Polishing down a Beretta

[Bob the Angry Potato]

My dremel-



I have a Beretta M9, which I've sanded down to this.



However, it's rather scratchy. I've been trying to find methods to sand it into a near-mirror finish.

Any suggestions?

[Kokanee]

Go to crappy tire, and in the automotive section there should be some buffing compounds. They come in rods about 8" long, and different "grits". Use them in conjunction with some buffing felts on your dremel.

[Bob the Angry Potato]

Hmm- thanks.
Mind suggesting a few, please? I'll probably be heading down there later, may pick some up.

[BloodSport]

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true - Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound has never done me wrong.


http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...=1151342017724 - and this stuff has been around for ever.

[Bob the Angry Potato]

Awesome. I'll head there now and pick some up.
Thanks!

[Bob the Angry Potato]

Oh, I hate to double-post, but,
Someone told me-
"at this point, lose the dremel, get some sandpaper. you want 600 and higher grit. wet sand with the 600 until it's pretty smooth, then step up to higher grit. For a mirror polish you want to end with 1200 wet sand and then break out some 000 steel wool and some mag&aluminum polish. you should be able to see yourself in it all said and done."

Not really sure there's anywhere with 600 or 1200. Anyone have any suggestions? I doubt Crappy Tire holds it, and the local hobby-shop only has 1 (I think 500?)

[Darklen]

CT should have finer grits in the automotive section. Just make sure you use them wet, you'll get much better results. You'll want to go with 00000 steel wool or even better, polishing compounds, like Flitz for a mirror finish. And unless you clear coat it with something, you'll have to do touch ups every once and a while.

[Mysteryfish]

That's true (about the clearcoat). I did the frame and barrel on my KJW also, and when I was done, I could see myself in it. But the finish on that KJW metal wears off really quickly, so be ready to preserve it with something, or always have a polishing compound and a cloth ready.

If you get the green polishing compound in the rods, take their advice and heat the metal up slightly in the oven first to keep the compound soft, otherwise it's a bit of a pain to work with.

I started off with fine grit sandpaper as well, and eventually worked my way to a very fine matte finish with that, then started with the cloth buffer on the dremmel. I may have been using a bad technique, but I would advise buying a handful of buffing wheels because I went through a whole pile of them while buffing down the gun.

Anyways, when it was done, like I said, it was an actual _mirror_ shine to it, which was really pleasing to look at, so worth the elbow grease if you're going to go for it.

Good luck.

[Bob the Angry Potato]

Hmm-
Got some 1200, 1500, and 2000 grit sandpaper. It looks decent now, but I fucked it up with my dremel by accident earlier. It'll take a while to buff out.
Not getting mirror results, but I'm starting to see myself and my fingers while I do it. I'm doing it by hand, now, BTW- and got some of that red TurtleWax gunk. It's pretty good.

[Kokanee]

glad to hear it's working out for you - post up pics when you're done eh?

[Bob the Angry Potato]

Why, thank you.

This is the 1/2 way point, I've buffed out some scratches yet not all.

steel wool does an excellent job. then get brasso(or the aluminum equlivant) and polish with a cloth.

[fidget]

They make little polishing wheels for dremels, they are soft and white. It should get a close to mirror finish. I used it on a belt buckle of mine and gave it a nice sheen.

[brently0725]

Should've left it black. But good job man. I'm not putting it down by any means. I just like black guns not chrome. But hey think of the good side. IF YOU HAVE TO STYLE YOUR HAIR REAL QUICK AS YOUR AIRSOFT BOYFRIEND COMES THRU THE DOOR YOU DON'T NEED A MIRROR. LOL
JUST JOKIN
Looks great dude