[ExtremeShot]

I have an STI slide I've been working on. It came with polished sides with the rest of the slide having a bead blast appearance. After working on the slide, I have a few scratches on the polished part. I'd like to get the sides polished back up.

The problem is, I don't think the polishing was done with a buffing wheel??? It looks more like a very fine sandpaper with oil type polish?? I dunno.

Got any ideas?

Thanks,
Darren

[stockton]

Is it in the white? If so, use 400-600 grit paper and a granite block.

[JimmyZip]

stockton, on Oct 23 2009, 08:39 PM, said:

Is it in the white? If so, use 400-600 grit paper and a granite block.

This is good advice. A really good paper for this is RhinoDry discs by Indasa. The stuff they use to put the grit on this paper is really good, and not over the falls expensive. A box of 400, and a box of 600 should do you for the forseeable future unless you do alot of finishing.
I think you can order it through Louis &Company.
If you want to finish it even further, 3M makes some fils called Micron that come in super fine grits that make things really shine. Don't remember who I've ordered them through though.

JZ

[boz1911]

Got any pics? Might be helpful. My limited gun is like triple chromed and polished like a mirror. I wouldn't use any sandpaper on it.

[ExtremeShot]

Pictures of the slide are below. The scratches aren't visible in the pixs.

I've used fine sandpaper and oil to polish parts I've made on my lathe. However, the lathe is spinning very fast......this is why I was unsure about using paper and oil by hand on the slide.

I usually use cutting oil or gun oil...will this work ok or does something else work better?

Also, I guess I could call STI and see what they do. Might as well not reinvent the wheel.

Thanks for the comments,
Darren

[warpspeed]

Nice cuts BTW

Paper + oil by hand is just fine. Make sure the surface is dead flat, that was why the granite block was recommended.

Put the paper on the flat surface ( granite ) and add oil, then , holding the slide, polish away.

Start with the coarse and work to the fine until you get what you are looking for.

The other option is a surface grinder. I've seen a very nice finish from an extrafine wheel and flood coolant.

[ExtremeShot]

Thanks! Got the paper and the oil, I'll give it a try.

BTW, the scratches got there when I was deburring the rib cage cuts. It's next to impossible to debur and not get a little scratch here and there.

D

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: You can sand the sides on a flat marble or glass plate. Thanks, Eric

[ExtremeShot]

Here is STI's response to the question:

Quote

Try a hard sanding block with wet/dry 320 grit sandpaper and some light
weight oil. ----------------------- DC

[larry weeks]

I took mine all the way up to 1000 grit before bluing. Done the same way others mentioned, something hard and flat. Make sure the ends of the sand paper are also down flat. Mine curled up and actually started to round the ends of the slide slightly. Luckily I caught it, secured the paper better, started over and fixed it. You wouldn't think there'd be enough pressure there to cause a problem but it sure did. Gave it a mirror finish.

[Glockcomma]

I use a piece of thick tempered glass like off the front of a stereo cabinet tape on a piece of sand paper and work my way up too 1000 or 1200 grit (auto paint supply has the real fine stuff) then I stretch over an old T shirt or cut out a section and tape it use a good polish like Flitz or Semi Chrome and you should be good.

[ExtremeShot]

Thanks for the comments. Before I polish the sides I also need to reblast the other areas. ...just got to find the time to drive across town to do it. Nothing is easy.

[stockton]

Buy a blasters cabinet. They come in handy!

[boz1911]

What finish do you plan on using? Cool looking blaster by the way, can't way to see her finished. I'm surprised that you have a mill and don't have a blasting cabinet.

[Five of Clubs]

Tagged for future reference. Thanks in advance.

[ExtremeShot]

boz1911, on Nov 7 2009, 04:41 AM, said:

What finish do you plan on using? Cool looking blaster by the way, can't way to see her finished. I'm surprised that you have a mill and don't have a blasting cabinet.

I'm thinking this gun will be a two-tone with the slide blued and the frame hard chromed. The C-More is black. The scope mount is an aluminum silver-colored Allchin, the magwell will be a silver DP Ice Magwell, and the comp and all the external parts will be stainless.

I'm currently making a new comp for it. The one shown in the picture is just temporary. The magwell in the picture is also temporary.

Regarding the blasting cabinet, yeah I'd like to have one. My problem is that I'm working out of my basement and garage. I need a building first.

D

[edited to add picture attachment]

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•  gun.jpg (57.27K)
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This post has been edited by ExtremeShot: 09 November 2009 - 06:23 AM

[Toolguy]

Nice job Darren. It looks great!