Smoothing the Action

[nosaj750]

Thanks Schmeky your the man!!!! I recently purchased the spring kit and polished up everything that was obvious but now I'll have to revisit some areas you've pointed out that aren't so obvious...Great work.....

[e-mishka]

Great posts

[CAGLS]

Can't believe I haven't seen this. I have to remove some of the remaining grit on my SP-01 Shadow Target. I guess I've just been doing the basic polish job after now learning what I missed touching up, thanks David.

[Wogdog]

To get to the rear of the trigger bar, I have a modified dremel attachment.  I cut small narrow strips of sandpaper, then hold it on the dremel attachment with a very small o-ring.  Makes changing out the sandpaper strips a snap.  I'll post a pic of this little tool.

On the main trigger bar and exposed areas, I use 400/800/1000 and keep it wet with WD-40 (I buy WD-40 in the gallon can).  Also remember it's critical to alternate your sanding pattern, up-down, then side-to-side, but go lightly, not much pressure.  This alternating pattern will produce the desired level of polish quickly and efficiently. 

Lastly, I have a super fine polishing compound I use a small felt dremel wheel with for obtaining a glass like finish.  Polished metal is slow to rust since the pores of rough steel are essentially eliminated.  Just a light coat of lube will keep the polished parts rust free.

Are you using a rouge to polish or something else

Edit Note: HTML quote correction

[ThompsonCustom]

You know what we need is a trigger bar like the SVI 1911 trigger bow. Made from high quality tool steel and with balls bearings in it so it rides as smooth as butter. 

[mordakyblu]

If you don't want to use a dremel tool, try 3000 grit sand paper (I bought it at O Riley Auto Parts). That will put a nice shine polish on the parts too.

[Wogdog]

I used some .5 micron wet dry I got from a knife sharpener

[Weazel911]

Tag for future use..... Thanks for this excellent write up.

[1SOW]

You know what we need is a trigger bar like the SVI 1911 trigger bow. Made from high quality tool steel and with balls bearings in it so it rides as smooth as butter. 

+1
I thought about that too when polishing mine.  It's kind of a loose fit, with some variation right and left side.

[rtp]

Here's the trigger bar and disconnector as they look when installed in the pistol.  I estimate 85%+ of the friction in DA is right here, so taking extra time to smooth and polish in these areas will deliver great dividends.   The goal is to remove as little metal as possible and still acheive a a mirror finish.  Also, nothing beats the actual wearing in of the action, so I consider this as the foundation for an even smoother action in a short time frame.

I have also been testing a very high content moly grease that can actually lower the DA pull a few ounces by itself, so I add the moly in these critical areas when I do a final reassembly.

Are you still milling out the center of disconnectors?

[brewer00psd]

Would like to say thank you to all who have contributed.  I purchased a new SP-01 yesterday and am planning on taking it out to shoot tomorrow.  Did not care for how gritty the DA pull was.  Disassembled and polished everything except for the sear cage.  The difference is great for the minimal amount work I did and not disassembling the sear cage.  No more grit in DA.  I will do the sear work when my CGW parts get here after Christmas.   BTW, I bought my first hand gun just over a month ago and this one yesterday.  I am very new to all of this, but this thread and the one kneelingatlas did on Brian's page made it very straight forward and pretty easy.[emoji3]
Thanks again.
Matt

[cusco19]

where to buy the 3M aluminum oxide paper? walmart only carries the 150/220, and lowes has the 100/150/220. can i use a 3M wet/dry 800 or 1000 instead? and then using mother's metal polish with dremel felt wheel?

[brewer00psd]

I get mine from NAPA.  Ended up using 1000, 1500, and 2500.  Instantly polished once I hit it with the wheel and mothers.

[cntrydawwwg]

All I used was wet/dry 800, 1000, 1500 with some WD40 from the hardware store. Then polished with some Flitz with a Dremel.

[cusco19]

thanks guys.. i don't have any mother's mag polish at home, but i do have a 3M body repair rubbing compound fine cut. would that work as well?

Update: just did the polish work last night. used a bit of 800grit wet/dry first and then used 3M rubbing compound + dremel with polishing wheel. now silky smooth like baby's butt without worrying removing too much.