barrel buffing

[guidom]

I'm in need of a wornout stainless steel rifle barrel. If you want to dispose of it i'll take it. The reason I'm in need of one is I need to practice polishing a barrel to mirror like finish. This is my first time polishing a barrel, and i don't want to start with a new one.

 

[ridgeway]

If you want a mirror finish, you will need to progressively sand from 400 up to 1200, then buff for the mirror shine.

What is your plan of attack in regards of spinning/sanding the barrel?

 

[guidom]

i plan on hand sanding, and i have a buffing machine to polish it.

 

[Larryh128]

Hand sanding is a long & tedious job. What you need is a barrel spinner if you intend to do more than 1 barrel. Basically a piece of aluminum tube with 2 brackets on it that can adjust up & down the tube holding in place with thumb screws. The brackets have live centers in them. Center the barrel & polish away at a 45 degree angle constantly moving from end to end. Makes a long job very short & nice. Takes a small investment & some machine time.

 

[deadwooddick]

What you need is a barrel spinner if you intend to do more than 1 barrel.… Makes a long job very short & nice. Takes a small investment & some machine time.

Touch base w/ Chad Dixon @ LongRiflesInc. He offers a well made spinner, at a reasonable price.

 

[ridgeway]

i plan on hand sanding, and i have a buffing machine to polish it.

Wow...I wouldn't practice first. Jump right in and start on the barrel you want to shine. I would use wet sand paper and progressively work from 400 up to 1200. You will have considerable time in it...its doable though.

I made my own spinner and use a Kalamazoo 1x42 belt sander. Using it to make a mirror shine is time consuming and a little tedious. 800 sanded finish is a happy medium for me.

 

[Larryh128]

A 1" belt sander will work, just remember to keep it moving or you'll put ridges in it. If you want mirror then you need to go to a muslin or felt wheel and very fine compound such as jewlers rouge.

 

[jsthntn247]

Get this kit http://www.cmlsupply.com/stainles-steel-polishing-kit-and-buffing-wheels.html

Use 400, 600, 1500 wet sandpaper first, polishing lengthwise with the barrel. Then get your drill and use one of the felt pads with the green bar in the kit. Then hand polish with a rag and mothers mag polish. You will be able to floss your teeth in it when finished, takes about 1.5 hours to do a barreled action.

 

[guidom]

thanks for all the advise guys. i will try it, but first i would like to try on a trash barrel. do any of you know where i could get one. i'm willing to pay a few bucks for one.

 

[Larryh128]

You don't need a barrel, grab a chunk of steel & practice.

 

[ridgeway]

Put a WTB ad in the classifieds, I'm sure there is someone willing to dump a scrap barrel.

 

[gotcha]

Check with some Gun Smiths in your area. You may be able to snag one before it becomes a tomato stake