How to get scratches out of stainless?

[Big Ram]

Hey does anyone know how to polish scratches out of a stainless steel 1911? I need some advice and tips. I just a used one today that isn't too bad but it's been used and it shows.

 

[Mosinguy]

Is the stainless polished stainless or a matte stainless?

 

[cobber]

Flitz? Jeweler's rouge?

 

[EvilBlackGun]

Use ONLY a Scotch-Brite pad and NO polish at all, at first.

Use the finest texture of pad, and maybe try it out on a less-than-perfect other SS gun you may have and not care so much about. Work slowly! I turned a 95% brushed-finish gun into a 99% - finish piece, and got substantially more $ for it. I used the white pad. It only works on stainless or non-blued metal of course. I would only use a compound in dire necessity. I have used compound to fire-polish the rifling of some gun-barrels, but not everyone recommends that.

 

[Big Ram]

It's a sig sauer 1911 so it's not really matte it's more satin finished. There's also the idiot scratch on it lol so I'm hoping to get that out as well.

 

[gunworks321]

I had to polish out some idiots initials on the front grip of a stainless Walther PPK. Used jewelers rouge and buffing wheel on variable speed bench grinder. About 30 mins later and smooth as a baby's butt.

 

[MikeDVB]

There's no real way to get it out on a satin/matte stainless without it being obvious as there is no good way, that I know of, to feather/match the finish.

You could just polish the entire gun, or you could have it blasted.

 

[Big Ram]

Really? some idiot carved his initials in it haha. Would a scotch bright pad do the trick? The scratches are only service scratches. I also have the option of painting the slide black with aervoe. Aervoe did a great job on my shot gun but I'm a little hesitant to do it to my 1911 lol

 

[EvilBlackGun]

It might take an hour ...

... but isn't your piece worth that? I totally Scotch-brite-ed out the idiot-mark and some real handling damage on a Detonics Combat Master frame and slide, and although it dd take awhile, it sure was worth it. If I held it just right in direct sunlight the idiot-mark showed very faintly, but I was proud of it. BE PATIENT, and DO NOT SHOVE YOUR GUN INTO A GRINDER!! WHEELS are a last resort!

Really? some idiot carved his initials in it haha. Would a scotch bright pad do the trick? The scratches are only service scratches. I also have the option of painting the slide black with aervoe. Aervoe did a great job on my shot gun but I'm a little hesitant to do it to my 1911 lol

 

[Big Ram]

Ok that sounds fairly easy I think I'm gonna go with the scotch brite. Do you recommend a certain grit. Also could it ruin the satin finish?

 

[Big Ram]

Still needing some input on stainless scratches. I don't want to ruin the satin finish so will scotch bright work or will it ruin the finish?

 

[Manatee]

If it's high polish, a clean buffing wheel with white rouge will take care of it.

If it's a matte finish, you really need to redo the frame. The texture could be bead-blasted , etc., and you won't match a factory finish no matter how hard you try.

 

[Big Ram]

Where can I get it bead blasted?

 

[Mosinguy]

Where can I get it bead blasted?

Any place that has a glass bead blaster.


But seriously, I think a member here by the name of AllenM has a bead blaster. There might be others who'd do it for you for a slight fee.

 

[Big Ram]

Haha ok well ill try to get ahold of him then. Thank you

 

[Manatee]

A metal shop. A local jeweler might know where one is located. I used to do it, but I got rid of the equipment. Took up too much room in the shop for the few jobs I did per month.

If you have any anodizers in your area, they certainly will know who does it.

 

[dfranks]

I had to polish out some idiots initials on the front grip of a stainless Walther PPK. Used jewelers rouge and buffing wheel on variable speed bench grinder. About 30 mins later and smooth as a baby's butt.

That's funny! I wonder if he thought about putting his social security number on it as well

 

[Mosinguy]

That's funny! I wonder if he thought about putting his social security number on it as well

I've actually had items like that. Engraved/Sharpied SS numbers written in plain sight.

 

[SERparacord]

Still needing some input on stainless scratches. I don't want to ruin the satin finish so will scotch bright work or will it ruin the finish?

If it's high polish, a clean buffing wheel with white rouge will take care of it.

If it's a matte finish, you really need to redo the frame. The texture could be bead-blasted , etc., and you won't match a factory finish no matter how hard you try.

^This if you want the finish to match.

 

[gunworks321]

That's funny! I wonder if he thought about putting his social security number on it as well

He probably considered it. Not enough room. Purchase price reflected it.