Polishing a stainless 1911

[reefer7]

I have a SA mil spec 1911 stainless. Wondering if anyone has polished the slide to a mirror finish? I watched some videos and used 1000 then 2000 grit paper. Finished it off with mothers mag and metal polish. Didn't get the same results as the videos. My barrel turned out nice, but the slide just looks a little better than factory. Any suggestions on how to get it mirror? I may have not sanded long enough?


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[samrob77]

Never polished a slide, mainly aluminum and steel but it should work the same.

Compound sticks (green for stainless), buffing wheels and a buffer or bench grinder.
The polish is for maintenance after you're done.

[reefer7]

Oh ok. I've polished aluminum frames on my dirt bikes. All I used was Honda polish and it was mirror in about 10 mins lol. Maybe I will get a lower grit sand paper and step up gradually. I was deceived by the aluminum Honda frames.


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[MosinVirus]

Cross sand.

Get a plate of thick glass or use a marble block as a backer for flats.

When working on flats lay the paper on the backer (sand side up obviously) sit the slide down on the side and pick a direction. Since the factory brushed finish is length wise, you could start vertically. Make sure to not roll the slide. Start with 220 and make sure you don't let the paper load up. Move the slide over to clean area frequently. Check your progress. The goal is to have all scratches be in one direction.

Then you change the directions and that will expose deep scratches left from the 1st operation. Lightly sand in that cross direction until you don't see those anymore.

Again, make sure you change paper frequently.

Then step up in grit and repeat. First in one direction, then cross sand.

Once you get to 600 grit, use a bit of oil on paper.

When you get to 1000 grit or 2000 grit you should have a near mirror finish.

A sheet of leather (rough side up) loaded with polishing compound (rub the stick on leather) can be used to bring up the polish to full mirror shine.

For rounds, use a large flexible eraser as a backer, or anything else that will ensure you don't round off edges. Obviously be mindful of edges unless you want to lose them. Cross sanding applies to rounds as well. On rounds, one of the most important things to do is not to stay in on spot. Long strokes lengthwise should be made.

Buffing wheels will certainly round thinds off and could produce waives in the surface when you look down a surface, but buffing wheels will obviously be quicker.

Are you polishing the entire slide of just flats?

[reefer7]

Just the sides (flats). The top isn't shiny at all and I think would be too hard


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[Kowan]

I used a mirror polished P14 in USPSA. I got teased it was my pimp gun.
I used jewelers files and either a dowel or flat piece of aluminum wrapped in wet wet/dry sand paper.
Then I used a polishing bit in a dremel with jewelers rouge. Finished with hand polishing.
I left the top of the slide bead blasted.

[MosinVirus]

Just the sides (flats). The top isn't shiny at all and I think would be too hard


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Ok, then it is much easier. Just take your time, don't press down too hard when you are sanding and make sure you don't let the sandpaper load up.

Sand blasted rounds and polished sides will look good, but polished sides will show finger prints and smudges... be ready for that.

[Cokebottle]

Yup... love the polished/blasted combination.

Raptor is not a full mirror polish, but is as polished as I'd like (due to fingerprints and such)
Top of the slide is blasted, as well as scalloped to help reduce glare.

[Rgarbarino]

It's gonna be super sensitive and will show every little tiny scratch. Wipe it with a paper towel and it will scratch. Have dirty hands and it will scratch. If you plan on using it regularly I think you will be disappointed in the long run. If it's gonna be a safe queen to show off then go for it.

[Kowan]

I used mine in two to three matches a month with practice sessons on off weekends.
Maintaining the finish just took hand polishing while watching the boob tube.

The polished stainless finish allowed me to undercut the trigger guard and dehorn the gun without the need to send it out for refinishing.

[Blade Gunner]

I have a SA mil spec 1911 stainless. Wondering if anyone has polished the slide to a mirror finish? I watched some videos and used 1000 then 2000 grit paper. Finished it off with mothers mag and metal polish. Didn't get the same results as the videos. My barrel turned out nice, but the slide just looks a little better than factory. Any suggestions on how to get it mirror? I may have not sanded long enough?


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Maas metal polish and a cotton tshirt cut to 3x3 squares. Did an Inox Beretta to a high polish finish in about two hours. Use a new square every time the old one gets black. Also did a Sig 226. Shined up nice but not as much as the Beretta. Tried it on an S&W 1006. Couldn't get any shine going.