best thing to make a polished slide?

[Cheezin 24/7]

I am getting a g19 but the kid did a terrible job painting the slide. SOOO what would be the best thing to use to get the paint off for a nice polished look. Would sand paper or steel wool be too rough? If sand paper is ok what grade?

[Hayden]

Use sandpaper. Take out the internals, start with 80 grit, then 120 grit, then 320 grit, then 1500 grit, then 2000-3000 grit, wash the slide under warm water till clean, dry slide, then finish off with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish. If you do everything right it will come out perfect. Just go in straight lines horizontally on the whole slide. Never go vertically or in will mess everything up.

[govtcheez]

or, you can give the slide to Sam and he'll sandblast and powdercoat the slide for you for $20-25 (I think that's the price). I think he said that he would get chrome/metallic colors soon.

[Jaberwaki]

You can skip the 80 and 120 grit. the anything in the 300 range will take the paint off just fine.

300ish to 800-1000 then 1500+ making sure to keep the sand paper wet then entire time.
Then finish with mothers.

Understand it takes HOURS to make sure its mirror smooth, dont rush it.

[Raven02TA]

You can skip the 80 and 120 grit. the anything in the 300 range will take the paint off just fine.

300ish to 800-1000 then 1500+ making sure to keep the sand paper wet then entire time.
Then finish with mothers.

Understand it takes HOURS to make sure its mirror smooth, dont rush it.

this is the proper way to do it. after the sanding process you will also have to use a dremel and a polishing compound on a buffing pad.

[DukeNukem]

I used...
- an aluminum safe paint and finish thinner. Gets 80% the job done quick (within minutes) and very clean
- steel wire pipe cleaner for scraping out barrel housings and bushings.
- Tooth brush or brass brush for getting around the sights and slide serrations
- Dremel with wire wheel for stripping slide rails.