DIY Barrel polishing write-up - Page 4 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Bill in San Jose · 04-26-2008, 10:38 PM

I gave it a try this afternoon. First I tried using 600 grit wet/dry paper, and it removed the melonite, but did not get it shiny. Next I tried the dremel and the small brass brush, and the black came right off. I figure if I can put the spinning brass brush on my skin and not do damage, it would be OK with the steel.

Next I used the polishing compound that came with the dremel accessory kit I had, and got it very shiny, but not yet a mirror. Tomorrow I'll get some Flitz or Mothers and finish it up.

rogerxd45 · 04-27-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill in San Jose

I gave it a try this afternoon. First I tried using 600 grit wet/dry paper, and it removed the melonite, but did not get it shiny. Next I tried the dremel and the small brass brush, and the black came right off. I figure if I can put the spinning brass brush on my skin and not do damage, it would be OK with the steel.

Next I used the polishing compound that came with the dremel accessory kit I had, and got it very shiny, but not yet a mirror. Tomorrow I'll get some Flitz or Mothers and finish it up.

well be sure to post pictures after you finish and let us know what polishing compounds you used. I also tried the stuff that came with the dremel kit but like you said it isnt a mirror finish, i kept it like that for a while until i decided to try the "heavy metal polish" that i had read alot of people used it and were very happy with it.

rogerxd45 · 04-27-2008, 02:20 PM

oh i forgot to say how long my felt wheels last.
well from start to finish about 1-3 of them i used the small ones though. if you let it hit a right angle alot or other sharp edge it will wear it out faster

THE SCARECROW · 04-27-2008, 02:23 PM

One word,

STICKY!

Bill in San Jose · 04-27-2008, 02:45 PM

All I could find at the hardware stories and then AutoZone was Blue Magic polishing creme. I think I spent an hour today with the dremel, and it still has a slight "blackish" tone to the metal, and visible lines that look like they were from the cutting tool at SA, they are faint but noticeable.

I went back to circular sanding with 600 grit (extra fine) wet or dry, and that has not removed the residual color or the lines.

Very shiny, but not the mirror finish I'm seeing in other pictures. I think I'm working it with a very fine polishing compound, and need something more 'medium' like above.

RAZR pictures are horrible, not worth posting. I need to find my other camera somewhere around the house.

Reno82 · 04-27-2008, 06:35 PM

Has anybody try using or putting the bbl in the tumbler?? It polishes the brass... I'm thinking of plugging up the bbl with paper on both ends and then putting in the tumbler. Any have any other suggestions about using the tumbler?

rogerxd45 · 04-27-2008, 11:54 PM

my only problem with the tumbler is the impact with the crown and the underside locking area. granted it is made of steel so if brass can survive then a steel barrel should , but it just seems like its not a great thing to do. i dont have any real reason why not to and if i had to bet money on it i would say 99.99% chance everything would be fine (damage wise, i cant really say anything about how good the polish would be)

but if the polishing media is made to polish brass (which is a 2.5 on the moahs hardness scale i think) then it might not do anything to the barrel steel i dont know if the barrel is hardened steel but my guess would be it is and i think that would leave it with a 5-6 on the moahs hardness scale. and once again if i had to bet i would say about a 15-25% chance of it looking good and a 5% chance of looking GREAT and the rest of the % goes to either nothing happening or hardly anything happening

Reno82 · 04-27-2008, 11:57 PM

I'm doing it right now on a old bbl. Will run it for 4 hrs and check it in the morning and leave a report tomorrow with pics. Thanks for you input rogerxd45.

rogerxd45 · 04-28-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill in San Jose

All I could find at the hardware stories and then AutoZone was Blue Magic polishing creme. I think I spent an hour today with the dremel, and it still has a slight "blackish" tone to the metal, and visible lines that look like they were from the cutting tool at SA, they are faint but noticeable.

I went back to circular sanding with 600 grit (extra fine) wet or dry, and that has not removed the residual color or the lines.

Very shiny, but not the mirror finish I'm seeing in other pictures. I think I'm working it with a very fine polishing compound, and need something more 'medium' like above.

RAZR pictures are horrible, not worth posting. I need to find my other camera somewhere around the house.

have you tried ordering it? i know i hate ordering something online when i dont have to. but i do HIGHLY recomend you buy the heavy metal polish. when i switched from a different polish i was REALLT shocked with how good it worked

Bill in San Jose · 04-28-2008, 08:49 AM

What is the brand of medium metal polish you used, and where can I order it?

04-26-2008, 10:38 PM	#31
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,276	I gave it a try this afternoon. First I tried using 600 grit wet/dry paper, and it removed the melonite, but did not get it shiny. Next I tried the dremel and the small brass brush, and the black came right off. I figure if I can put the spinning brass brush on my skin and not do damage, it would be OK with the steel. Next I used the polishing compound that came with the dremel accessory kit I had, and got it very shiny, but not yet a mirror. Tomorrow I'll get some Flitz or Mothers and finish it up. __________________ A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. - Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to his nephew Last edited by Bill in San Jose : 04-26-2008 at 10:41 PM.

04-27-2008, 02:23 PM	#34
THE SCARECROW XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 633	One word, STICKY! __________________ *XD9 Sub Compact* 648 rounds through my XD9 Sub Compact to date.. -----------------------------------------------------------

04-27-2008, 02:45 PM	#35
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,276	All I could find at the hardware stories and then AutoZone was Blue Magic polishing creme. I think I spent an hour today with the dremel, and it still has a slight "blackish" tone to the metal, and visible lines that look like they were from the cutting tool at SA, they are faint but noticeable. I went back to circular sanding with 600 grit (extra fine) wet or dry, and that has not removed the residual color or the lines. Very shiny, but not the mirror finish I'm seeing in other pictures. I think I'm working it with a very fine polishing compound, and need something more 'medium' like above. RAZR pictures are horrible, not worth posting. I need to find my other camera somewhere around the house. __________________ A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. - Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to his nephew

04-27-2008, 06:35 PM	#36
Reno82 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,158	Using Tumbler to Polish the Barrel? Has anybody try using or putting the bbl in the tumbler?? It polishes the brass... I'm thinking of plugging up the bbl with paper on both ends and then putting in the tumbler. Any have any other suggestions about using the tumbler? __________________ *** XD-45acp Service (Match Gun I changed it to a compact for CCW... did a grip chop on it) Ruger Mark III 22/45 Kimber SS Custom Target II 10mm Walther G22 (FUN GUN) XD-45acp Tactical (Match Gun II; upgraded the bbl from PistolGear) XD-9 Sub-Compact (Home Defense and CCW) DPMS AR-15: 9mm (1/17/08...) RRA CAR A4 Upper 223/5.56---did a lower bulid 6/3/08 and bought completed upper 2/21/08 S&W 642 38 special w/ CT grips (Home Defense & CCW) in order of purchases**

04-27-2008, 11:57 PM	#38
Reno82 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,158	I'm doing it right now on a old bbl. Will run it for 4 hrs and check it in the morning and leave a report tomorrow with pics. Thanks for you input rogerxd45. __________________ *** XD-45acp Service (Match Gun I changed it to a compact for CCW... did a grip chop on it) Ruger Mark III 22/45 Kimber SS Custom Target II 10mm Walther G22 (FUN GUN) XD-45acp Tactical (Match Gun II; upgraded the bbl from PistolGear) XD-9 Sub-Compact (Home Defense and CCW) DPMS AR-15: 9mm (1/17/08...) RRA CAR A4 Upper 223/5.56---did a lower bulid 6/3/08 and bought completed upper 2/21/08 S&W 642 38 special w/ CT grips (Home Defense & CCW) in order of purchases**

04-27-2008, 02:20 PM	#33
rogerxd45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: boise ID (its boy-see, not boy-z) Posts: 3,592	oh i forgot to say how long my felt wheels last. well from start to finish about 1-3 of them i used the small ones though. if you let it hit a right angle alot or other sharp edge it will wear it out faster

04-27-2008, 11:54 PM	#37
rogerxd45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: boise ID (its boy-see, not boy-z) Posts: 3,592	my only problem with the tumbler is the impact with the crown and the underside locking area. granted it is made of steel so if brass can survive then a steel barrel should , but it just seems like its not a great thing to do. i dont have any real reason why not to and if i had to bet money on it i would say 99.99% chance everything would be fine (damage wise, i cant really say anything about how good the polish would be) but if the polishing media is made to polish brass (which is a 2.5 on the moahs hardness scale i think) then it might not do anything to the barrel steel i dont know if the barrel is hardened steel but my guess would be it is and i think that would leave it with a 5-6 on the moahs hardness scale. and once again if i had to bet i would say about a 15-25% chance of it looking good and a 5% chance of looking GREAT and the rest of the % goes to either nothing happening or hardly anything happening

04-28-2008, 08:49 AM	#40
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,276	What is the brand of medium metal polish you used, and where can I order it? __________________ A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. - Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to his nephew

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