kimo 0 Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 This may be a really dumb question, but could you polish the bolt by dropping it into a tumbler used for cleaning and polishing shell casings? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 I'm no expert on polishing a bolt, nor case tumblers......... But seeing as how there's specific areas on the bolt that get polished, I'm not sure that it tumbling around aimlessly will get the job done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulyski 2,227 Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 (edited) I'm no expert on polishing a bolt, nor case tumblers......... But seeing as how there's specific areas on the bolt that get polished, I'm not sure that it tumbling around aimlessly will get the job done. It wouldn't profile it. ETA; Toss it in for a day or two & post pics of how it turns out... Edited November 13, 2010 by Paulyski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 Don't do it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stansplace 414 Posted November 14, 2010 Report Share Posted November 14, 2010 I'm no expert on polishing a bolt, nor case tumblers......... But seeing as how there's specific areas on the bolt that get polished, I'm not sure that it tumbling around aimlessly will get the job done. It wouldn't profile it. ETA; Toss it in for a day or two & post pics of how it turns out... FAIL......... One for thinking of doing it and one for encouraging it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AJ Dual 43 Posted November 14, 2010 Report Share Posted November 14, 2010 Also, walnut or corncob media as used to tumble brass would take an eternity to do much to high grade steel like a bolt. You'd need ball bearings or ceramic stones to get anywhere. And as others above mentioned, you'd get no control over what was being polished, or by how much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kimo 0 Posted November 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2010 since the polishing media is so forgiving, what would be the down side? The whole bolt gets polished. Does it affect tolerances or something? Does it raise the possibility of gumming up the action or something? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AJ Dual 43 Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 Honestly, unless you added some kind of grit, or harder media, I don't think brass polishing media would do anything to the steel bolt but clean it very well. I don't think it would even polish the steel unless you ran it for weeks on end. I don't think it would be a contamination or gumming problem though, since any reloader is trusting the reliability of his bras's primer pockets and flash holes to the tumbler too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 I don't think that's a dumb question.......... or idea. I'd be interested in the outcome, but I'm not going to try it since mine is already done. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Honestly, unless you added some kind of grit, or harder media, I don't think brass polishing media would do anything to the steel bolt but clean it very well. I don't think it would even polish the steel unless you ran it for weeks on end. I don't think it would be a contamination or gumming problem though, since any reloader is trusting the reliability of his bras's primer pockets and flash holes to the tumbler too. +1. Besides the fact that it would probably take forever to make a difference in the bolt.......it still wouldn't give the detailed profile that people do to their bolts to increase performance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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