Polishing blueing on Stevens 200s?

[mannyrock]

Dear Folks,

   I like the mechanics of the Stevens 200 bolt actions, but the flat, course, powder like, blue finish is pretty annoying.   

   If I bought one of these, is there any possibilty that I could hand polish the existing bluing (especially the barrel) to a little nicer finish, by buying a particular compound from Brownells, and usiing a buffing rag (and lots of elbow grease?

  I would not be looking for a smooth mirror finish, just a grade better than what is currently there.

   Thanks for any info.

Mannyrock

   

[trotterlg]

To get it right you really need to turn it in a lathe and polish it with emery cloth.  You may be able to do a passable job by just doing it by hand, but it would just take a gunsmith a couple of more minutes to polish it up before he put it in a Blueing tank.  LarryLarry

[woodchukhntr]

By the time you get thru polishing and blueing it you will have more in it than one of the better finished models and you will still have a Stevens 200.  I suggest selling it and getting a better finished model.  If all you want is a good economical shooter, keep it as is.

[mannyrock]

Dear Guys,

   I guess I have confused everyone. 

   No, I am not interested in reblueing it.  Just somewhat polishing up the existing blueing.

   As far as time goes, I am retired.  So, I have lots and lots of spare time.

   Any ideas?

Thanks, Mannyrock

[woodchukhntr]

You cannot just polish the blueing.  The blueing is a chemical reaction with the steel itself.  The metal has to be highly polished prior to blueing.  Your Stevens is not highly polished, so you cannot end up with shiney blueing without first polishing all of the metal and then having the gun blued.  I recently saw a gun that was hand polished and then blued.  It was beautiful , but the owner put a lot of time into it first and then had to have someone blue it.

[mannyrock]

Dear Guys,

  Well, maybe I am using the wrong word by saying polishing. Maybe I should say buffing?

  I have had two guns reblued, and in each instance, after the blueing process was complete, the gunsmith spent lots of time buffing them on a wheel, to bring the blue from a flat blue up to a bright mirror finish.

  Yes, I know that the underlying metal polish is very important.  But, hopefully even a gun like the Stevens 200 could be "buffed up" a little, so the blueing looked at least somewhat better?

Thanks for any info. (I don't have a buffing wheel. )

Mannyrock 

[Nessmuk#1]

Honestly I don't think so.  Maybe try wax?   At least it'll be reversible if not so good.  I'd have it cera-coated.  Looks ok and wears forever.

[Skunk]

Try polishing it up with some Flitz. It's non-abrasive and brings out the luster.

[fishmasty]

  Since you have time get a buffing wheel for your grinder with some polishing compound and start polishing. It will take a Loooong time. I would take some emory cloth and sand off all the old blueing, then wet sand it with emory cloth until you get All the little pits out of it untill the metal surface is super smooth and then polish the heck out of it. I use the little polishing wheels on my dremel (100 grit) you can get them on flea bay pretty cheap. And make it as smooth as glass. Polish untill you are satisfied with the finish. The more you polish it the better it will look. The prep work makes the finish.
   
          Cheers, Rick