While I love my Smitty wheelguns, this 686 is starting to be a pain in the neck with its stainless steel finish. It came in about 90% condition from the dealer, and with a little tweaking and elbow grease it's looking much better. But even after working some Mother's in several times (after each range session and after wipedown with Otis cleaner) I find the finish just doesn't have that gleam that, say, my Model 37 S&W has on its finish.

 

Any ideas on another polish, or any suggestions on how I can get to see my ugly face in its finish would be appreciated.

 

Scott In Bayonne

Iv transfer a bunch if 686's and ill tell ya they do look used even though they are brand new

 

Not sure what u can do to polish it up

Flitz worked ok. Simichrome worked better on my satin finish 686. I am polishing it up slowly. I like shiny... a lot.

 

C

now you made me look at mine. I too use Flitz and/or mother's mag & aluminum polish and I think the gun itself looks pretty good, but def not chrome-like. The hammer & trigger being off-color may take away a little from the rest of the gun, but wouldn't that be the same on all the SS smiths? I also feel lead removal cloth works easier than polish on the front of the cylinder to remove the burn & lead. -Michael

I noticed the same on my used piece. The cylinder needs more attention. I haven't tried anything other than cleaner yet, but plan to pick up some Flitz soon.

Go to your favorite auto parts store and pick up a jar of blue magic. Same stuff as Flitz at a fraction of the price. Use a microfiber chamois rag and rub until the rag turns black. I've been using this on my 686 and it works beautifully.

Thanks a million, guys. Some good suggestions there that I plan to use over the next day or two.

 

Regards,

 

Scott In Bayonne

I polished mine up with a buffing pad on the dremel and stainless steel polish, yes hit a good marine store and pick up some stainless polish..

 

My daughter and i shot mine tonight so it is going to need a cleaning..

Go to your favorite auto parts store and pick up a jar of blue magic. Same stuff as Flitz at a fraction of the price. Use a microfiber chamois rag and rub until the rag turns black. I've been using this on my 686 and it works beautifully.

Nice! I've got that on a shelf for my weekend car. I'll try it this weekend after "Maggie's" bath. ;-)

Thanks a million, guys. Some good suggestions there that I plan to use over the next day or two.

 

Regards,

 

Scott In Bayonne

 

Once you get it polished up, a light coat of regular old paste wax will keep it from getting ginged up too badly..oh, and Lead-Out Cloths, along with Shooters Choice lead remover gel will be your friend...one of the things going through he Academy with a stainless revolver taught me. Our Armorer whe I got hired taught me the paste wax trick. Our 870's were almost 15 years old when i got hired, and they looked new. EVERY time one came in, it was cleaned and a light coat of wax went on it.

Buy a 357 in Nickel.

 

Don't use too much abrasive material on the cylinder face. You don't want to be opening up the cylinder/forcing cone gap more than you would by just shooting the gun. Basically you are just simulating accelerated wear when you polish that.

Got the Blue Magic and Lead Out cloths in, and will be giving them a try. Thanks, guys.

 

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