Polymer Frame Stippling/Frame reduction

[Khara]

Hey guys.
So I've been playing around with my dremel and soldering iron to reshape my 80% glock frame. I pretty much have it down. My only question is, how do people get that the frame looking clean or even factory (the smooth areas). I've tried filing, using 800/1000 grit wet and dry, and a silicone carbide grinding dremel bit. It's getting close but no cigar. Any suggestions or different techniques to help me get my frame looking pro? Thanks guys.

[dtelston]

The VERY few guys I know of that stipple polymer frames well have honed their craft after practicing on a ton of different frames to get it down. May just be one of those things as I've never heard of a gunsmith who likes to hand out his trade secrets that have taken him years and countless frames to perfect.

Best of luck as well done stippled frames are clearly all the rage these days despite contrasting opinions.

[Kmai24]

Maybe 2000 grit wet or sand blasting?? I honestly have no ideer just throwing out ideas?? Good luck op!

[SIKwitIT]

Are you trying to smooth it out? Like if you were doing an undercut? If so wet sand up to 2k then I used a buffing wheel for the dremel with different levels of buffing compound to get the polished look.

[Khara]

Ok sounds good. Guess I'll up the grit and play with some polishing compound and see how that turns out. Thanks guys!

[SkyHawk]

Soft wire wheel on a dremel - that is what you're looking for. Make sure it is soft - start with a brass one at first and go to bronze or soft steel if you need to. It may leave a coating on the frame but it will scrub off.

It will knock off all the hanging bits, smooth out the sharp edges and polish the plastic to look factory, all at the same time. If you aren't dealing with hanging bits or rough spots, then you could use 600, 800, 1200, 1500 sandpaper especially if you plan to coat it - that is how I polished my Poly 80 after I modified it. But I didn't stipple it. And I wasn't going for perfect factory plastic, because I cerakoted mine.

If you are going for a factory look without a paint job to cover it, I have found that a soft wire wheel works best - and does the job way quicker (in seconds!) than sandpaper or compound which will always have to be done in gradual steps using different coarseness of abrasives.

[Khara]

Thanks! I'll have to give that a whirl!

[wpage]

A heat gun could supplement your reshaping detail.