Suggestions for stainless polish
- Thread starter Omaharsm
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HamHands
Member
I'm interested in this too OP. I have a stainless 629-6 that I really enjoy. It's 1 of 2 of my Woods' Guns so she's got some miles and sees use. But the brushed finish marks even when brand new are pretty prevalent... I think she deserves a bit of TLC/Polishing...
FifthWheel
US Veteran
Flitz or Mothers mag wheel polish. There are others.
dmthomp32
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I've never gone for a full high polished look but I have used the Mothers mag wheel polish to clean up my stainless Smith's! Put a movie on, grab a beer, ensure gun is not loaded, use rag to apply polish, use rag to take off polish, repeat. Some folks step into the buffing wheel world, I don't have that confidence or desire to try it.
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As the two previous posters said. I too don't go for that high or mirror polish look, but a soft cotton rag, some Mother's Mag, and even just 20 or 30 minutes and a little elbow grease will really clean up any Satin finished SS revolver and deepen the luster.
girvin02
Member
If you do want to make it more of a mirror polish, I would suggest starting with sandpaper. Go in stages, 600 grit, 1000, 1500, up to 2000 grit. You won't need Mothers Mag Polish at that point, but it doesn't hurt (and is easy). The sandpaper route is tedious and not at all fast, but can turn out great. Just stay away from power tools. Good luck and post pictures of your 686 (before/after).
A couple of Kahr's that I polished. I tend to leave my S&W's with factory finishes.
A couple of Kahr's that I polished. I tend to leave my S&W's with factory finishes.
ctxcummins
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Stupid question time....If you do want to make it more of a mirror polish, I would suggest starting with sandpaper. Go in stages, 600 grit, 1000, 1500, up to 2000 grit. You won't need Mothers Mag Polish at that point, but it doesn't hurt (and is easy). The sandpaper route is tedious and not at all fast, but can turn out great. Just stay away from power tools. Good luck and post pictures of your 686 (before/after).
A couple of Kahr's that I polished. I tend to leave my S&W's with factory finishes.
You use oil with the sandpaper, right? What type?
girvin02
Member
I didn't use oil, just water.
Mothers is the greatest thing ever invented for screwing up gun finishes. If you want a polish done right it must be fully disassembled. Use a 1 horsepower or larger polishing motor with buffs, laps, brushes, greystar, zam, etc. Its a job that requires the proper equipment and a good amount of skill. There is a good reason that a proper polish job costs hundreds of dollars. Mothers is only for people that have no idea what they are doing and the finished result is always obvious.
I have seen hand polishing work that is passable but never professional looking. I bought a Colt stainless officer's 45 in 1985, and I decided I wanted it polished.I was going to do it myself, and thought better of it. Fortunately I was living in Connecticut at the time, so I walked it in the front door of the Colt custom shop, and told them I wanted it polished out to their " ultimate" standards. They did a beautiful job on it. I had them do the action too. 100.00 dollars was the cost. Lot of money back then, but this thing hurts your eyes when you look at the shine. Think I shot it once since then, but it is an attention getter. Just my .02
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amazingflapjack
US Veteran
****Flitz****
I hardly think the Satin finish 'suffered' much from 15 minutes or so of Mother's and a chamis cloth. With a gentle hand. Didn't try to polish out swirl marks or create a new finish, just clean up & ehnace the one it came with. But oh well, everybody had an opinion....
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dmthomp32
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Wow I've never heard someone so vocal against mother's mag polish before.
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raylan007
Member
Renaissance Wax
If you prefer to maintain the original finish I believe Renaissance is your best bet. The others mentioned, Mothers, Flitz have a abrasive component to them. Just look at the cloth after you buff it off. It is not a big deal and I have used both of the others mentioned but keep in mind that over time with constant use you will be altering the original Satin Stainless. I have used both Flitz and Mothers to repair a SS revolver and for that purpose these 2 products are great. I have even used them with a Lead Away cloth for more aggressive finish repairs. Keep in mind that these 2 products are intended to preform in a way to give an additional sheen. Bottom line is if you like the original look of the satin stainless and just want to give it a protective surface coating Renaissance Wax will deliver the goods. It may look expensive but keep in mind a very light coat is all thats required and remove it within a few minutes and hand buff. It will fill the pores of the steel to keep fingerprints at a minimum and can help the removal of powder if you apply it between each outing, a 5 minute job tops. Good Luck
If you prefer to maintain the original finish I believe Renaissance is your best bet. The others mentioned, Mothers, Flitz have a abrasive component to them. Just look at the cloth after you buff it off. It is not a big deal and I have used both of the others mentioned but keep in mind that over time with constant use you will be altering the original Satin Stainless. I have used both Flitz and Mothers to repair a SS revolver and for that purpose these 2 products are great. I have even used them with a Lead Away cloth for more aggressive finish repairs. Keep in mind that these 2 products are intended to preform in a way to give an additional sheen. Bottom line is if you like the original look of the satin stainless and just want to give it a protective surface coating Renaissance Wax will deliver the goods. It may look expensive but keep in mind a very light coat is all thats required and remove it within a few minutes and hand buff. It will fill the pores of the steel to keep fingerprints at a minimum and can help the removal of powder if you apply it between each outing, a 5 minute job tops. Good Luck
Wow
PS. I've been a machinist for 40 yrs and started my career in the Army fabricating "trophy crank shafts and tools" out of brass and aluminum and bringing to a high shine.
For correct info go to YouTube and look for polishing stainless guns. You'll see lots of great Mothers or Flitz jobs. I personally like Gervins methods of sanding with progressively finer Emory paper with water or light oil.
PS. I've been a machinist for 40 yrs and started my career in the Army fabricating "trophy crank shafts and tools" out of brass and aluminum and bringing to a high shine.
Wee Hooker
Member
On the other hand, adding a motor doesn't add skill or experience just the potential to permanently mess it up in 1/10th the time. I'd vote to leave the power tools to the professionals. IMHO, hand polishing with mothers gives better control for the average home gunsmith (aka Bubba
. I'd also add that use of different grades of Scotch Bright pads (with the grain!) can dull things back down to a near factory bead blast look. I use light grey, dark grey and maroon mostly.
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Arquebus357
Member
For a new gun, I would start with 2000 grit wet/dry, then 2500, and then mothers. For older pieces there will be nicks and scratches to worry about. Frankly, I prefer a nice brushed finish and that is harder to achieve than hi polish.
Hand polished with every grade of sandpaper 320-2000 then Mothers.
After trying wet, I used dry paper.
Both of these had pretty significant surface wear.
After trying wet, I used dry paper.
Both of these had pretty significant surface wear.
On the other hand, adding a motor doesn't add skill or experience just the potential to permanently mess it up in 1/10th the time. I'd vote to leave the power tools to the professionals. IMHO, hand polishing with mothers gives better control for the average home gunsmith (aka Bubba
I'd also add that use of different grades of Scotch Bright pads (with the grain!) can dull things back down to a near factory bead blast look. I use light grey, dark grey and maroon mostly.
I agree. A good polish job is not something for the average home gunsmith. Only Bubba uses Mothers or Flitz and it shows. Makes me cringe every time I see it.
Hasbeen1945
Absent Comrade
As long as I own my firearms I will treat them as I please. You can sand, polish or paint anything you own. Your property. For polishing SS I like White Diamond.
