Removing a bead blast finish

BigWaylon

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Say I had a stainless barrel that had been bead blasted. Is there a fairly easy way to polish it up so it’s shiny again?
 
I wouldnt stop at 1000 grit though. I’d probably go 1000 1500 2000, then 3000. Get you an air die grinder with a buffing wheel in it and some polishing compound after you do some sanding.
 
Seriously.....a lathe, or drill press and some sandpaper....very carefully that is.
 
I have a S&W Model 66 that was finish challenged and I had it bead blasted. It looks much better but I've been thinking maybe a little time in a vibratory tumbler will help it a bit more. Whatcha think, @BatteryOaksBilly ?
 
I have a S&W Model 66 that was finish challenged and I had it bead blasted. It looks much better but I've been thinking maybe a little time in a vibratory tumbler will help it a bit more. Whatcha think, @BatteryOaksBilly ?

He thinks you're lazy and laughs at your AR and hollow points.

Oh, and you're too tall to be worth a poot.
 
If removing the barrel for a lathe or drill press isnt an option...... I did remove a bead blast finish on a revolver a while back.......it took some elbow grease like stated above. Bead blast finishes are fairly fine.......so you you could start with 600-800 grit paper, working finer....1000, 1500, 2000 and then finish with a fine polish if desired. A 6 inch barrel tool a while..... It was close to a mirror finish when i got done......but it took some time.
 
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Do you have access to a lathe?
That was my first thought. It’s getting sent off to ECCO to be cut and rethreaded...so he could turn it while he had it.

Just didn’t know if there was something I could do. I imagine he’d do it for not much more than it would cost me in supplies.

Thanks to all for the ideas.
 
Be sure that it is what you want, stainless is pretty soft and a mirror finish is easily damaged.
 
Be sure that it is what you want, stainless is pretty soft and a mirror finish is easily damaged.
It’ll be a short barrel in an AR-45, completely tucked inside the handguard.

I need a shiny finish so I can use this. :D

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I would try jeweler's rouge and a buffing wheel before touching it with any type if sandpaper. Or cerakote
 
I found the cheapest and easiest solution...have the upper show up with a stainless barrel that hasn’t been bead blasted. It’s shiny as can be. :cool:
 
I found the cheapest and easiest solution...have the upper show up with a stainless barrel that hasn’t been bead blasted. It’s shiny as can be. :cool:
This is true.

But we polished the crap out of some bead blasted SS parts for cars and they ended up lookin like chrome. Of course afterward we were all wearing black face like Virginia's govnah
 
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