SCRATCH REPAIR

[#1shooter]

HI,I AM A NEWBIE AND WANT TO SAY HELLO TO EVERY ONE. I HAVE A RUGER #1 STAINLESS AND WHILE RIDING INMY TRUCK I MADE A TURN AND THE RIFLE SLID ACROSS A PLASTIC CONSOLE BETWEEN THE BUCKET SEATS SCRATCHING OR MARRING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RECIEVER,MORE OF A MAR TO THE POLISHED FINISH,WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE GET THE RECIEVER BACK TO A HIGHLY POLISHED FINISH? THANKS

[gunnut69]

First, welcome to the board... Are you certain the metal was scratched?  I would clean the spot well, perhaps it's just some plastic that rubbed off on it..  It will need polishing if it truly is a scratch.  Where to start depends on how deep the scratch is.  I would try a bit of steel wool first(about 0000 grade).  This may remove the scratch.  If not it will have to be sanded out and if truly deep, draw filed then sanded out.  lastly the area will be sanded and polished to it's original sheen.  Most modern factory polishes seldom go past 400 or 600 grit..  Remember a shinier surface will look 'off' also..  Always use a backer block to keep the surface flat and avoid rounding off the edges..

[#1shooter]

hi ,the mar is really not deep at all as i can run my fingernail acrossthem and just baaaaaaaarlyfeel them , i did not know if steel wool or emery papaer or a polish of some sort would be the best,thanks craig

[gunnut69]

I'd use the steel wool with wd-40 or kerosene first.  If it's really minor the steel wool may burnish it away.  It sounds as if it's a minor scratch and only the mildest polishing methods are needed.  If the steel wool (0000) won't remove it, I'd switch to 600 grit wet-or-dry paper, used wet.  It should produce an acceptable shine..  I would not use paper coarser than 320 or 400.  If a higher shine is desired this type paper is available as fine as 1000 grit.  There are finer papers availabhle but too high a polish will stand out as badly as not fine enough..

[#1shooter]

HI ,I WILL TRY THE STEEL WOOL FIRST,THANKS,CRAIG

[#1shooter]

Hi I tried fine wool but it did not work I then tried a coarse grade intended for stripping and then followed up with the fine grade and that worked ,thanks :-)

[gunnut69]

Great!  You hit the idea right on the head, start gentle and get more aggressive as the steps fail..  Continue until you get the scratch out!..