Sanding slide down to stainless? Easy or not?

lateforthesky · February 19th, 2006, 21:39

Hey guys. I've seen a few reviews where I've read of guys having a KSC Glock 17/18/19 etc. etc. And what they've done is ordered the metal slide kits that most of the Canadian retailers carry and then wet sanded them down and after the paint is starting to come off slowly keep switching to finer and finer grained sandpaper until you're left with a smooth and shiny stainless finish.

My question is, have any of you tried this, can it be done with just about any metal slide or only certain ones. And most importantly, it seems all easy from the reviews, but do you think realitistically this is something that an average person like me could do myself and do a reasonably good job of so it looks nice in the end or am I going to wind up with this patchy looking slide all scratched to shit in places?

The look of some of those stainless glocks I've seen is beautiful and I'd like to try it myself. Thanks a ton for your input.

Lisa · February 20th, 2006, 01:35

Well I haven't done it but I do know that it's not a quick job to make it look nice.

CDN_Stalker · February 20th, 2006, 10:20

As far as I know all metal slides are made out of aluminum. Use the sandpaper in the sink and with a bit of dishsoap and start sanding, making sure to keep flushing what gets sanded off. Start with say 320 or 400 grit, and just keep working at it til it becomes the way you like it.

Mercury0_0 · March 23rd, 2006, 23:37

I've done it to my Glock 18c and it turned out great.
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthr...806#post307806
I still have to put a coat of clear on it for protection. I aslo just finished giving it a polish with #0000 steel wool. It came out like a mirror. Very nice. It's dead easy and looks great.

Edit: The photos are before the steel wool polish. It looks much better now.

Stealth · March 24th, 2006, 00:06

Absolute pain in the ass to do it properly. If you seriously want a bling bling finish, then you have to work your way up to 2000 grit.

Shameless plug: If you have a G18c, msg me. I have a metal slide and outer barrel in need of serious sanding to make it look bling bling.

Oz · March 24th, 2006, 00:31

I havnt seen one done nice enough to like. They seem to always come out uneven and looking blah. If you want a silver slide, why not just buy one?

jmf3725 · March 24th, 2006, 09:25

Here's a link to MIA airsoft forums. Someone on there used a paint stripper and then buffed it to a shiny finish. No scratches or sanding, and even though it's not my style, it still looked good.
http://miairsoft.proboards70.com/ind...ead=1142311160

Gooseman · March 24th, 2006, 11:27

I've sanded down several slides in the past and as previously mentioned, start with a higher grit sandpaper like 120 (to remove the hard outer coating which is USUALLY anodized layer), and then move down to around 400. After 400, switch to mild steel wool and it should look wicked.

Kimbo · March 24th, 2006, 12:32

I've done it as well. Wet sand with 80,then 200, then 400. At the end hit it with a polishing wheel on a grinder (cost about 8 bux, 3 more for rubbing compound) and you will get the finish below. Takes about 4 hours from start to finish.

Notice camera reflection in the slide.

rat · March 24th, 2006, 13:12

very nicely done pivot! :cheers:

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February 19th, 2006, 21:39	#1
lateforthesky Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba	Sanding slide down to stainless? Easy or not? Hey guys. I've seen a few reviews where I've read of guys having a KSC Glock 17/18/19 etc. etc. And what they've done is ordered the metal slide kits that most of the Canadian retailers carry and then wet sanded them down and after the paint is starting to come off slowly keep switching to finer and finer grained sandpaper until you're left with a smooth and shiny stainless finish. My question is, have any of you tried this, can it be done with just about any metal slide or only certain ones. And most importantly, it seems all easy from the reviews, but do you think realitistically this is something that an average person like me could do myself and do a reasonably good job of so it looks nice in the end or am I going to wind up with this patchy looking slide all scratched to shit in places? The look of some of those stainless glocks I've seen is beautiful and I'd like to try it myself. Thanks a ton for your input.

February 20th, 2006, 01:35	#2
Lisa Looking for form T-whatev Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Trenton	Well I haven't done it but I do know that it's not a quick job to make it look nice. __________________ May you live in interesting times. ASCMART, your smart choice

February 20th, 2006, 10:20	#3
CDN_Stalker Official ASC Bladesmith Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ont.	As far as I know all metal slides are made out of aluminum. Use the sandpaper in the sink and with a bit of dishsoap and start sanding, making sure to keep flushing what gets sanded off. Start with say 320 or 400 grit, and just keep working at it til it becomes the way you like it. __________________ STKR Knives http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STK...17036668380871

March 23rd, 2006, 23:37	#4
Mercury0_0 Trader rating Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Vancouver	I've done it to my Glock 18c and it turned out great. http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthr...806#post307806 I still have to put a coat of clear on it for protection. I aslo just finished giving it a polish with #0000 steel wool. It came out like a mirror. Very nice. It's dead easy and looks great. Edit: The photos are before the steel wool polish. It looks much better now.

March 24th, 2006, 00:06	#5
Stealth Mr. Silencer Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto	Absolute pain in the ass to do it properly. If you seriously want a bling bling finish, then you have to work your way up to 2000 grit. Shameless plug: If you have a G18c, msg me. I have a metal slide and outer barrel in need of serious sanding to make it look bling bling.

March 24th, 2006, 00:31	#6
Oz Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver	I havnt seen one done nice enough to like. They seem to always come out uneven and looking blah. If you want a silver slide, why not just buy one?

March 24th, 2006, 09:25	#7
jmf3725 Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, United States	Here's a link to MIA airsoft forums. Someone on there used a paint stripper and then buffed it to a shiny finish. No scratches or sanding, and even though it's not my style, it still looked good. http://miairsoft.proboards70.com/ind...ead=1142311160

March 24th, 2006, 11:27	#8
Gooseman Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: if u dont like my sidewalk, get off my driving	I've sanded down several slides in the past and as previously mentioned, start with a higher grit sandpaper like 120 (to remove the hard outer coating which is USUALLY anodized layer), and then move down to around 400. After 400, switch to mild steel wool and it should look wicked.

March 24th, 2006, 12:32	#9
Kimbo formerly pivot Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Calgary	I've done it as well. Wet sand with 80,then 200, then 400. At the end hit it with a polishing wheel on a grinder (cost about 8 bux, 3 more for rubbing compound) and you will get the finish below. Takes about 4 hours from start to finish. Notice camera reflection in the slide.

March 24th, 2006, 13:12	#10
rat Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montreal, PQ	very nicely done pivot! :cheers:

Sanding slide down to stainless? Easy or not?

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