SKS Black to Silver bolt

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I have a very nice 1950 laminate stock (refurb) SKS with a Black bolt carrier. I really like the looks of the silver bolt models, and would like to change mine from black to silver. Are the Black bolts just silver ones painted, and if you strip the black paint off, and buff it out will it rust? Or is that all you have to do? Or is it different material, and if I wanted to make mine silver, would I have to buy a silver replacement bolt?
 
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I buffed mine out with the cloth wheel on the grinder with some compound...

came out perfect....

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I have a very nice 1950 laminate stock (refurb) SKS with a Black bolt carrier. I really like the looks of the silver bolt models, and would like to change mine from black to silver. Are the Black bolts just silver ones painted, and if you strip the black paint off, and buff it out will it rust? Or is that all you have to do? Or is it different material, and if I wanted to make mine silver, would I have to buy a silver replacement bolt?

Mine was painted.
Strip the paint off and for it to look nice you need to buff/polish it.
I did mine using a dremel tool(brass wheel brush, cloth wheel and cotton wheel), buffed and polish using (mothers: mag & aluminium polish). The polishing compound will protect the surface, or apply gun oil to exposed parts.

I also did a .410 received, looks awesome :D.
 
I used a wire wheel and the bolt carrier came out nice and shiny. I also did my m213 barrel at the same time.
Make sure you use a bronze wire wheel and you won't scratch the steel, only get the paint off. Polish off with compound on a buffing wheel and last step with muslin wheels for a mirror finish.
As with shooting, safety goggles all the way!
PP.
 
I have a very nice 1950 laminate stock (refurb) SKS with a Black bolt carrier. I really like the looks of the silver bolt models, and would like to change mine from black to silver. Are the Black bolts just silver ones painted, and if you strip the black paint off, and buff it out will it rust? Or is that all you have to do? Or is it different material, and if I wanted to make mine silver, would I have to buy a silver replacement bolt?

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Mine came off with paint striper and it was smooth as glass id did have stains though i just got 1000 g sand paper and a fine grade "scotch"pad from the auto body department came out nice but i dont care for the hi gloss so i didnt buff it
 
I've done my fair share of metal polishing in my lifetime (smoothing out intereors on pneumatic paintball guns to make them run more efficiently) And the best method I have seen is this. Start with steel wool grade 0, take some of that aluminum polish (if these are aluminum, if not use a metal polishing compound) and scrub away till you get bare steel. Then move on to 000 grade steel wool till its shiny, then final step do a final scrub down with 0000 grade steel wool and that metal will shine like silver, if you want to take it that far, if you want to have it just like a normal silver sks bolt, just use the 0 grade and a little 00 grade
 
Dropped mine in a cup of poly-strippa and left it for 10 mins. Paint rubbed right off. Some staining on the bolt which is why it was painted in the first place. Hot water rinse, Buffed the exposed surfaces with 000 steel wool, lightly oil surface as required. Left a nice lightly brushed/satin appearance. Too much polishing and it looks chromed.
 
I ended up changing my bolt from black to silver last night. Here are the before and after pics

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All done the transformation. I am really happy with the results. You can't really tell from the pictures but it is almost exactly the same colour of the bayonet. While I was at it I retrofit a old recoil pad I had left over from a remington model 700 BDL by sanding the bottom and rounding it off (took about 1 inch of material off it) which gave the stock about 1 1/2 inches of extra length. I was going to get a aftermarket stock for it, but the refinishing job I did on the laminate stock turned out so nice I think I will just leave it as it is.

My next upgrade will be a nice set of sights, maybe a set of willams firesights with a peep sight, and give it a trigger job.
 
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Took me about an hour start to finish. I thought I was going to have to go to the hardware store to buy a buffing disc for my bench grinder but it didnt cost me anything because I had a Dremel tool with the wire wheel and buffing wheel. I had some rubbing compound also but I didnt notice any difference when I used it. All you need is a gold coloured wire wheel, and a buffing wheel. I just put some oil on it when I was done.
 
I just used some leftover "honey coloured" deck stain. I dont like the Glossy look, and the finish turned out exactly how I wanted it to.
 
Nice work on the bolt carrier and the stock, that thing looks great. I had a laminated one about 15 years ago that I wish I'd never sold. Gonna have to rectify that once I get my PAL again.

Those pictures made me damn sure that yes, I do want to spend the extra money on the laminated stock. :D
 
The place I bought mine SKS at it only cost $20 more than a hardwood stock so it was a quick decision. I liked the way it turned out so much I think I might buy another one.
 
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