Today I polished the barrel shroud on my CZ-75B. The reason I did this was purely for aesthetics, but also I read that it might improve the 'butteryness' of the slide action.
The results are shown below.
Before:
After:
And last, but not least, to prove that this really is a 'mirror' shine, here is something to reflect upon:
Thanks to everyone for your advice on how to perform this operation. (Threads: TFL GT CZForum )
I used 1500 grit sandpaper and then moved to the dremel at setting 3 using Flitz. Let me give a summary of what I learned in the process:
-The local Home Depot does not carry sandpaper with grit higher than 400. However, the local, independent Ace Hardware _did_ have exactly what I needed. Lesson: buy local.
-Sand/polish with the grain of your metal. I was advised by a local Gunsmith to polish this barrel the direction the slide moves (normal to the path of the bullet).
-Fine grit sandpapers get 'choked up' with metal dust pretty quickly. That said, your first few passes will have the most impact on the metal. You can use the choked paper for essentially a finer grit polish, but be careful not to move while you are polishing - even slowly, the non perpendicular lines will show in the polish.
-When you move to a new spot, start your hand moving back and forth in the plane you wish to sand/polish, and then gradually lower the sanding surface, like a record player arm. Use the reverse procedure when disengaging.
-Speed three on the Dremel seems right for polishing. I used the small felt disc at first, then moving to the 'bullet' shaped tip for the final polish. Make sure you have all minor knicks cleaned before you start polishing... you do not want to 'polish' a groove into your part trying to perfect. Flitz is very gentle. I also had the Dremel compound (No. 421) but did not use it.
-Polish by hand for the final touch.
-
I'm curious to see how this stands up with repeated firing. All told, I put two hours into this project and I am very happy with the results.
Now my interest is piqued - I'm not getting Dremel-happy or anything, but I am curious how to perform my own trigger job on this gun.
As usual, I will take one small step at a time, and ask lots of questions.
Anyhow, that's my story! Have a nice weekend.
-Sven in CA
The results are shown below.
Before:
After:
And last, but not least, to prove that this really is a 'mirror' shine, here is something to reflect upon:
Thanks to everyone for your advice on how to perform this operation. (Threads: TFL GT CZForum )
I used 1500 grit sandpaper and then moved to the dremel at setting 3 using Flitz. Let me give a summary of what I learned in the process:
-The local Home Depot does not carry sandpaper with grit higher than 400. However, the local, independent Ace Hardware _did_ have exactly what I needed. Lesson: buy local.
-Sand/polish with the grain of your metal. I was advised by a local Gunsmith to polish this barrel the direction the slide moves (normal to the path of the bullet).
-Fine grit sandpapers get 'choked up' with metal dust pretty quickly. That said, your first few passes will have the most impact on the metal. You can use the choked paper for essentially a finer grit polish, but be careful not to move while you are polishing - even slowly, the non perpendicular lines will show in the polish.
-When you move to a new spot, start your hand moving back and forth in the plane you wish to sand/polish, and then gradually lower the sanding surface, like a record player arm. Use the reverse procedure when disengaging.
-Speed three on the Dremel seems right for polishing. I used the small felt disc at first, then moving to the 'bullet' shaped tip for the final polish. Make sure you have all minor knicks cleaned before you start polishing... you do not want to 'polish' a groove into your part trying to perfect. Flitz is very gentle. I also had the Dremel compound (No. 421) but did not use it.
-Polish by hand for the final touch.
-
I'm curious to see how this stands up with repeated firing. All told, I put two hours into this project and I am very happy with the results.
Now my interest is piqued - I'm not getting Dremel-happy or anything, but I am curious how to perform my own trigger job on this gun.
As usual, I will take one small step at a time, and ask lots of questions.
Anyhow, that's my story! Have a nice weekend.
-Sven in CA
!!