Introduction to Metal Preparation (3 of 7) outlines the steps needed to do a quality metal preparation job on your own gun. Not just the actual steps in polishing, but the first steps you need to know in order to do a quality job. The video also shows the various finishes used by the manufacturers on their original parts, giving you a complete set of guidelines to follow so you can do a professional job yourself and save money. Most importantly, it will give you the satisfaction of doing a quality job, yourself.
For convenience we’ve divided the original videotape into the following sections, which you can navigate to using the following links:
- Restoration Concepts
- Part 1: Tools & Tips
- Part 2: Screws (currently viewing)
- Part 3: Disassembly
- Part 4: Polishing
- Part 5: Packaging
- Final Thoughts & Credits
Episode Notes:
You will need:
- Set of hollow ground screwdriver bits
- Or individual hollow ground screwdrivers
Many gun manufacturers use screws uncommon to hardware stores. Guard against damaging the screws while working on your firearm.
It is often difficult to replace damaged screws, but sometimes they can be repaired. So save those screws!
Screwdriver bits that are too short, too narrow and too thin will damage screw heads.
Head Repair
You will need:
- Pin vise
- Ball peen hammer with polished face
- Slot file
- Sandpaper
It is possible to repair screw heads that are not too badly damaged by gently hammering the raised burrs flat, filing the slot and polishing the head.
- Chuck the screw into a pin vise to protect the threads.
- Clamp the pin vise in jaws of a large vise to hold it while it is being worked on.
- Peen the screw head until all burrs are flattened out.
- Clean up the slot with a slot file.
- Polish head surface smooth with 240 grit sandpaper.
- Polish in original direction and grit.
Thanks for watching! Feel free to use the comments below for thoughts and questions.
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Great video on proper metal preparation etc. Has helped me quite a bit on some of my personal projects. Thanks.