Looking for a comprehensive guide to paint your gun? If yes, this article is where you can find everything about related tips and tricks.
What Makes An Amazing Gun Paint?
A good gun paint can resist severe conditions. It should be long-lasting and durable. You can test this feature by occasionally cleaning your guns to see the paint remain unaffected by the elements and chemicals on the solvent or cleanser.
Check more: Spray paint for guns
Another aspect to consider, the paint should work on any kind of surfaces – for example, plastic, wood, and metal.
Also, it will be great if the paint gives you the excitement about the guns’ finished look. Varieties of colors to select on are preferred.
Great paint should also dry quickly. If it dries fast, unnecessary runs and drips will be avoided. It generally takes at least 20 minutes for fast-drying paints to dry.
Last but not least, its price should be reasonable. Of course, we all desire paints that are affordable and of high quality.
Key Elements To Note
- It’s possible for you to change the color of any pistol or rifle by painting individual pieces or in entirety. Your own imagination is the only limitation.
- Importantly, you need to have a comprehensive understanding of the gun first. Indeed, to complete this project, you should try disassembling and reassembling it.
- Also, make sure you follow all the rules and regulations related to the gun operation and ownership in your area. Never make a fake gun look real by painting it.
- Don’t use any finish that can’t be eliminated and reapplied just in case.
- For the best results, you need to read reviews of top-rated paints and follow the steps mentioned below. By so doing, your gun will look and operate effortlessly.
So more, you can easily buy or sell different types of used gun online from outdoor trader site. In USA, there are many sites for online guns such as Armslist tri cities, USA firearms..etc. There will be an discussion forum on outdoor trader.
Steps To Painting A Gun
As hard as it may sound, applying a new coat to a gun is actually one of the easiest handgun projects.
1. Prepare the gun
If you want to paint some specific parts, disassemble the gun first.
How you disassemble a gun depends on the model. If this is your first try, watch instructional videos or follow the instructions given in the manual. You can refer to the pictures you take throughout the process when you reassemble the gun.
Sand the parts you’re going to paint.
One of the best ways for sanding the parts is to use a sandblaster. It helps to get rid of the existing paint or the metal coating. Choose 120-grit fused alumina with a brown color. You can visit your local home improvement store to rent a sandblaster.
If it’s impossible for you to get access to a sandblaster, you can use sandpaper to rough up the surface of the existing paint. This process helps ensure the new paint will stick fast and evenly.
Use an aerosol degreasing agent to clean metal parts.
An aerosol degreasing agent is needed. It would dry without residue. Some suggestions for you are TruStrip Solvent, Brakleen, etc.
Be sure you take your own safety into consideration by wearing gloves and eye protection like a face shield, and a long-sleeved shirt. Your area must also be well ventilated.
How to use the agent:
- Spray each metal part using the degreasing agent. Use a clean cloth that is free from lint to wipe it down.
- Instead of using the aerosol degreasing agent, you should clean plastic pieces with isopropyl alcohol (91%).
- Handle the clean parts using clean gloves. That’s because the surface will be marred by oils from your fingers. That way also keeps the paints from adhering improperly.
Mask any areas that aren’t going to be painted. Also, plug all holes.
Cover all moving parts and any areas that you don’t want coated (the trigger, trigger guard, etc.) by using masking tape. To plug holes in parts such as the barrel, use foam earplugs or modeling clay. By doing so, paint won’t form a pool inside them.
2. Change the color
Select metal paint that is made for use on guns.
Such products as DuraCoat are dry through contact with unheated air. Meanwhile, it’s necessary for some products like DuraBake to be baked for the finish set.
It’s possible for you to bake metal parts that are small enough in a toaster oven.
Still, you may want to keep the gun not impaired in any way. Either, in some cases, the parts are so large that they can’t fit in the toaster oven. In such a case, make sure you select paint that air dries to a set finish and doesn’t need baking.
Suspend the gun or its parts in the air.
To hang the gun or its parts, you can use wire – for instance, a coat hanger. That way, it’s possible for you to access them from 360 degrees. Bear in mind that a plastic drop cloth should be put over your work area. For your own safety, put on a respirator, gloves, and safety glasses.
Spray the parts with the paint you desire.
You can purchase finishing kits coming with aerosol spray cans. Either, rely on a paint sprayer that is powered by compressed air.
The sprayers or cans should be held 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) away from the surface. Spray the whole gun or each part with a seamless, back-and-forth motion. Do so until all the areas are covered evenly.
Allow the paint to dry. Then you can apply a second coat if you wish.
If you desire to camouflage the gun, use sponges that are dipped in paint and apply various colors.
Get rid of the masking tape, foam earplugs or modeling clay when the paint has air dried.
Read the instructions on the paint to know how long it takes to dry. As mentioned above, the paint will be touch-dry in 30 minutes to 2 hours. Remove the tape and any clay or plugs from the holes with care.
Bake metal parts, if necessary.
You should only do this to the parts that are taken apart from the gun, instead of an intact weapon.
It is possible for you to use a toaster oven to bake the pieces of metal if the paint requires it. To ensure the toaster oven is working at the appropriate temperature, use an oven-safe thermometer.
Suspend the parts from the oven’s top using wire. That’s followed by baking them for an hour in a half at 177°C (350°F), or as instructed.
Reassemble the gun, if needed.
If this is the first time you have done this, referring to an exploded-view illustration of the gun may be helpful. It can be found online or in the manual. Also, you can look in the pictures you took when you disassemble the gun. Besides, watching instructional videos online would help you reassemble all the parts correctly.
In A Nutshell
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner as you’re provided with such amazing tips to ensure that you get the best finish. With this detailed and easy-to-understand guide, you would not want to waste any moment in starting off with the painting.
