Ping JP
 

If you were going to do a little polish of light scratches on a stainless Smith revolver, would you use Flitz or Simichrome? What would you expect the difference to be between the two? Will either one polish shinier than the original matte finish?
I guess I could experiment on a hidden part of the grip frame or something...

A guy brought me a 686 today with more scratches than I'd ordinarily tolerate, but the price was too good to pass up.

Maybe even a Scotch Brite grey pad??

Flitz or Simichrome are going to leave a chrome look not a matte finish.

Try some 6000 grit with oil maybe.

good tip.. actually, I got this pistol so cheap I might just go over the whole thing and see how it looks with a chrome finish..., it's going to be a shooter anyhow.

Don't they wash the metal in an acid to make the matte finish? I'm not 100% sure.

Google should help. Try matte metal finishing or similar search.

800 grit to start, keeping it wet. Finish with 2000 grit automotive abrasive sponge, again keeping it wet. Grab a bottle of Mother's Mag polish and sit back in front of the television and rub it with a terry cloth polishing rag. Make sure to polish it all the same direction with each step up in grit...same with the Mother's. Semichrome works well, as does Fitz...but Mother's will do about the same for less money.

I've used this same technique to repair scratches on my Uncle's 686 in SS. His weren't super deep, so it only took about 6 hours by hand...don't cheat with a Dremel, as it will not be even.

I'm assuming whatever I do I'll have to do to the entire gun, right? Nothings going to match, or is it?

I would only hit the bad spots with the 600 grit, but finish the whole thing with the finer grits to blend it all together, then the entire gun with the Mother's. Take your time and don't be afraid to drop down a grit or three if needed to make it right. Like I said...avoid any mechanical aid in doing this, unless you know what you're doing and have the right equipment. It's far easier to screw it up with a machine than it is doing it all by hand.