I have a stainless rifle that is too shiny for my taste. I'd like to dull it up a bit. How expensive is it to have an action and barrel sandblasted? I just want a matte finish, so I may want it blasted with walnut shell etc.. instead of sand. What media do you think would produce the finish I'm looking for? Would a wire brush or emery cloth produce an acceptable (uniform) finish?

I've used glassbeads at about 100PSI, it does a great job. Chances are you know somebody with an air compressor. If you do, glassbeads run about $10 for a 10lb box and the hose and nossle set up is about $6-$7 at Harbor Frieght. It's not a hard job to do. Just wear some long sleeves, gloves, googles and a hat. You'll need a shower when finished. HA!

Terry

I agree....glass beading is the thing to do.

I use 80 grit glass beads in a cabinet. Be warned that you will still have a silver surface and it will shine, even if you blast with gravel. If you just want the smooth finish knocked back to a rougher ifnish, then it is easy to do by blasting. To blast a bolt action rifle should not cost too much-$50 or so.

Elkhunter,
I sent a PM to you. I'm just down the road from you and if you want you can come over and use my sand blaster. Contact info is in the Private Message.
John

Bead blasting cost $28 for my Hart SS barrel. But it was done to give the paint some tooth.

If you have 'bubba' do it, make sure he uses glass or other non-metallic material. We have has problems with some of the common industrial blasting media...it may contain iron and/or slag, which when embedded in stainless will cause rust spots in VERY short order...

Brushed finishes (sandpaper or wire wheel) are hard to apply uniformly to small round material. If someone knows what they are doing, it can be done...but we have a specialty shop do it for sheet metal panels and such...and they are well equipped for such endeavors. Don't try it on your wire wheel or hand grinder at home without a lot of practice! (SS tubing works well for practice if you are so inclined).

blast the hell out of it..

or put it in a lathe, spin it slow, and hit it with a stainless wire brush in an anglegrinder...


then (billy told me this) put it out in the hot sun for a couple hours and paint it with BBQ grill flat black..

jeffe

Jeffe,
I heard if you coated it with South Texas Sam's Barbeque sauce it will actually blue a stainless rifle. Don't get any on the stock finish, it will take it off but the wood will taste good.

Chic,
you gotta be really careful with the BBQ sauce... if you don't shake it in a paint mixer to get it even it could pit in places...


nitril gloves only.. slap melts latex...

get it on wood? LMAO

jeffe