polishing a barrell

[StrykerDM]

I've seen some people have polished the barrel of their RIAs...I'm a newb when it comes to metalworking and such, but how do you go about polishing it? Do you just get a dremel with some polish and sandpaper? Another thing is, will it negatively effect the barrel in any way, such as making it more likely to rust?

[niemi24s]

What type of finish does the the barrel have now?

[StrykerDM]

Its an RIA compact...I'm assuming the barrel is parkerized or blued like the rest of the gun since its black in color...Its already started to wear down to shiny metal just from my dry fire practice and I haven't even fired it yet...any idea how a metalworking newb can polish it up nice and pretty? should I just buy a good dremel?

[Hawkmoon]

Its an RIA compact...I'm assuming the barrel is parkerized or blued like the rest of the gun since its black in color...Its already started to wear down to shiny metal just from my dry fire practice and I haven't even fired it yet...any idea how a metalworking newb can polish it up nice and pretty? should I just buy a good dremel?
Yikes! :scared:

NO! on the dreaded Dremel.

Go to a good hardware store and get some emery cloth. Usually for polishing metals you would start with a coarse grit, but the barrel hood should already be fairly smooth under the finish so I think you can skip that step. Start with medium grit, get some fine grit, and if you want a really mirror finish get some "crocus cloth" for the final polish.

Take the barrel out of the pistol and clamp it gently in a bench vise between a couple of blocks of soft wood (pine = good, oak = ungood). Cut a strip of emery cloth about an inch wide, drape it over the barrel hood, and pull it back and forth like you do with a cloth for polishing shoes.

[niemi24s]

If it's blued, chemical blueing removers are available after which successively finer grits of silicon carbide (wet or dry) abrasive papers could be used. I'd start with 320 or 400 grit paper, then switch to 600, 1000, etc., until you get the finish you like.

If it's parkerized, I don't know if there is a chemical remover. If there is, Brownells would certainly have it.

No need to get a Dremel just for this.

Bear in mind, after polishing it up nice it won't stay that way long - what with the back and forth motion of the bushing. If it was my gun, I wouldn't bother with it. It is, after all, a gun - made to be used. Fair wear & tear is part of it's life. If you want the barrel to always shine like a new dime, polish it up, lock the slide back, oil it up good - and don't use it.

[doctruptwn]

Stryker-- I've got one of those polished Barrels you refer too.

To remove the park finish you can use the blue remover and some 0000 stele wool. You will end up with a sand blasted looking finish, (light grey color) and Wet dry from there.

If you have a bench grinder, I bought a Fibratex, 6" Carborundum polishing wheel at my local tool supply store. It is a felt wheel with an abrasive in the material. they come in medium and fine. I have the fine. It will polish the barrel to an almost chrome like finish. Use gentle pressure and take you time as the metal gets hot quickly.

[larryh1108]

Some of us like the look of a polished barrel and enjoy doing it. It takes me about 1 hour per barrel inch. A 15 minute touch up after each range session takes care of the marks from the session and you can see how your gun is functioning by the tell tale marks from shooting.

http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/originaltop.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/originaltop.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/donewholetop1.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/originalright.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/doneleft1.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/donebottom1.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/done45acp3.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o435/larryh1108/CCW/barrels/done45acp3.jpg