sps Posted July 10, 2005 Share Posted July 10, 2005 I’m in the market for a second hand S&W 686. I already found a nice piece in a good condition but as a second hand it has some scratches over it. My question is whether there is a way to eliminate those minor scratches on the stainless steel finish or should I give up and take it as it is ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted July 10, 2005 Share Posted July 10, 2005 If you're going to use it for Practical shooting.... take it as it is. Or get a perfect gun and make the scratches yourself later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sps Posted July 10, 2005 Author Share Posted July 10, 2005 I'm gonna use it as a fun gun and as such i wanted it to be perfect. it looks like I'm doomed though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted July 10, 2005 Share Posted July 10, 2005 Most scratches can be polished away, if they're not too deep. Otherwise I would look for a near perfect one and have it "refinished"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sps Posted July 10, 2005 Author Share Posted July 10, 2005 how exactly "polished away"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airedale Posted July 10, 2005 Share Posted July 10, 2005 sps, There's some excellent threads on the Smith&Wesson forum (www.smith-wessonforum.com) about polishing stainless revolvers. It's not terrribly hard and really puts a shine on the gun. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wim Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Brownells used to sell something - I don't recall if it was like steelwool or like a brillopad (I think you call it a Choreboy?) but take a look there. You could basically match the matte finish on a stainless recvolver by using the appropriate "coarseness / grit" (or whatever you want to call it) and maintaing the direction of the original polishing. I've polished a stainless revolver before and going to the range with something that looks like a bathtap is not something I'll do again if I can avoid it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajarrel Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I'm gonna use it as a fun gun and as such i wanted it to be perfect. it looks like I'm doomed though.... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> sps, To me a fun gun is one that is going to get shot... alot. Holster, draw, repeat. It will get scratched up. That being said, Flitz is a polish that will remove light surface scratches in stainless. Jewelers rouge ( a red polishing compound) on a buffing wheel will make any metal object shine like a new penny. Just remember, when you are polishing, you are removing metal to get the shine. FWIW dj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sps Posted July 13, 2005 Author Share Posted July 13, 2005 thank you all for the info. i just want to restore the original matte stainless steel finish. i don't want it to shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Run n Gun Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 You would be AMAZED what you can do with 600 or 800 grit wet-and-dry sandpaper. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wim Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Brownell's product is probably little different from what Ed suggests. You can call them, or post a question in the tech section. They will reply. As I understood it the package contained various grits (I'm starting to think it was pads) and you would test e.g. under the grip or whatever to match the matte finish. I would contact them beofre trying something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajarrel Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 thank you all for the info. i just want to restore the original matte stainless steel finish. i don't want it to shine. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> sps, If you want to restore the matte finish, you may have to have it bead-blasted. Any polishing will just smooth the matte finish. FWIW dj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvmichael Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Flitz or Mothers Mag Polish (found at most auto parts or walmart stores). Always polish with the grain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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