scratch removal

A

auberg

New member
I have a Colt Defender that has some light scratching on it that I would like to remove. Does anyone have suggestions on what to use to polish these out?

Thanks
 
You could sand until it is gone if it's not to deep, then glass bead the finish back to new. Or if it's real light scraches the glass bead would make them blend in without the sanding.
 
It the scratches are on the slide flats, they can be blended with a Scotchbrite pad. If they are on the matte finished portions, the only way is re-blasting it, or polishing the entire area out.
Bill
 
Sanding?

I would only start sanding or bead blasting if the scratches were pretty deep, that is more or less a new finish. Those brushed stainless finishes tend to pick up extremely fine scratches that are not deep but are quite visible due to the shine. If that is the case, first thing I would try is something like Flitz polish or that pink German polish in the yellow tube. Or any paste polish meant for stainless, not just brass or copper polish. Rub it with the direction of the brushed finish. If that does not seem like enough, you could maybe get like a buffing wheel on a dremel tool, or even a larger wheel on something like a grinder motor. I would try the red fine polish first, but there is some more aggressive polishes for stainless steel, mine are whitish colored. Don't try to buff or polish any matte or bead blasted areas, just the shiny brushed area. Still, buff with the direction of the brush marks. Hard buffing with the coarsest polish might be a problem. You don't want to buff it hard and take off metal. Then it will look like an over buffed refinish job. Like on blued guns that they buff to death and reblue but the markings and corners look rounded. Just don't get carried away and you should be alright. Refinishing is a last resort.
 
Thanks guys. No these are very fine scratches on the flats of the slide. I just wasn't sure what to use on it. I'll try the fine polish and I do have a dremel tool, if I have to go that far.

Thanks again
 
DON'T use the Dremel! You can not get a consistent finish. Flitz or Simichrome will only brighten the spots that you use it on. The proper method is to use a fine abrasive-400-600 grit, by hand. DON'T use a buffer! You don't polish a "brushed" finish-if you do, it becomes a polished finish. The red Scotchbrite pads should be about the proper grit, or you can use auto body sandpaper. If you use sandpaper, back it with a flat surface and use it in one direction for the full length of the flat.
BTW- I'm not one of those people who gives out advise unless I KNOW what I'm talking about. I have refinished many guns professionally.
Bill
 
Okay, I got ya Bill. You have given me good advise before. Red scotchbright pads it is. Thanks for all of the input.
 
Thank you. Be careful not to round edges. Use light pressure. You can easily "wallow" lettering this way. If you see this beginning to happen, stop.
You might also experiment with the gray and green pads.
Bill
 
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