Polished lower?

[Ibgreezy]

Has anybody polished their 80%? What method and polish was used? What was used to protect finish after polish? Thanks

[Lostsheep]

Here's one

I think there will be a whole lot of elbow grease involved in getting a good polish. You may be able to use a tumbler if you find the right media. I do not have specific experience with the tumbler but I do know its possible.

WRT to protecting it, anodizing will ruin the polish. The etching process will roughen up the surface.

[kcstott]

A tumbler will with the correct media (usually steel balls) produces a relatively shiny finish. It will not be a polished finish tough.
What you do is start out with 220 grit wet or dry paper and some WD40 polish in one direction only (pick one) then drop to the next finer grit (280) and polish across the grain you just polished. repeat this till you are at 1000 grit or 1200 That should take about a full day of polishing if it's a forged part, longer if it's a rough billet lower.

Then break out the white scotch brite and use WD40 with it and polish everything with that get the surface and smooth as possible. Then use your favorite wheel polish like Mothers aluminum wheel polish or semi chrome. Use some cotton makeup pads and go to town for another day. By the time you are done it will shine like a mirror for about a week. You should get it type II anodized clear or clear lacquer coat it. because it won't last. Don't use clear acrylic as the gun oil will eat it away.

[Lostsheep]

A tumbler will with the correct media (usually steel balls) produces a relatively shiny finish. It will not be a polished finish tough.
What you do is start out with 220 grit wet or dry paper and some WD40 polish in one direction only (pick one) then drop to the next finer grit (280) and polish across the grain you just polished. repeat this till you are at 1000 grit or 1200 That should take about a full day of polishing if it's a forged part, longer if it's a rough billet lower.

Then break out the white scotch brite and use WD40 with it and polish everything with that get the surface and smooth as possible. Then use your favorite wheel polish like Mothers aluminum wheel polish or semi chrome. Use some cotton makeup pads and go to town for another day. By the time you are done it will shine like a mirror for about a week. You should get it type II anodized clear or clear lacquer coat it. because it won't last. Don't use clear acrylic as the gun oil will eat it away.

I've heard of people getting good results with walnut shells impregnated with jewelers rouge.

And what about the etching process used in preparation for Anodizing?
I maintain anodizing after polishing will return a matte finish and you will have wasted your time.

[bruceflinch]

Rattle can Chrome!

[kcstott]

Rattle can Chrome!

[itisagoodname]

so much work, i've almost given up on mine, its half done... the other half looks like butt.

[cactus]

I did one with a buffing wheel on my bench grinder with various grits of compound. The detail work I used a dremel with the same compounds. It took a few hours but came out great.

[jerrykn]

I haven't used it yet but I believe ceracoat has a clear finish

[kcstott]

I've heard of people getting good results with walnut shells impregnated with jewelers rouge.

And what about the etching process used in preparation for Anodizing?
I maintain anodizing after polishing will return a matte finish and you will have wasted your time.

Rouge will work but not with anodizing. It's a grease base compound and will require extensive degreasing to get a proper finish.

As for the prep involved with anodizing, there is a prosses call bright dip that will make the part look like chrome before it goes to anodize. Anodizining will dull the finish a little but once anodized you can then very quickly repolish the part to a bright finish.

[kcstott]

I haven't used it yet but I believe ceracoat has a clear finish

I think they do but it probably is not a high gloss. But it will be a very durable finish.

[Ibgreezy]

Thanks guys, I had polished one area of my raw lower and it looked wavy and then looked cloudy.

[Gunsmith Dan]

You can also Nickel or Chrome plate it after you polish it if you really want a mirror shine.