[HansTLERL]

I have a question for the 1911 experts out there. I have a couple of Kimber stainless TLEs that I'm currently refinishing with gunkote. One is about ten years old and the other is brand new. The older one had a lot of dings nicks and scratches in the slide that I wanted to remove so I gently sanded the surfaces smooth again.

My concern is that now that I've sanded everything smooth again I've discovered that the weight is 10 grams less then the new slide. The new slide weighs 335 grams, the older slide now weighs 325 grams. Is this enough where I should be concerned with potential slide failure?

 

[EvolutionArmory]

No way Jose. You're good.

If you are going to spray it, have your parts blasted with aluminum oxide. The surface finish will turn out 100x better.

 

[Viper_29]

You can't compare two slides made 10 years apart.

 

[Corrigun]

I have a hard time believing you sanded 10 grams of stainless off by hand. That is two nickles worth of material!

 

[AZ Husker]

He never said "by hand". Maybe he gently sanded them with a belt sander. That is a lot of metal lost, but shouldn't affect your pistol.

 

[Red-5]

Plus, I do not see where the old slide was weighed before doing the sanding, so no one can be sure just how much was taken off.

Possibly the old slide weight 9.99 grams less than the new slide to start with.

 

[HansTLERL]

Belt sander, funny but no. I am currently refinishing and gun-kote'ing two Kimber TLEs, ones mine another is a friends. I'm actually gauging the weight off of a new Kimber TLE slide which weighed in at 335 grams. The other slide had a couple of gouges in it. Using EZE-Lap diamond Hone and Stone files and an aluminum sanding board with 220 grit paper I kept filing the surfaces down until it was smooth and flat again. The surface turned out great but with all of the effort it took to achieve the result, I got concerned and weighed the slides which freaked me out a little when it weighed in at 325 grams. I guess my OCD got the best of me. It was all on the surface nothing internal but my concern is in the strength now. That's like a 5% difference.

 

[HansTLERL]

I'm also going to try the aluminum oxide, I've noticed in the past that sand can be pretty aggressive.

 

[AZ Husker]

Glass bead blast to finish.

 

[BBBBill]

You have not even remotely removed too much. Stop worrying and get busy finishing.

 

[CWarner]

couple quarters more, you'd be in commander territory. ��

...like Bbbbill said, your good.

CW

 

[EvolutionArmory]

Belt sander, funny but no. I am currently refinishing and gun-kote'ing two Kimber TLEs, ones mine another is a friends. I'm actually gauging the weight off of a new Kimber TLE slide which weighed in at 335 grams. The other slide had a couple of gouges in it. Using EZE-Lap diamond Hone and Stone files and an aluminum sanding board with 220 grit paper I kept filing the surfaces down until it was smooth and flat again. The surface turned out great but with all of the effort it took to achieve the result, I got concerned and weighed the slides which freaked me out a little when it weighed in at 325 grams. I guess my OCD got the best of me. It was all on the surface nothing internal but my concern is in the strength now. That's like a 5% difference.

I removed the roll marks on that Kimber slide with a 6x48 belt sander layed flat. Colt flat belt sands their slide as well. With a steady hand, it's quite effective.

 

[HansTLERL]

I just wanted to thank you guys for all of the help and advice. Finally got it finished and back together.

Again Thanks