Toothpaste For Action Job ?

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Found some notes from the early 1970s.
One Gunsmith's (?) revolver action job was to remove the sideplate, apply toothpaste, re-install the sideplate, and work the action several (?) hundred times.
Anyone heard of this "Method" ?
Jimmy

 

[Raider]

I've heard of that method. Seems like it could cause unwanted wear on some parts and certainly goop up the action. I prefer to use fine stones and crocus cloth to smooth up specific parts that really need smoothing.

Charlie

 

[CajunBass]

Never heard of it for revolvers, but we used to do it for casting reels back in my tournament fishing days.

Clean the grease out, pack it with toothpaste (or a toothpaste/grease mix), hook a drill up to the crank handle shaft, set the drill on low speed (Or simply turn it by hand). Later after things have smoothed out, rinse the toothpaste out, grease or oil as prefered.

It would probably take longer with a revolver since you can't hook up a drill.

 

[venomballistics]

toothpaste found its way into a lot of applications where lapping parts is the order of the day. heard of it first in regard to lapping valves in engines.
Im not so sure toothpaste today is the same as the stuff of old ... I've never had any luck with it. Automotive refinishing rubbing compound on the other hand can make some miracles happen

 

[2hawk]

Leaves your gun minty fresh!

 

[jepp2]

I have not heard of using toothpaste, but I have heard of exactly that technique using lapping compound. I could look and check, but I believe it was covered in one the Gunsmith Kinks books sold by Brownells. I don't recall the grits involved, but if someone is interested I could try and find the chapter.

 

[Old TexMex]

Remember the Colgate * * (tap tap) Gardol Invisble shield?
You'll wonder where the yellow went?
The Ipana Smile?
Seriously tho' my dad used Clover valve compound #800 and then #1200.
It's super fine.

 

[dfariswheel]

DON'T.

Filling the action with any kind of abrasives will not only smooth some machine marks, it will also round off edges that need to be sharp and defined.
As example while you're "smoothing up" the action, you'll also be putting many years worth of wear and tear on the hammer and trigger sear areas.

In any case, most new S&W's have MIM internals and most MIM parts are already as smooth as will do any good. "Polishing" or smoothing an action was to remove machine marks that caused rough operation. MIM parts aren't machined, they're molded and come out of the mold smooth.

How about dumping a couple of handfuls of abrasive into your car's engine and running it for a few hundred miles? That should "smooth it up" and make it run smoother, right?

 

[Imaposer]

I've heard of it. And I'm sure that it will smooth out an action. In fact a good action job sorta replicates the wear from a lot of use. The trouble is, when you do it "properly" you control where that "wear" is occurring. If you just fill the action with an abrasive compound, you have no control and it will cause indiscriminate wear to parts that you may not want it. I would say that it sounds like a lazy guy method, but cycling the action that much probably takes about as long as a good smith takes to do it correctly.

 

[larry8]

Boy!!! If that ain't the most stupid thing I've heard on this forum IMHO.

Don't do it (as dfariswheel said).

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hi:
Found some notes from the early 1970s.
One Gunsmith's (?) revolver action job was to remove the sideplate, apply toothpaste, re-install the sideplate, and work the action several (?) hundred times.
Anyone heard of this "Method" ?
Jimmy

And people paid for this? Nuts.

 

[robbt]

with or with fluoride ??
any Cavities ??
tooth paste has been used for years in lapping match prepped 1911 auto slides

 

[Hapworth]

Guns are supposed to cause cavities...

 

[CoronaDan]

I dunno bout this. Use some toothpaste and rinse with Listerine?

What about flossing?

I might consider a fine automotive rubbing compound, in a moment of weakness. But then, my Model 10-5 already has a smoooooooooth trigger.

 

[jinx]

I remember the toothpaste fad from years ago. Was even told what brand to use, "Pearl Drops", don't know if that brand is still around. I was fortunate to be able to talk to the late Bob Munden on several occasions and asked him about the toothpaste method of an action job. He laughed and said"It's not my gun so folks can do what they want."
Myself, I can't imagine putting toothpaste in my gun either.

 

[Old TexMex]

:I don't know of anyone using an abrasive blindly, but with a dremel tool and the tiny polishing drum tool on surfaces, yes. But some surfaces need a less than perfect mirror finish, or lubricant won't hold...
I'd rather wear mine out at the range.

 

[Sebago Son]

I have actually done it with several Model 66's-2's and their flashchromed lockworks.

Admittedly it requires a complete tear down to remove the toothpaste, but the result in my cases was good. One of the best triggers I've ever done used this method. Smooth, light, no push off and has stood up to steady use for more than 20 years.

I've also used toothpaste to lap stainess barrels. This process will reduce leading signifigantly.

I think that the key work here is to go slow and check your work as you do.

Drew

 

[Sprefix]

Do you rinse it out with Listerine?

 

[chief38]

And I'll bet Cosmoline will preserve teeth just fine.