[Door Gunner]

What is the best stuff to use to help cover scratches and still look smooth, and what about black beauty ?

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Beading gets rid of the scratches not cover them.

I've done mine and others with a mix of glass beads and black beauty, 2/3 to 1/3 respectively. It is coarse enough to get rid of the machining marks and cut through the hardening on the edges of laser cut sideplates but produces a great finish that is evenly colored.

Straight black beauty might be too agressive so if you go that route, watch the edges, serial numbers/markings and anything threaded...it cuts fast and deep.

 

[M1 Tanker]

I use 80 grit aluminum oxide without issue. It does not polish the metal like glass beads do, so it depends on what finish your looking for.

 

[loboslanding]

I use 40 grit glass bead...plenty coarse and leaves a nice finish...for an amateur . Al Ox does leave a nice finish too and seems to cut quicker.