Polished barrel?

[Acasper708]

Anyone try polishing their barrel?
I ran out into the garage and hit the barrel a little with my buffing wheel. The slide is super smooth on the barrel now.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/19/syhysepy.jpg
Should I bother doing the entire barrel?
I think the flat finish will help retain oil better. I just wanted to do the slide part cause its exposed and oil is easily rubbed off in that area.

[b4uqzme]

Looks great. I polish mine by hand but never took it that far. Betcha it looks good in the gun. More pics?

[jocko]

yup polish the entere barrel. it not only looks great but cleans easy. Idid ine 5 years ago with a dremel and polsihg sh!t. U did a more glossy looking job thanI did.

[Acasper708]

I got a bench grinder with a buffing wheel on it. I also have the different level compounds. I just did a quick buff on it to see how it looks. Give me a couple hours and ill have the hole thing done.
I'm stuck in the backyard making planter boxes with the wife right now.

[Acasper708]

Here's a half hrs worth of polishing.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/19/zypana9y.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/19/ymady2ud.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/19/usehemyp.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/19/sajurejy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/19/re9ezepe.jpg

My guide rod looked like bad before. Now it looks really bad.

[jocko]

u did an excellentjob, my compliments. Just sayin.

[Acasper708]

Thanks. I'll spend some more time really smoothing out some of the machine marks on it.
How well will the slide lock polish up?
I know it's cast so it might not shine up that well.

[Acasper708]

it's very easy to do this.
All I got is a cheap bench grinder with a 8" buffing wheel on it. I have black, red, and white polishing compound. You can pick it up at ace or other places. Black is more aggressive and white puts that mirror finish on it.
I'm always polishing stuff with it.
I like shiny metal!!

[yqtszhj]

That looks really nice.

I thought I would try polishing some parts on my CW45 as an experiment for smooth operating and feeding so I smoothed with 2000 grit paper and semi polished the following:
Barrel
feed ramp
Guide rod
Inside the slide
inside the Rails on the slide
Breech face
Extractor
Striker
inside the striker channel

Basically anywhere metal meets metal or metal meets bullet. I haven't been out to shoot it yet but operating the slide and even the trigger pull seems a lot smoother. Maybe I'll get to shoot it next week.

[Acasper708]

I'm tempted on doin the trigger assembly. I know it's smooth already but I'm curious how much better it could be?
I'm definitely gonna clean up the guide rod and touch up a few other things. I was extremely happy with it when I shot it the first time.
If I really wanted to I could polish the hole slide. But I don't think I want a blinged out gat!!

[jeepster09]

Good job!

[Cokeman]

I'm tempted on doin the trigger assembly. I know it's smooth already but I'm curious how much better it could be?
I'm definitely gonna clean up the guide rod and touch up a few other things. I was extremely happy with it when I shot it the first time.
If I really wanted to I could polish the hole slide. But I don't think I want a blinged out gat!!

What state are you in?

[b4uqzme]

Thanks for the pics...looks great!

[yqtszhj]

I'm tempted on doin the trigger assembly. I know it's smooth already but I'm curious how much better it could be?
I'm definitely gonna clean up the guide rod and touch up a few other things. I was extremely happy with it when I shot it the first time.
If I really wanted to I could polish the hole slide. But I don't think I want a blinged out gat!!

I think that you might get more out of polishing the striker and inside the striker hole. Mine with the slide off pulling the trigger was really smooth, but pulling back the striker when spraying in the striker clean out hole wasn't as smooth. After polishing the striker itself and inside the hole it was slicker than snot on a doorknob. Well that's just my experience anyway.

With all my guns it seems that the smoothness of the trigger is more important than the weight of the trigger pull.

[Acasper708]

Thanks ill try the stiker.

I'm just south of Chicago.

[JFootin]

I'm tempted on doin the trigger assembly. I know it's smooth already but I'm curious how much better it could be?
I'm definitely gonna clean up the guide rod and touch up a few other things. I was extremely happy with it when I shot it the first time.
If I really wanted to I could polish the hole slide. But I don't think I want a blinged out gat!!

You don't know what you are missing! :D

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/My%20Custom%20CM9/KahrCM9PolishedLSwMagandBullets.jpg

Everything is polished on this gun, and it operates as slick as it looks!

[Acasper708]

Now that is sexy!!

[CJB]

Devils advocate here....

Keep this in mind. The barrel is nickel plated for a reason. As far as I can tell, that reason is to help prohibit galling of barrel and slide as they interact with each other. When you polish the barrel, you're polishing (removing) the plating that is there in order to protect the metal from galling through the interaction of the two metals as they rub on each other. This sort of thing is not fully preventable through the use of lubricants alone.

[gunshinestateCW9]

You don't know what you are missing! :D

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/My%20Custom%20CM9/KahrCM9PolishedLSwMagandBullets.jpg

Everything is polished on this gun, and it operates as slick as it looks!

Woooooow! Looks pretty nice!

[Cokeman]

Thanks ill try the stiker.

I'm just south of Chicago.

I know a guy named Aaron Casper. I thought you might be him.

[Acasper708]

It's a stainless barrel right?
I wonder if the plating was only on the ramp and inside?
Cause obviously they polished that part, or its just the plating.
Or maybe they plated the entire thing and only polished the ramp and inside?
When it comes to polishing with a buffer and compounds, you really aren't removing much material.

But I'm guessing the nickel plating is just a easier and cheaper way to not have to polish.

[ParabellumJ]

I polished the barrel on my PM9 right from the word go, Looks great.



If I really wanted to I could polish the hole slide. But I don't think I want a blinged out gat!!

What's wrong with a blinged out gat?

8654

[CJB]

It's a stainless barrel right?
I wonder if the plating was only on the ramp and inside?
Cause obviously they polished that part, or its just the plating.
Or maybe they plated the entire thing and only polished the ramp and inside?
When it comes to polishing with a buffer and compounds, you really aren't removing much material.

But I'm guessing the nickel plating is just a easier and cheaper way to not have to polish.

To the best of my knowledge, the barrel is not stainless. Neither is the trigger, and neither is pin on the machined slide stops. The slide stop levers, and the mim slide stops appear to be stainless, as also are the covers at the back of the slide.

The entire barrel is plated. Its not uncommon to see plating flake off the feed ramp or off the chamber. Nickel plating won last too long in the bore.

[Bagstrap]

You don't know what you are missing! :D

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/My%20Custom%20CM9/KahrCM9PolishedLSwMagandBullets.jpg

Everything is polished on this gun, and it operates as slick as it looks!


Devils advocate here....

Keep this in mind. The barrel is nickel plated for a reason. As far as I can tell, that reason is to help prohibit galling of barrel and slide as they interact with each other. When you polish the barrel, you're polishing (removing) the plating that is there in order to protect the metal from galling through the interaction of the two metals as they rub on each other. This sort of thing is not fully preventable through the use of lubricants alone.

What about just polishing the exposed/slide area of the barrel? It looks so good but if it were to affect wear down the road I would give it a second thought?

[jocko]

ain't gonna wear down the road,

[Tyme49]

Beautiful job on that barrel! ... http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/ANI_GIFs/TINYs/Smiley_Tiny_Thumbup1.gif
__________________________________________

BTW, FWIW, I've thought on doing this on the barrel in my PM9 w/DLC black finish, ...

... but I'm more than satisfied with the stealthy look of this gun ... http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/ANI_GIFs/TINYs/Smiley_Tiny_Ninja_Assassin.gif ...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/IMAGES/Guns_etc/My_GunZ/Kahr_PM9_DLC_w-o_Highlights_zps0cf56d6f.png
__________________________________________

Basically, I'd rather not have any reflective surface that might give a hint (and a glint) ...

... of where I am - especially in low-light situations! ... http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/ANI_GIFs/TINYs/Smiley_Tiny_Sign_Busted.gif
__________________________________________

NB: On the other hand, I DO wonder IF the 'target acquisition' benefits of a Laser ... http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/ANI_GIFs/GORT_ANI_100_zps72c64f7e.gif ...

... might outweigh the 'Here-I-Am-OVER-HERE!' Factor! ... http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/ANI_GIFs/TINYs/Smiley_Tiny_Tomatod.gif


... which 'splains why I'm futzin' around w/one of these! ...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/GHGecko/IMAGES/Guns_etc/My_GunZ/9bccb44b-f1d1-4603-ac21-2827cf0a8ffc_zps7c80958e.jpg

[Planedude]

I think that you might get more out of polishing the striker and inside the striker hole. Mine with the slide off pulling the trigger was really smooth, but pulling back the striker when spraying in the striker clean out hole wasn't as smooth. After polishing the striker itself and inside the hole it was slicker than snot on a doorknob. Well that's just my experience anyway...

What tools/equipment did you use on the striker/striker channel? I was considering something like this but was not sure what would be the best stuff to use in such a tight spot.

Tutorial??

[Bagstrap]

it's very easy to do this.
All I got is a cheap bench grinder with a 8" buffing wheel on it. I have black, red, and white polishing compound. You can pick it up at ace or other places. Black is more aggressive and white puts that mirror finish on it.
I'm always polishing stuff with it.
I like shiny metal!!

OK, someone owes me some money. (Just kidding!) I saw this post, went and bought a 6" buffing wheel for my bench grinder and the white polishing compound. (I think the brand is called #7? It's in a white container) Polished the barrel and my mags. Just a little bit of elbow grease if you don't have a buffing wheel and you will be amazed with the compound and the shine after just a little bit of work. Not sure if I will go after the slide. I like the mix of shine with the slide and barrel. Caution: one you start polishing, its hard to stop!:D :D

[yqtszhj]

What tools/equipment did you use on the striker/striker channel? I was considering something like this but was not sure what would be the best stuff to use in such a tight spot.

Tutorial??

It turned out that the striker channel was just slightly larger than the plastic Bic Pen on my workbench. I then took some 1000 grit and made one wrap around the pen and went in and out, around and around inside. Then went up to 2000 grit to finish it off.

Used the same stuff on the breech face and everything else I polished. Everything else that I could get to with a cotton polishing bit I hit mothers mag polish and it's some kinda shiny.

[Acasper708]

I polished up some more stuff!
I polished the inside of the slide where there was some wear marks from the barrel.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/23/ujugeput.jpg
And shined up the firing pin. I also took a Qtip and put polishing compound on it then stuck it in a drill. It really shined up the firing pin passage.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/23/7ujavepy.jpg

[Planedude]

It turned out that the striker channel was just slightly larger than the plastic Bic Pen on my workbench. I then took some 1000 grit and made one wrap around the pen and went in and out, around and around inside. Then went up to 2000 grit to finish it off.

Used the same stuff on the breech face and everything else I polished. Everything else that I could get to with a cotton polishing bit I hit mothers mag polish and it's some kinda shiny.


Thanks, I was thinking this sort of work would be good when I inspected a friends PM9 while he was changing the striker spring. I shot the gun both ways and felt that while good the spring needed more ... Help?
Polishing the striker parts may be the answer.

[Kahr9mmGuy]

Did my CW9 barrel, whole barrel including chamber throat.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag15/Kahr9mmGuy/002_zpsf1daa3dc.jpg (http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/Kahr9mmGuy/media/002_zpsf1daa3dc.jpg.html)