A method for forming and smoothing a hollow-profile guide rail of an elevator system uses a smoothing apparatus to smooth mutually opposing surfaces on a hollow-profile guide rail. The smoothing apparatus includes a guide device, a removal device and a pressing device. The guide device has rollers for moving in a low-friction manner in a longitudinal direction along a first of the opposing surfaces and to thus guide the smoothing apparatus along the first surface. The pressing device has spring elements to press the removal device away from the guide device and toward a second of the opposing surfaces. The removal device has a rasp element to remove material from the second surface during a movement in the longitudinal direction along the second surface.