Polishing Stainless Slides

[Classictruckman]

I recently picked up a nice Stainless Springfield Armory 1911 that had a few deep scratches in the slide from the previous owner.

I removed them with a super fine grit emery cloth.     


Now, can anyone reccomend a good method / polish for getting it super smooth?

[ArizonaGunOwners.com]

[steve2md]

wet sand up to 1200 grit, then buffing compound, then polishing compound...if you are doing it by hand, otherwise, wet sand to 1200 grit, then buffing wheel with stainless steel compound, then jewelers rouge

[Thernlund]

Adding to what Steve said... don't get carried away.  You can't put metal back on it, hmm? 


-T.

[steve2md]

^^^THAT!!!^^^^^ GO SLOWLY!!

[capcyclone]

I've heard others have used Flitz polish with good success on stainless steel, but I personally have never done so.  Clearly you'll research more, but you may want to consider it..

[Classictruckman]

Thanks guys - going to go slow and hand polish --- just HAD to get the big ugly scratches off first.   Apparently the first owner had never disassembled a 1911 before and had some issues figuring it out, leaving a couple of nasty scratches.

Whats left after removing the gouges is in the pic below --- I'll post my results when I've done the wet sanding.

What material / tool do you reccomend for applying the buffing compound and polishing compound?

[Misfire51]

Let me guess, the old slide stop scratch

[steve2md]

use either an old cotton washcloth or a scrap of flannel to do the polishing and buffing compounds

[coelacanth]

Try a thin piece of leather glued to a block of wood.  It works great on knives and should be just the thing for a pistol slide.  It will allow you to keep some pressure on the work without polishing the the edges and the corners excessively.

[steve2md]

^^THAT^^  it will help keep the surface more square

[Classictruckman]

Going with a piece of fresh Chamois cloth on a wood block - sounds like the best plan for smooth and square application.

And yes it was the old "Slide Stop Scratch"  managed to get it out without having to take off much material, fortunately!

[coelacanth]

Just make sure the glue or adhesive is even under the leather or you'll have a high spot.  Bad.       Chamois might be a little thin, depending on your individual sample.  I typically use a little thicker leather - more like the thickness of a dress belt - but as long as the surface is smooth and stable while you are applying pressure you're good to go.

[ArizonaGunOwners.com]