Light Scratch on stainless

[augdog]

I have A TC Contender in stainless with A light scratch on the frame.What product will work the best to remove.Should I use steel wool or A buffer?

 

[praff]

Anything you do to it will likey change the finish. A scotchbrite or 320 sandpaper to take scratch out then a beadblast to make everything uniform is about the only way it will look factory.

 

[Chance]

I have successfully used a tool called an air eraser. It is a miniature bead blasting tool that looks like an air brush. Is very controllable.

 

[churchmouse]

I have successfully used a tool called an air eraser. It is a miniature bead blasting tool that looks like an air brush. Is very controllable.

Interesting.
I do what praff stated.

 

[WhitleyStu]

The only images of TC contenders I found have a satin bead blasted finish. Best to send it in to have the factory match the finish. Second choice is to have a local gunsmith or business that specializes in metal blasting do the job.

 

[bwframe]

I used to tidy up light scratches in my bead blasted SS 1911's. Using a small (tooth brush sized) wire brush, I would tap the area with the end of the bristles. Not brushing, but tapping like a hammer. It peens the shiny scratched metal to blend with the bead blasted surrounding finish.

 

[Drail]

You can also lay a piece of 150 to 220 grit wet or dry sand paper over the scratched area and tap on the sandpaper with a nylon, wood or rawhide mallet and get a pretty close approximation of a bead blasted finish.

 

[churchmouse]

I have successfully used a tool called an air eraser. It is a miniature bead blasting tool that looks like an air brush. Is very controllable.

This has caught my interest. I have a friend that used to do glass etching that had a few of these.

 

[praff]

Interesting replies, a couple of which i haven’t tried.

 

[churchmouse]

Interesting replies, a couple of which i haven’t tried.

I have a decent blast cabinet with several different media. Pretty well covers this but the little Air Eraser is pretty cool.

 

[augdog]

Guys thanks for your advice

 

[Tomc1947]

A few months ago, I had a Model 60 in real rough shape. I had some stainless polish-Eagle One "Never Dull" wadding polish.
Worked wonders, made the gun look like new, but it did take a little bit of work.

 

[migunner]

You can also lay a piece of 150 to 220 grit wet or dry sand paper over the scratched area and tap on the sandpaper with a nylon, wood or rawhide mallet and get a pretty close approximation of a bead blasted finish.

I am very curious about this method. I now have a blast cabinet but I think the method has merit.

 

[Chance]

Yes, this is the same tool as can be used for etching glass. I last used it to restore the matt finish on the top of a NAA revolver while keeping the sides bright and shiny. I actually had to file a burr down and smooth it up prior to using the air eraser. Worked great.