Is there a way to get minor scratches out of stainless steel??? I have a gun that's a little scratched up.

Walter30-06:cool:

A Buffing wheel with compound ! JAGG

Providing they aren't too deep, any fine grit lapping compound or jeweler's rouge, a cloth and lots of elbow grease with a heap of patience will clean them up. If the firearm has a matte finish - disregard this process!

Appreciate the help, guys. Where can I get the stuff to do it (except the buffing wheel. I think i have one of those, and if not I know where to get one.)?? Any particular brand of compound I should look for??


Walter30-06:cool:

A department store should have a jeweler's cloth - the kind people buy to polish silverware, etc.

Auto parts stores should carry valve grinding compounds - a word of caution here - get the fine grit (no less than #400) and use sparingly.

If you can find JB bore cleaner, it works well using a gun oil as a carrier. The main thing, be careful and don't use a lot of pressure. Don't want to end up with bright shiny spots - just a dull sheen.

If you want a high sheen, use a Birchwood Lead remover cloth. These do a beautiful job but takes some work.

Use a polish designed for buffing like jewelers rouge. They make a polish that is designed for stainless I get at the local hardware store. It looks like a small brick and you hold it against the spinning buffing wheel. It is white and does a great job on all my stainless revolvers. It is fast and easy to use.
Bob

Is there a way to get minor scratches out of stainless steel??? I have a gun that's a little scratched up.

Walter30-06:cool:

There are 2 or 3 different "bricks." They are color coded for what you have to polish. You may check at a motorcycle shop also, there are a lot of motorcycles that get use of the rouge. It is time consuming but you can do a really nice job with a good wheel and the right color brick.

Using polish to get rid of a scratch will open up a new problem to get an even finish. If you polish you will have a bright shiny spot. Bright shiny on a hunting rifle is a no no. On a gun bbl it presents another problem with sighting. Scratches can usually be removed quickly by draw filing on a bbl, or other flat surfaces, on a curved surface this can be accomplished by draw filing also. To restore you finish and make it uniform, try draw filing an unexposed surface such as under the fore end. Then work the area carfully with different grits of emery until you find the proper one that nears or matches the finish. If it has a matte finish just draw file gently and have it sand blasted with a light grit sand. I've done a few rifles with coarse grit sand on blued steel. This leaves a desireable finish for hunting after rebluing. Take care and have fun. Swany