mach1soldier Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 What kind of media will get stainless 1911 magazines super shiny? I could use a buffer but don't have access to one. My 1911 mags seems to take a beating and aren't very slick anymore on the sides. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjs375 Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Don't know about a using a tumbler, you can use sandpaper. Start around 600 grit and go up from there. If you get to 1500-2000, they can be hand polished with a fine compound. Just lube the paper so it doesn't load up and stop working when you are using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Take them apart and put all the metal parts in your brass tumbler and run for a couple of hours. See if the appearance appeals to you after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mach1soldier Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 I use stainless pins currently. I have walnut though. Think that would work pretty well or should I try corn cob? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Walnut or corn cob. I use walnut (fine grade) exclusively so can't really comment on corn cob. Use whichever with Nu-Finish if you have some. They won't look like they were buffed but it improves the look of mine acceptably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Walnut/corn cob will work fine. Make sure to keep checking them. A friend of mine left one in too long and he had some sharp edges at the feed lips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Don't know about a using a tumbler, you can use sandpaper. Start around 600 grit and go up from there. If you get to 1500-2000, they can be hand polished with a fine compound. Just lube the paper so it doesn't load up and stop working when you are using it. What he said! Todd keeps my mags tuned for me and knows his stuff! I highly recommend him for any mag work. I tried tumbling mine but if you want them shiny, shiny, you won't get there that way. They need sanded, sanded, sanded, buffed, polished, etc......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mach1soldier Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 I threw them in the tumbler. WIll see how it works. Working up to 2000 grit sandpaper and then polish will be my next step. Thanks for the help guys. Was hoping it would be a simple throw them in the tumbler monthly but oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I threw them in the tumbler. WIll see how it works. Working up to 2000 grit sandpaper and then polish will be my next step. Thanks for the help guys. Was hoping it would be a simple throw them in the tumbler monthly but oh well. Keep in mind, the shinier you make them the dirtier they look after you handle them. So you will be in for more "work" keeping them looking good but it's worth it. I like mine shiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandbagger123 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I use stainless pins currently. I have walnut though. Think that would work pretty well or should I try corn cob? put them in your wet tumbler with the stainless pins and tumble and post a pix. Very curious to see how they would come out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjs375 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I would also like to see how they turn out with wet tumbling also, post pics when your done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Bob Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 After taking them apart, I put the mag bodies in the tumbler with corn cob media, and a little extra polishing compound. Comes out shiney and clean, inside and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmo412 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Tried my STI mags which had been cleaned up by FGW when he built my gun a few years back in my tumbler with corn cob and nufinish. It did make a small difference, but it wasn't what I was after. The factory finish is too rough to go straight to a buffing wheel (and I have a 3/4HP baldor buffer). I bought some small (1/8" ish) ceramic media from mcmaster carr, put it in my vibratory tumbler and ran a mag tube for an hour or two. It came out with an even dull, smooth finish. As soon as I hit it with a buffer though.....WOW. Perfect mirror finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mach1soldier Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 I tried walnut last night for two hours. Worked pretty well with polish but not much better then just a new factory polished mag. I didn't try stainless because I'm pretty sure it is going to be a pretty satin finish instead of polished. I might experiment after next match. I think sandpaper and a bigger is the way to go. I'm going to use the walnut to polish the insides every few months or when I get new mags. Otherwise I'll just leave them alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAB Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 other then they will look nice, is there some reason you have to have them shinny. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 other then they will look nice, is there some reason you have to have them shinny. ? polished externally they drop free better. Polished internally they feed smoother/more reliably Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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