How to polish a stainless firearm to a high shine

[dan4466]

Thanks for the video. I had never polished one of my handguns. Did my Freedom Arms Premier Grade and SP101 Engraved. Instead of having two absolutely gorgeous guns, I now have two absolutely incredibley gorgeous guns. Was a little hesitant about doing the 101, but said what the heck. Came out great.

[smokinbunta]

yes... Mothers Mag & Aluminum! I've hand polished an entire dirt bike frame by hand before with it... i might have to do this to my guns too now....

[smashie2000]

stainless will polish to a very high shine, it just takes a lot of time and care (look at high end watches). You can use a dremel but you have to think in reverse, fix the dremel and hand hold the piece being polished.

[teton99]

How does the rubber grip come off...hard or easy?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@teton99 One screw.

[chevyimpalaboy08]

He went there lol , im going to do my taurus slim 40

[dvanbramer88]

YEA, Top Gear!

[TennGunLover]

Love the videos. I have a quick question though, would this same technique work say on a bead blasted or matte 1911 such as a stainless Kimber custom?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@TennGunLover Yes. In fact I often beadblast a gun before polishing it.

[readyfourwar]

that reflection is scary as shit

[hvgiang]

Sorry for the noob question, but how long does the polish last? Does it fade and you have to re-polish or rebuff? Thanks

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@hvgiang it stays forever unless you scratch it up or dull the finish.

[COLT45keith]

@TheYankeeMarshal Yep, ur only as kool as the gun you carry...

[bjizzle123]

this method only works if you have the self control not to handle your firearm when finished lol

[ChiTownRaised]

Could u use the compound on any chrome or stainless steel gun..I know the shine won't be a high on a stainless steel but i have handguns and also rifles

[Dampochino]

Hi...I have Smith & Wesson 686 Plus SS..it acquired some mild scratches..will the Mothers polish simply buff it out or do I still have to do something else? Thanks.



[TheYankeeMarshal]

@Dampochino if they are mild Mother's should do it. If not try hitting them with some synthetic steel wool pads first.

[bone1050]

thanks dude love my ruger sr9 & 40

[ahill0057]

Thanks for the video! im going to shine up my ruger

[elbarto138]

thank you thank you thank you!

[backelskin89]

Thanks for the video mother's works great, polishing my .44 but it sure takes awhile to do it

[immorthaul1]

So you don't need a bench buffer for this? neat

[harleyrider883]

Love it! Well done. I need an old gun that I'm not to worried about screwing up on my first try before moving on the the 686 and the Super Redhawk. Great vid!

[NfldBiker]

Wow, looks great! Good point about the Dremel. I was doing great until I slipped the bit off and had the Dremel rod grind a nice gouge into my finish which I was close to being done. Only good thing was I was using one of my least used guns to practice with a different buffing compound. Going to use the same Mother's stuff you use now. Thanks!

[3rdshifted]

Your pretty good at rubbing.

[ElmerFuddGun]

SWEET !! Very nice. But wouldn't it be easier to at least take the cylinder out and cylinder release so you can easily work around those areas? Perhaps even the trigger and hammer? More work before you get started polishing but I would think it would help in the long run when it is taking hours to do completely any way. Now what is the best way to get in some of those tight corners such as between the barrel and underlug or front sight? Just keep a long fingernail handy? ;) Thanks!

[gdub454]

Meguiars All Metal Polish...flat out..is the absolute best polish for any kind of metal surface

[AKJeeper]

I just bought a brand new Ruger GP100 and I'm fairly unimpressed with how it was finished from the factory. It's certainly not finished like a S&W would have been, but it was a bit less expensive too. It looks like someone put the brush marks in the finish using sandpaper but didn't go in just one direction. How would you go about correcting the brush marks?

The redneck in me is half tempted to go with a high shine like what you did here. Seems like it would take less effort...

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@AKJeeper Bead blast it to a satin finish.

[micromanish]

@AKJeeper i did this Its great this guy has a great tip i did my SW 500 great thanks

[GunBigotHater]

Thanks for that info. I like a shiny gun too. In the event you need to produce it, it seems to appear to be larger than it really is. Intimidation factor can be the difference between them cutting and running, or having to go to court to explain ventilating a human. Smaller black or blued steel guns can be practically invisible to an attacker until it is too late, and you need a lawyer. Were I facing one of those, I would assume a high level of expertise from the operator!

[ruizhernandeztrustfi]

I use FLITZ to polish my revolver. I takes a lot of work but the results are amazing.

[ChevronConsulting]

I hope you're watching the "good" Top Gear.. The BBC version. ;) Great video!

[Yeahthatsawesome]

Hey YankeeMarshall, thanks a bunch for the informative video. I'm thinking about doing this to a Ruger GP100. Your video helped understand how to do it properly.

[nata911]

before 0:17

after 4:30

[VicariousReality7]

''high shine''

WTF?

Why does everyone use elevation metaphors to describe the properties of everything

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@VicariousReality7 Why do you allow yourself to be bent out of shape by simple descriptive language? "High shine" is not a metaphor anyway. The gun actually is polished to a highly reflective surface. There is no substitution in that sentence.

[VicariousReality7]

@TheYankeeMarshal

Very reflective surface

Your repurposing of words makes no sense

[aquaphone]

@VicariousReality7 Wow, you're highly intelligent.

[VicariousReality7]

@aquaphone

Yes, that is why i notice degenerative abuse of language such as this

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@VicariousReality7 Yet you don't understand the definition of "metaphor."

[VicariousReality7]

@TheYankeeMarshal

Merriam webster:

Definition of METAPHOR

1

: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language — compare simile

Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@VicariousReality7 Good, you can cut and paste. Now let's see if you can come to comprehend how you used the term improperly. The words "high shine" are not substitute... they are literal. You could easily use the long text version by saying "a highly reflective surface."

[VicariousReality7]

@TheYankeeMarshal

Well, ten i apologize, obviously te word ig as meanings i never knew about, wic is wy everyone uses it to describe te properties o absolutely everyting.

[resky2000]

thanks for the great video!

I am going to polish my m85 taurus now!

[MrSLPCamaroSS]

Hey man that was really nice looking gun, now I have a 1911 Colt 45 Gold Cup in blue finish, any advice in how to polished it?

[curtispa]

i do mine on my drill press with a 6 or 9 in pad on slow n takes me abt 4 hrs to do a 629 6.5 in bbl

[jmagic32971]

oh yeah that came out really nice

[CarAudioJoe]

Thumbs up to the hand polishing, its "Klassy," and 2 Big Thumbs up to Top gear nicely done.

[paulscooters]

hey, great video, thanks so much for posting it. and thanks for the tip on the dremel, i was going to use one but won't now. :-}

[ShooterReview]

Beautiful!



[isamtator]

I used peak! It worked fantastic!

[epilespaul1]

I have a kimber eclipse, how would u recommend doing that since only the flats are polished? Does it matter if the polish touches the black finish (will it scratch the black finish?)

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@epilespaul1 Polish can damage the blackened areas. Lay a soft cotton cloth on a hard flat surface and work the flats back and forth across it.

[epilespaul1]

@TheYankeeMarshal ok thanks, appreciate the fast response!

[passionforguns]

Well how did you buff out the spot in the beginning? thanks

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@passionforguns Huh?

[passionforguns]

@TheYankeeMarshal 0:14 How did you buff those scratches? i have them in the same place on my SP-101

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@passionforguns Oh, I used well oiled 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper followed by some synthetic steel wool.

[passionforguns]

@TheYankeeMarshal I wish you would have shown that. I'm afraid to try it on my SP 101, I don't know if I should do what your other video says.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@passionforguns It is really, really easy. Just remember to keep the paper well oiled and to rub lightly with the grain of the steel.

[passionforguns]

@TheYankeeMarshal thanks for your help. They are very light surface scratches. So how should I do it? which grit sand paper for light scratches? by the way, your condition caramel video is hilarious! thanks

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@passionforguns You could start with just the synthetic steel wool with some gun oil on it. if that didn't work go to the 600 grit paper.

PS: It is "butterscotch" not caramel. :)

[Le78753]

how long does the polish typicaly last before you have to re-polish??

[daoSabertricking]

how cam you protect the polish or seal it? Like with carwax or something?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@daoSabertricking You don't need to seal stainless. Just a light coat of oil and you are fine.

[daoSabertricking]

@TheYankeeMarshal ah ok I just thought I would have because the parts I want to polish will be handled alot ... :)

[ViolentEncounter]

that is a beautiful polish, rivals that of the chrome on my hog. Maybe i polish the ruger security six?

[Jtafoya89]

Does flitz do the same.

[artsfoundry]

Yankee Marshal,

question... i plan to pick up an old Ruger Blackhawk, .357 and it is blued, can I take the blue off and shine it up. I watched you video on the revolver that you polished with the Mother's Mag polish.

Thanks,

Rob

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@artsfoundry You could, but it would rust pretty fast since it is carbon steel.

[artsfoundry]

@TheYankeeMarshal

Thanks for the tip.

[artsfoundry]

@TheYankeeMarshal thanks for the info, switched to the SS version Blackhawk they had, and after further discussion with them they suggested a shorter barrel for me anyway.

[eleflar1]

Zen, Man.

[bello787878]

Dremel and cotton wheel with mothers is the easiest

[alexcubanplayer]

Hey Yankee, great video, I just got an anaconda, it has a faint drag line on the cylinder, I see that non of your revolvers have it, do u know how to get rid of that line, I hate marks and visible lines like that on my revolvers, when i slide my finger across the line, it feels kind of deep so I dont know if the method on this video would get rid of it....

[cooldog60]

You did a great job on that,.Been polishing my revolver for 2 weeks about an hour a day. Still no where near the shine you have.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@cooldog60 I guess I just have more developed forearm muscles. :)

[SpnknMyMunky]

what would happen if u used this polish on a blued stainless gun

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@SpnknMyMunky you may just end up with a plain old steel gun.

[alexcubanplayer]

Great video!, Im thinking of polishing the barrel on my sig p226 elite cause the blueing is coming off and it looks ugly, will this product work for that as well?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@alexcubanplayer then you need to check out my video on polishing up the barrel on my SIG P290.

[prettyboy1970]

Very informative video and beautiful result. Thanks for posting; I've always wondered how this was done. Now I'm going to go spruce up my colt 1911 and Beretta cougar, both stainless.

[23mrcowboys]

i was thinking about doing this to my sp101 ,wish i could just send it to you haah

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@23mrcowboys you can send it to me. I do not mind. now getting me to send it back might be an issue.

[23mrcowboys]

@TheYankeeMarshal now if i just do the barrel on my lc9 can i just use the dremel with the polishing wheel and some mothers or do i need to sand the blueing off first?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@23mrcowboys what is the LC9 barrel made from?

[23mrcowboys]

@TheYankeeMarshal um i dunno, lol, its blued now, i magine steel is underneath,

[52krypton]

The easiest way to polish stainless, is to polish with stainless rouge, try it

[MagRes50Cal]

thanks for the video. today i purchased the same polish you have along with the much more expensive mothers billet metal polish. i recently purchased a smith and wesson .500 with the 8 3/8 inch barrel as a substitute carry piece while my desert eagle is off getting reworked. the stock stainless finish looks boring. ill be spending a few days rubbing the new one down. this was helpful. :D

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@MagRes50Cal glad you found it helpful. Don't rub your gun too much. You will go blind. :)

[jesseparedes]

38 detective spec. Snub nose I got the same strap

[cooldog60]

How long will the shine last?



[ak47bobby]

THANKS FOR THE VIDEO! I JUST POLISHED OUT MY SMITH AND WESSON MODEL 65-1 AND EVERYBODY THAT LOOKS AT IT SAY MAN THATS A NICE NICKLE FINISH!! KEEP THE VID'S COMING!!

[hammerogod]

If I wasn't the laziest S.O.B. on the planet.

I have plenty of old t-shirts.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@hammerogod th good thing about this technique is that even the laziest person can do it while sitting on the couch watching TV. I am proof of that. :)

[hammerogod]

@TheYankeeMarshal

Believe it or not...

A couple of minutes after I watched your video I pulled out one of my guns and some jeweler's rouge and tested your theory.

Jeweler's Rouge is not the perfect product for this so I think I may try some Mother's when I can get to the store and buy some.

BUT..The gun already looks 100% better.

Even my lazy ass can have good looking handguns.

Maybe I can talk my GF into....well...never mind.

(I mean, she sits and watches Army Wives so why not rub my gun?)

[Fatmizzle2009]

This is a great video. Thanks

[FaganRoberts]

Thank you for this presentation. I may try this on my S&W Md. 63.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@FaganRoberts what have you got to loose?

[bigdaddyitalia22]

O ya...top gear

Nice job I like the finish and I agree ppl should take more pride and spend more time with putting the hand touch to things

[250rapid]

Why not use a BUFFING POLISHING WHEEL installed on a bench grinder instead of rubbing and rubbing by hand for 15 minutes a hundred time?...I'm sure the polishing wheel will do the same (or better) job with the same results and in less time. You probably might need some "elbow grease" for those hard to reach small areas but that will be it. Well, just my question and personal opinion.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@250rapid the main reason is the risk of damaging the surface. Any polishing tool that spins at high speed can marr the surface. Especially if the wheel become contaminated with residue from the polishing. It may not be that noticeable but hold the gun up to the light and look at the spider web like marks. There is also the risk of overworking a surface. Hand polishing is relaxing and eliminates all the risk of retexturing.

[Mrcaffinebean]

@250rapid The bigger reason for not using a buffing wheel is the little fiber from the wheel embed them in the gun and it's a pain. You Would have to break down the gun to prevent from polishing areas like the hammer. Then throughly clean the entire thing. That said I find that a buffing wheel leaves a better finish.

[Glockster42]

I like that. Nice job!

[CTKTMRIDER]

KUDOS to you Brother! That little Pony is going to pair up nicely with your Det.Special!

[mrblisterfist]

thanks for the vid! :)

[humans4targets2]

Man that came out awesome, good video

[jerseydevildog]

LOL, it's close enough to mirror. Cool, Im going to the car wash box right now...............L&B

[MrCleanerNash]

Very informative as always...About how long does the shine last for you both with and without use? Thanks for sharing!

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@MrCleanerNash the shine is pretty much permanent until you intentionally remove it.

[KrazyCash]

Very nice looking piece. But I think if I had Top Gear on my tv I wouldn't be able to pay attention to what I was doing haha!

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@KrazyCash That is the good thing about this. The work is so mindless and repetative that you do not need to pay attention to it.

[GARYMANDIEVAN]

Very nice I like that polish look on that revolver

[JGguns1]

Makes me want to go pick up a old smith an go to town. The colt looks great!

[DonSean]

I just so happen to polish a barrel of mine today with Mothers, I did it by hand as well came out great. Your revolver will look like a million bucks after all is said and done. Thanks for the vids.

[GREY1551]

Outstandingly informative video as always! Thank you for sharing. BTW I will never be able to look at your forearms the same again! lol

[TheLawson1986]

Great Video Alot of info i will use in future projects Next should be how to remove blue from a barrel ha look foward to more vid's