S&W CS: 3rd Gen Alloy Frame Refinish?

[Sevens]

Well, it will be interesting to hear what you report, but as always... I'm horribly skeptical of the S&W "telephone slot machine" whereby you can get many different answers or experiences depending on who answers that ring.

I love 3rd Gens... but I can't think of many full production 3rd Gens that would be worth that money, time, etc -- but we all know that you lie awake at night about things like this.

 

[TTSH]

Well, it will be interesting to hear what you report, but as always... I'm horribly skeptical of the S&W "telephone slot machine" whereby you can get many different answers or experiences depending on who answers that ring.

I love 3rd Gens... but I can't think of many full production 3rd Gens that would be worth that money, time, etc -- but we all know that you lie awake at night about things like this.

I lie awake anyway. It's my damn PAP machine.

I've never before called S&W CS about a refinishing job. I see indications on-line that refinishing is handled by the PC dept, but that doesn't make sense for what I want done... i.e., re-anodizing of a 3rd Gen alloy frame.

And you are right: I will never get back whatever money I spend on this folly. Such is the nature of refinishing in many (if not most) cases. Still, I am prepared to spend a limited amount of money experimenting with refinishing, both with this pistol and with a still-to-be-bought worn S&W revolver. There are questions in poor old TTSH's old brain still begging to be answered before I take that long dirt nap.

 

[Big Shrek]

TTSH, don't forget to have yer brain cryo-frozen, might be able to bring you back someday

 

[TTSH]

TTSH, don't forget to have yer brain cryo-frozen, might be able to bring you back someday

So you want me to come back from the grave and haunt you guys?

I don't think so!!!

++++++++++

Update: I'm still tied up with medical & family issues until Monday. Such is life at this age.

 

[sar4937]

If your gun is black Birchwood Casey has Aluminum Black for AR's that will do minor touch ups.

 

[TTSH]

If your gun is black Birchwood Casey has Aluminum Black for AR's that will do minor touch ups.

Yes, I saw what another member did with a slightly "used & abused" black-finished 3rd Gen... but alas, the gun in question here is stainless & bright anodized.

 

[TTSH]

With luck, I'll have time to get on the phone with them tomorrow after my dentist appointment.

Okay, better late than never (trust me, I've been busy!). Had a nice conversation with the mothership this morning about refinishing an anodized aluminum 3rd Gen frame (i.e., frame only) with laser markings. Here is what I learned:

• Base fee is still $150 per the S&W website
• Shipping fee is $15 (each way? - not clear)
• Total cost (inc. misc fees) usually runs "less than $200"
• They do not re-laser the frame markings on a first-time refinish job
• Current expected turnaround time is 14 to 16 weeks

I found it interesting about the laser markings surviving a first time re-anodizing job. The serial numbers are so light out of the box on some of my anodized aluminum 3rd Gen frames that they barely look legal to begin with.

But the real killer is that turn-around time... up to 4 months. Not too thrilled about that when a local service says they can turn it around in a week. But then it wouldn't be a "factory" refinish job, would it?

More thought has to go into this. The good wife is already urging me to just dump the gun if I'm not happy with it and take the loss. But that isn't my style. And I would very much like to know how good a job refinishing an aluminum frame the mothership can do.

But is that info worth up to $200 to me? I think I better start a GoFundMe page!

 

[sar4937]

You still have the option of finding a "new in box" version, and selling the original. Even a factory refinish devalues the gun. Depending on how shrewd of a buyer you are, you might come out about the same cost of the refinish.

 

[TTSH]

You still have the option of finding a "new in box" version, and selling the original. Even a factory refinish devalues the gun. Depending on how shrewd of a buyer you are, you might come out about the same cost of the refinish.

I don't need a replacement. I've already got a couple "clean" versions of the same pistol. This was always about testing the anodized aluminum refinishing prowess of the mothership and how they would deal with laser-applied serial numbers already so light as to be near unreadable. Truthfully, I'm kinda shocked that they don't automatically re-apply those markings with whatever extra cost to the consumer that might entail.

This topic pops up in my head every time I find an aluminum-framed 3rd Gen I want that happens to have a "cosmetically challenged" frame. It all started with a cosmetically damaged Model 3953 years ago and hasn't gotten any better. I'm just curious... but maybe not so curious that I want to spend $200 and wait 4 months to find out the result.

I really should stick with all-stainless 3rd Gens. Sometimes those aluminum frames just aren't worth the trouble.

 

[sar4937]

Well, there you go. I did not know this was an experiment.

 

[TTSH]

Well, there you go. I did not know this was an experiment.

More like a test case or evaluation of the mothership's capabilities than an experiment; but yes, you've got the idea. Been wanting to do this for a long time. Call it intellectual curiosity or just another symptom of my legendary anal retentiveness.

But at up to $200 and 4 months turn-around time, my enthusiasm and curiosity are waning. I've got other higher priorities for my limited funds. If this is going to happen at all, I think I'll have to wait for a little better timing.

 

[HCH]

I really should stick with all-stainless 3rd Gens.

I'd love a 3916.

 

[TTSH]

I'd love a 3916.

It would certainly be worth a lot of money!

 

[nocents]

TTSH...I'm curious why you are concerned with the turn time since you don't carry your 3rd. gens anyway?

 

[TTSH]

TTSH...I'm curious why you are concerned with the turn time since you don't carry your 3rd. gens anyway?

At my age with my health situation, I'm not sure I'm even going to be around 4 months from now to see the end result (and I wish I were entirely joking about that, but I'm not). But on a more optimistic note, I guess there is a limit to my patience... i.e., how long I am willing to wait for anything hobby-related these days. If I explained the bigger picture here, trust me, you'd understand.

 

[nocents]

.................. trust me, you'd understand.

.....yep I do understand....hit 66 last saturday myself......gettn' old ain't for p....s

 

[TTSH]

.....yep I do understand....hit 66 last Saturday myself......gettn' old ain't for p....s

Tell me about it! Sometimes, I wish the doctors would hurry up and tell me everything that's wrong with me... and at other times, I think I am better off not knowing.

Let me be clear that I haven't ruled anything out. In fact, I need to call the mothership again when I get home to clarify the logistics. For example, do I send in the whole gun or just the frame? And if just the frame, do I strip it or leave it intact? What is best if I want to avoid as much in the way of those "extra charges" as possible?

One other crazy thought: Should I have them refinish the frame in black for a two-tone effect?

And there is always the possibility that it won't take that long to turn it around. It's just a re-anodizing job after all.

 

[Big Shrek]

So you want me to come back from the grave and haunt you guys?

I don't think so!!!

++++++++++

Not to put too fine a point on it...
but ya can't take it with ya...might as well refinish it

If I can figure out how to do it, I'd have no problem with living forever.
Earth is infinitely interesting, if it were possible, I'd stick around until the sun goes nova
Besides, being able to annoy people FOREVER is kinda right up my alley!
I'm like Deadpool with less of a body count

 

[TTSH]

Not to put too fine a point on it... but ya can't take it with ya...might as well refinish it

For the record, I *do* plan to try to take it with me. It's going to be a very heavy casket!

If I can figure out how to do it, I'd have no problem with living forever. Earth is infinitely interesting, if it were possible, I'd stick around until the sun goes nova Besides, being able to annoy people FOREVER is kinda right up my alley! I'm like Deadpool with less of a body count

No, not me. I'm damn glad I'm old, retired and on my way out of this crazy, mixed-up world.

 

[TTSH]

Well, per post #37, I called the mothership again today to get a few things clarified.

1) It turns out that I do have to send in the entire gun even if I only want the frame refinished. I can't send in just the frame, populated or stripped. They won't accept it. I see this as a plus for using the local re-anodizing service.

2) I asked if the $15.00 shipping fee was each way or round trip. This time, I was told that there would be no shipping fee as long as I used S&W's send-it-in/get-it-back shipping system. Okay. A plus for the mothership, if true.

3) I asked if it would cost extra if I wanted the color of the anodized frame changed from bright to black (or vice versa). S&W CS said that the refinishing fee ($150) would be the same either way.

I guess my fear is that if I send it the whole gun, the likelihood of those extra charges piled on will be greater. I'm also concerned about reports of guns coming back with accidental damage as other members of the forum have reported from time to time.

But I'm starting to think that a factory color change to the frame could be a really cool bonus here for my money. Then again, the local service can do that too... to virtually any color you want.

Hmmm. Decisions... decisions.