Removing Rollmarks...
 

Here is a bit of an exclusive for COTEP and one of my other local sites... before I post this little how-to on some of the other sites...

A fairly common question... how do you take the roll marks off a slide.

The answer... lots of time...

Start with a granite surface block with good, quality sand paper (3M) of different grits.

Here is the beginning of the slide, brand new Carbon Govt from Caspian...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_G...2011.22.39.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_G...2011.22.52.jpg

Then, after a lot of time, and several sheets of 150 grit sand paper, progress begins to show... movement is forward and backward in a straight line...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_G...2013.09.36.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_G...2012.48.41.jpg

Finally, almost all traces of the roll marks are removed with the 150...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.19.15.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.07.59.jpg

After the 150, progress to the higher grits as high as you feel like going...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.53.28.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.53.47.jpg

I progressed up to a well worn sheet of 1200 grit...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.25.44.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.26.53.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_G...2014.27.39.jpg

The work is simple, but it takes time, lots of it. Caspian roll marks are not very deep, but the above work is about 3 hours.

Questions, comments, critiques and suggestions welcome.

This needs to be stickied!

I don't have the guts to try that yet, but your post makes me think that maybe I can do it. Do you run the sandpaper in only one direction or both?

Straight back and forth, trying to keep it in a straight line. You can see I have a little bit of arching, but it will be okay because this slide is destined for Cerakote.

BTW: For anybody who hasn't realized it yet, I am Butters on the other forum.

I will take some better pictures later, the cell phone pictures really don't do it justice. :)

It IS easy, just take your time, change your paper a lot, and it is imperative that you have a granite block or some sort of certified-flat surface.

And I thought you were going to turn our to be a spammer. :eek: Boy was I wrong, Your account is now upgraded to a full COTEP member.

great write up Butters. I did one with files, then sandpaper.....and I dont think it saved any more time than using all sandpaper lol. In fact, all paper on a flat surface will have more control than filing.
Before, then filed:
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._1737089_n.jpg
sanded:
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4759414_n.jpg
My file and sanding surface:
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3811547_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7734872_n.jpg

WOW! That is amazing. I have a question, do you sand with the slide on stone or stone on slide?

LOL, well, I wouldn't say anything I post is worth anymore than you paid for it, LOL, but I don't think I'm a spammer!

Looks good! Ill comment further when I can see the pics on my PC.

No no, slide moves on the stone. :)

Trax. I have to agree with everyone else. That is a great post. I like the way you showed it through the process and then the final product so clearly. Thank you for it! Welcome to COTEP and .org! :cool:

Now if I only could get up the nerve to do that to my Kimber, i could remove all the unwanted names!!!:D









Noel

Great work........now how do you get that guys face off of the slide!!!!:D:D

Thanks for the info. I suspect this will give a flatter surface for high polish than any other method. No substitute for elbow grease. In retrospect, I probably would have used this method just because of the simplicity and reduced chance of screwing up with a power tool on my last project. I got lucky, but it didn't save any time or effort compared to the sandpaper method.

Very nice work Traxxis/Butters!

I really tried and wanted them gone on my Taurus but got weary with the effort involved and the lack of any real progress. I went with course emory cloth, medium emory, then 220, to 320, to 400. One of the things Im striving to control is the urge to keep going on something to the point of no return...knowing when to stop.

What I ended up with is the roll marks are now nicely subdued but still readable, I ended up quite pleased.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9/IMG_2700.jpg

Very nice write up.I don't have the guts to try this on any of my pistols yet,but maybe once they get scratched up some my courage will pick up!I really dislike some of the larger roll marks.Maybe I'll start with the dremmel.:eek:

Heck...why limit yourself to a dremel. Go whole hog and lay your belt sander on its side. You can obliterate your slide really fast with that! :eek:

Randall

That's why my wife won't let me buy a belt sander! I once removed fingerprints with an orbital sander,don't ask.Seriously though,this has inspired me to tackle an idiot scratch that I put on my Gold Cup.

Just be sure to pull your slide before the sparks stop. :D