I don't personally polish any of my 3rd. gens......but I do polish my SP 101 and have had real good results with Mothers mag and wheel polish ...... good luck
 
Like nocents, I used Mothers mag and wheel polish on my 4043 and cs45.
 
I like both Mothers and Flitz, but I use them VERY lightly and more as cleaner than a polish. I like my guns to look like they did when they left the factory but both of these products have the ability to alter the original finish when used with a heavy hand. You might like the results, but I would advise you to go lightly at first to get a feel for what these products can do.
 
Personally, I prefer Mother's. But, both are extremely good products. As stated above, both are slightly abrasive so use a very light hand until you get the feel for whichever one you choose.

Bob
 
Thanx for the heads up regarding a light touch. Both firearms are in good shape and just need an easy cleaning. After looking at the mothers,.... it looks like something I can use on the car wheels and trim too....
 
Thanx for the heads up regarding a light touch. Both firearms are in good shape and just need an easy cleaning. After looking at the mothers,.... it looks like something I can use on the car wheels and trim too....

Yes! Mothers is a fantastic wheel polish. I've used it for years on the polished aluminum spoke wheels of my vintage motorcycles. Rub away! Just be careful with it on your guns.
 
I use Flitz on my nickel guns and mothers on my SS guns. Mothers will take a beaten up looking revolver to better than new. It takes work since you are dealing with SS. Look what Colt did with the Bright Stainless Pythons. Here are some examples from this weekend.
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Here is a before and after of the model 66-1. I sold it locally and the buyer asked me to polish it up before our meeting yesterday. I am a dentist so I have a two speed Baldor polishing lathe. I use a rag wheel and mothers to do the basic polish, followed by a chamois wheel and jewelers rouge to finish the shine.
Only SS GETS THIS TREATMENT. I only use Flitz on nickel guns and then sparingly.
BEFORE:
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AFTER:
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Here is a 617 long barrel that had been cleaned up:)
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"Welcome to Tennessee...the patron State of shooting stuff"
 
Flitz

I have a 5906,... and soon will have a 4566. I like to keep my firearms well kept and polished. I saw a reference to "Flitz" metal polish. I looked it up,... and it looks like a good SS polish. I have one cued up to buy... but thought I would do a sanity check. Is this the recommended polish for 3rd gen SS firearms?

Heck,... got a PA63 that has a SS frame.....
I know of it's popularity but if you want to read up on a product without the abrasive components, that will accomplish everything Flitz does without giving your gun a bling factor check out Renaissance wax and pre wax cleaner. Both can be found on amazon.
 
+1 on the Renaissance Wax!

It's just my opinion but I don't see the popularity of polished stainless steel firearms that look like their nickel-plated cousins after being polished. It totally detracts from the gun's collector value as anything non-original does to any item. But they are not my guns so polish away if you want - every one you do without having the original finish restored later leaves one less original one to complete for collector interest if selling them ever becomes desired.

Ed
 
It's just my opinion but I don't see the popularity of polished stainless steel firearms that look like their nickel-plated cousins after being polished. It totally detracts from the gun's collector value as anything non-original does to any item. But they are not my guns so polish away if you want - every one you do without having the original finish restored later leaves one less original one to complete for collector interest if selling them ever becomes desired.
I agree with you Ed. :) As much as I love the look of the SS polish jobs we see here on the forum, it's the original factory stainless finish that I strive to protect (or, in some cases, restore) on all my stainless Smith & Wessons, be they revolvers or 3rd Gens. :D It's just the stubborn old collector in me I guess. ;)
 
A LITTLE LATE WITH THIS REPLY BUT I WAS AT ACE HARDWARE &
FOUND SOMETHING CALLED CAPE COD METAL POLISHING CLOTHS.
I BOUGHT A SMALL PKG. CONTAINING 2 & TRIED IT ON SOMETHING
ELSE SS FORST THEN ON MY S&W SS PISTOLS. SEEMS TO WORK FINE.
 
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