[50Snakeballer]

hey guys,

I want to get into polishing but before I even try on somebody else's parts, I want to practice a few times. I've done a bolt can before and it worked pretty well, but I'd like to be able to do this on accent parts of guns. What are some good things to practice on? Aluminum specifically.

[50Snakeballer]

nobody?

[Silentgrave]

Pick up a dirt cheap broken gun from someone and polish it. Best way.

-Ståle

[martin028]

I would like to get into polishing some of my stuff as well. I am pretty experienced with metal working, and have access to a cnc lathe and cnc mill. I pm'd pooty for tips on polishing, but he didnt really help.

What I was thinking was mounting, say, a bolt can on the lathe and going at it as evenly as possible with 1000 grit wetsand, then using metal polish like neverdull. thoughts?

[50Snakeballer]

i didnt use and sandpaper/grit. just used easy off oven cleaner. im pretty sure there is a thread stickied in the DM forum on polishing bolts.

[Nobody609]

Originally Posted by Silentgrave

Pick up a dirt cheap broken gun from someone and polish it. Best way.

-Ståle

exactly. the best way to gain experience is to practice at it. find some broken or cheap gun that if you mess up, no one will care and just go to town on it. try some different methods, like sanding it first(600grit to 1500/2000 wet), then the buffing wheels, and then only the buffing wheels or a combo of both.

most people won't give up secrets, when they themselves do a service like this for people. its looked upon like you are taking a market share from them, unless you don't do specific parts, or parts that no one else is doing.

[rjones1213]

The best result come from the most work. Don't use oven cleaner as it can ruin parts.

Start with a low grit sand paper to remove the anodizing (220) until it has been completely removed. After that work your way up in grip 400, 600, 800, 1000/1200, 2000. Sand with each grit until the sanding marks from the previous grit are removed. Also change direction each time you change grit. You can wet sand at any stage, most people wet sand starting at 600+ grit.

Then use 2 different buffing/polishing wheels. First wheel use a cutting compound then the second for the final polish. Finish by hand polishing with a microfiber cloth.

[Pooty51]

Strip the anno off with chemicals...Never sand it off... Your bolt will not be straight if you sand it by hand and you will also be sanding away way too much metal off the part.

Never ever use a buffing wheel. This will give you up and down valleys on your bolt and the orings will only seal in certain spots if your hand pressure on the wheel is not perfect.. Spin the parts and polish them my hand.

Polishing a bolt is not for beginners. Practice on a part you don’t mind trashing. Google is the best place to look for advise for polishing.

[FrmrSpecialist]

Originally Posted by martin028

I would like to get into polishing some of my stuff as well. I am pretty experienced with metal working, and have access to a cnc lathe and cnc mill. I pm'd pooty for tips on polishing, but he didnt really help.

What I was thinking was mounting, say, a bolt can on the lathe and going at it as evenly as possible with 1000 grit wetsand, then using metal polish like neverdull. thoughts?

If you are polishing a bolt on a lathe, why even bother with sand paper.. just get a good polishing compound and cloth

[xsvdynastypballa]

woh woh woh why in the hell would you want to remove the anodizing from an aluminum bolt?!?!

Anodizing is

1. Lower friction
2. many many many <did you get the many part?) more abrasion resistant than the surface of aluminum

Unless you really have time to waist I would not polish by hand. Use either a bench grinder with buffing wheels and compound or a buffer. If you really want to do the bolt (you already know I think that this is a terrible idea.)

You can spin it on a lathe with 2k sand paper and then finish with compound.

Harborfreight has the for cheap. Most are crap, but will do the job.

You can use a lye solution to strip the anodizing of things like eye covers and such. Don't know the proportions off hand but its on caswells anodizing manual.

http://support.caswellplating.com/in...g-instructions

Remember you will be removing as much as .001 and not putting it back with anodizing.

[EastCoastHitmen]

still got that broken tac 5 if u want it pm me

[ShotS]

heres a link for some polishing tips, it was pretty helpful to me. make sure you read the whole thing.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4491972_poli...or-finish.html

[NGerali]

When I have parts that rub with friction or have anything like that (Raw metal) Incld. Pump arms, hammers, bolts, cocker triggers etc.

I hand polish with some Micro fibers using 75 Chrome shop polish. It's like an off blue. THIS STUFF WORKS GREAT!!!

[Tibenmech]

Maybe just try polishing the body. Maybe barrel.

[OoZoo]

http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=691972