tdelewis
Elite Cafe Member
How do the guns that I see in "The Engraver" get that mirror finish? It must be a very long painful job as I know you never put a buffer to any of this as it would damage the crisp edges. Are there any secrets to this?
Question: metal preperation
- Thread starter tdelewis
- Start date
Brian Marshall
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Elbow grease... combined with files, abrasive stones, abrasive papers, sticks and more elbow grease...
A few are privileged enough to have or have access to a surface grinder which can be utilized on the flats. A lathe can help with the rounds.
Brian
A few are privileged enough to have or have access to a surface grinder which can be utilized on the flats. A lathe can help with the rounds.
Brian
tdelewis
Elite Cafe Member
Thanks, that is what I thought. It is just a lot of painstaking work and very time consuming. Quality doesn't come quickly or easily.
Brian Marshall
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Not to worry, won't be long 'till there are robots to do this for you... along with cleaning your windows & shower stalls - as well as washing and detailing your car.
All while simultaneously preparing your meals and feeding the dogs!
And while you are awaiting that day - you can always try "outsourcing"?
B.
All while simultaneously preparing your meals and feeding the dogs!
And while you are awaiting that day - you can always try "outsourcing"?
B.
rmgreen
Elite Cafe Member
Like all things the level to which you take any part of this business depends on what is more important the hours you spend doing hand labor or the cost of high quality equipment doing the same job faster. The professional finisher does do a lot of hand work however there are tools such as reciprocation polisher's used to "reduce" the professional workers hand labor while maintain professional quality work. Surface grinders, tool grinders, lathes, reciprocating polisher and the various polishing media come at a very dear price. If the level of your business is less than 10 projects per year then hand labor is probably the only cost effective way. Better yet do not do polishing as it like all other hand labor. The learning curve is steep over years of practice. The very best way to get a professional job is send it to a professional and use your time to develop the primary skill you are most interested in. In the long run and resulting quality of workmanship this is the cheapest and easiest way to have the whole project reflective of "Best Work".
What's important is me is to polish all the gun parts by hand,no buffers all done by hand while keeping all edges sharp and no dished out screw or pin holes.I have two helpers on staff who do a very professional job.
J.J.
J.J.
dlilazteca
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
JJ
Is absolutely right.
Finishing is in a world of its own. Here is a quick look, while sanding always make sure your strokes remain flat, so you dont eat up any edges. As you can see the little things make all the difference, you will notice that my left hand is being used as a guide, its helping me keep my sanding strokes level and flat. Thats just the tip of the iceberg. In the next clip you see just how crisp the edge is. You just need to do it. Practice on some large nuts has several faces you can work with. Good luck.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRBURQiMKB/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRD_69CMOC/
GunEngraver.com Guns, Knives & More
Is absolutely right.
Finishing is in a world of its own. Here is a quick look, while sanding always make sure your strokes remain flat, so you dont eat up any edges. As you can see the little things make all the difference, you will notice that my left hand is being used as a guide, its helping me keep my sanding strokes level and flat. Thats just the tip of the iceberg. In the next clip you see just how crisp the edge is. You just need to do it. Practice on some large nuts has several faces you can work with. Good luck.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRBURQiMKB/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRD_69CMOC/
GunEngraver.com Guns, Knives & More
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Thierry Duguet
Elite Cafe Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2007
- Messages
- 359
I will argue the fact that mirror polish for firearm is less than desirable, in some case it can be detrimental and a wast of time if you are going to blue it. Bluing is an etching process by definition the technique will destroy the mirror finish it might also make the oxidation process more difficult. Firearms are not jewelries reflecting light is not desirable, a 400 grip is enough if you are going to blue the gun, 600 is as high as I will go if not. I will add that highly polish metal make it more difficult to look at engraving, how often have you seen good firearms (Boss, Purdey, Franchi, high grade Beretta, Perazzi, Galazan) mirror polish?
High glossy finish is often use to give a semblance of quality and luxury to firearms which can claim very little on their own.
Dlilazteca, I am sorry to say that should you want to demonstrate polishing you should try to do it right, no competent gunsmith would ever do it the way it is show. On a flat piece of metal the sand paper need to be apply evenly on the all surface, both hands need to be use to balance the supporting tool and to avoid "rounding" the edges, you do not guide the tool with your finger, the piece to be polish need to be position on a STABLE vise in such a way that your natural movement keep your tool in the appropriate direction. Polishing is done on a stable operatus not on one floating around, the final step of the operation is to "draw the line" how can you expect to be able to do so with something so unstable. As General Paton did say "Know what you do not know" and I will add if you do not know it learn it and in no case should you demonstrate the wrong way to do thing, it serve no one and is only be detrimental to the people who watch.
One last thing, engraver are demanding people, considering how few competent gunsmiths there are in the US one is better serve to do as much as the work for him/herself. Sending things away is tempting but it is most often inefficient because of the wast of time, the cost, and the lack of quality of the final product, I am responsible for the work being done in my name, in most case I will do it better myself and so will you if you take the time to learn.
High glossy finish is often use to give a semblance of quality and luxury to firearms which can claim very little on their own.
Dlilazteca, I am sorry to say that should you want to demonstrate polishing you should try to do it right, no competent gunsmith would ever do it the way it is show. On a flat piece of metal the sand paper need to be apply evenly on the all surface, both hands need to be use to balance the supporting tool and to avoid "rounding" the edges, you do not guide the tool with your finger, the piece to be polish need to be position on a STABLE vise in such a way that your natural movement keep your tool in the appropriate direction. Polishing is done on a stable operatus not on one floating around, the final step of the operation is to "draw the line" how can you expect to be able to do so with something so unstable. As General Paton did say "Know what you do not know" and I will add if you do not know it learn it and in no case should you demonstrate the wrong way to do thing, it serve no one and is only be detrimental to the people who watch.
One last thing, engraver are demanding people, considering how few competent gunsmiths there are in the US one is better serve to do as much as the work for him/herself. Sending things away is tempting but it is most often inefficient because of the wast of time, the cost, and the lack of quality of the final product, I am responsible for the work being done in my name, in most case I will do it better myself and so will you if you take the time to learn.
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dlilazteca
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Thierry,
Thanks for your input, will try that next time, have a piece of flat stone coming in that has a true flat surface for that same reason, there is more than one way to skin a cat tho, and you should have a look at some of Dubbers pieces, some have a high shine to them and he seems to be doing fine, remember its not what we like, want, or aprove. Its what the client dishes out money for, they want less they get less they want more they get more.
Works good for me, i can add metal die to it and it would be true and flat then im done, Maybe for a beginner it would be harder but you develop diffrent levels of skill as you go. But you are right with it being stable, that was a quick demonstration setup so i could show a client a quick video. But there are some curved surfaces on parts that require a different approach and each will find thier own way and what works for them. In the end the piece had a sharp crisp edge with true flat surfaces.
So yes get a bolt, place it in a stable vise anchored to something, and go at it, you will find what works for you and what doesn't, you can use both hands on a file or sandpaper, or not, just figure out what works for you, especially when it comes to those small pieces with multiple curved surfaces. To use both hands in such a small flat surface with larger strokes is not what i would do, does not work for me, larger flat surfaces, i would do them with longer strokes with two hands for sure, you make your own tools as you go. If you have a knife making friend you have a good supply of diffrent types of grits at your disposal.
Here is another i did, removed roll marks and surface is nice and flat, client loved it, its what counts in the end. https://www.instagram.com/p/_8HxheiMBI/
and polishing to a high luster is a must if you want your gold and other plating to stand out.
GunEngraver.com Guns, Knives & More
Thanks for your input, will try that next time, have a piece of flat stone coming in that has a true flat surface for that same reason, there is more than one way to skin a cat tho, and you should have a look at some of Dubbers pieces, some have a high shine to them and he seems to be doing fine, remember its not what we like, want, or aprove. Its what the client dishes out money for, they want less they get less they want more they get more.
Works good for me, i can add metal die to it and it would be true and flat then im done, Maybe for a beginner it would be harder but you develop diffrent levels of skill as you go. But you are right with it being stable, that was a quick demonstration setup so i could show a client a quick video. But there are some curved surfaces on parts that require a different approach and each will find thier own way and what works for them. In the end the piece had a sharp crisp edge with true flat surfaces.
So yes get a bolt, place it in a stable vise anchored to something, and go at it, you will find what works for you and what doesn't, you can use both hands on a file or sandpaper, or not, just figure out what works for you, especially when it comes to those small pieces with multiple curved surfaces. To use both hands in such a small flat surface with larger strokes is not what i would do, does not work for me, larger flat surfaces, i would do them with longer strokes with two hands for sure, you make your own tools as you go. If you have a knife making friend you have a good supply of diffrent types of grits at your disposal.
Here is another i did, removed roll marks and surface is nice and flat, client loved it, its what counts in the end. https://www.instagram.com/p/_8HxheiMBI/
and polishing to a high luster is a must if you want your gold and other plating to stand out.
GunEngraver.com Guns, Knives & More
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