Painting advice from the pros?

[matt491]

Well, I've got a gun that I need to put a new coat of paint on since I'm not happy with the paint job the previous owner did on it but I want to do this one right since I screwed up the last one I did BAD! The last gun I did had clear parts on it, so I just bought some krylon, flat black, spray paint and threw on three nice coats. Looked great, dried great. After test firing her ONCE in my basement, I already had nice greasy marks on the paint from where my thumb and hands were on the gun. I don't want those marks showing up on this gun since I care a lot more about her.

I assume I should have done three or four coats like I did, but then used some kind of a clear coat to seal her up? What's the advice from the pro's on this? I'm just doing a flat black finish on an M24 replica sniper set up. No camo or any strips or anything, I just don't want those ugly marks on the paint.

Thanks!

[Cushak]

Originally Posted by matt491

Well, I've got a gun that I need to put a new coat of paint on since I'm not happy with the paint job the previous owner did on it but I want to do this one right since I screwed up the last one I did BAD! The last gun I did had clear parts on it, so I just bought some krylon, flat black, spray paint and threw on three nice coats. Looked great, dried great. After test firing her ONCE in my basement, I already had nice greasy marks on the paint from where my thumb and hands were on the gun. I don't want those marks showing up on this gun since I care a lot more about her.

I assume I should have done three or four coats like I did, but then used some kind of a clear coat to seal her up? What's the advice from the pro's on this? I'm just doing a flat black finish on an M24 replica sniper set up. No camo or any strips or anything, I just don't want those ugly marks on the paint.

Thanks!

(sidenote: just because I'm posting, I don't consider myself an expert gun painter)

Personally I've never bothered with clear coats, as I know my tastes won't outlast the paint job anyways.

As for grease marks, I'm not sure if there's paint that'll help that from showing up. Clear coat would make it easier to clean, but I could also see clear coat adding a distinct shine to your paint job, which you may or may not want.

[TokyoSeven]

I always use krylon primer before I paint anything, and before that I make sure the item gets a good wipe down.

One very even coat of primer, using smooth even strokes with the can.
Allow to dry over night, I usually let something sit for 12-16 hours just cause thats the amount of time it can take me to get back to it.

One coat of the color you are using, allow 8-12 hours to dry and a room with good circulating area

Final coat, allow to dry for 12 hours.

If your like me where you only paint one side at a time, the process to paint something could take place over a whole week.

After its finally dry I give it a good wipe over with a old fabric cloth to remove anything that might come off, but to this date Ive never used clear coat and have had very little issues with color coming off.

Im not a pro painter , Im very amatuer in fact, but a little research on spray painting techniques via google went a long way for me.

[Glock 18]

What was the flash time you used between coats, you might have put a coat on top of undried paint, the top coat might be nice and dry but underneath will still be soft could be why your leaving fingerprints in the paint, also did you sand and treat it with a plastic primer/sealer? before priming/ painting you going to want to wipe it down with a nice degreaser. we used one called 3919 at the body shop i work for works amazing.

[matt491]

Well, the paint said it dried in 15 minutes on the can, so I let it dry for probably an hour and a half between layers. I suppose that could have been my problem. Is it really worth spraying it down with a primer before painting another coat on there? I don't want the gun to have a weird texture and feel because of too many layers of paint. I just want a solid, matte black finish on her. Like a tactical Law Enforcement look. The gun came matte black, but the previous owner just took green spray paint and put solid, diagonal lines through it. It's not like a nice brown/green/black camo job, it's just black with the green lines through it. =S

Waka Waka dodo yeah!

[Amos]

Sand off the paint, wash all the parts in water.

Put on latex gloves (make sure they're clean of powder)

Wipe down all parts wanting to be painted with rubbing alcohol

Lay down an even coat of primer (essential)

lay down as many coats as thin as you can until you're happy with the results..

When I paint a gun I usually do it in about 5-8 coats but these are super misted and super super light.

After you're done spray over with a very very light coat of clear-coat.

If you don't like the finish on the clear coat, wait until it dryes (24-48 hours until it completely cures)

and run a super fine grit automotive sandpaper along it to dull the finish.

From there you just want to wash the parts in luke-warm water and you should be good.

Make sure you're wearing the latex gloves through out the entire painting process, if you get grease from your fingers onto the gun while painting, it'll show through in the final product.

[Cushak]

There was a thread a bit ago about removing paint from plastic chemically with destroying the plastic. I think the conclusion was that brake fluid would work well, can't remember the technique though.

[Amos]

Originally Posted by Cushak

There was a thread a bit ago about removing paint from plastic chemically with destroying the plastic. I think the conclusion was that brake fluid would work well, can't remember the technique though.

Brake fluid will weaken the plastic.

Just sand it off with a fine grip sandpaper.

[matt491]

Originally Posted by Amos

Brake fluid will weaken the plastic.

Just sand it off with a fine grip sandpaper.

Including the original black factory paint, or just the green stripes the original owner did?

P.S. thanks to everyone who replied!

[Firewalker]

Originally Posted by matt491

Including the original black factory paint, or just the green stripes the original owner did?

P.S. thanks to everyone who replied!

If you sand it, you'll probably create abrasions in the surface of the factory paint. It's possible to remove only the old layer if it wasn't applied correctly AND you're very careful. However, that's highly unlikely to occur in most cases.

[Deftonius]

Spray, dry, kill. None of this primer BS.

[Firewalker]

Originally Posted by Deftonius

Spray, dry, kill. None of this primer BS.

Because having your paint flake off is AWESOME!

[Affliction]

Originally Posted by Firewalker

Because having your paint flake off is AWESOME!

My G&P M4 (Metal Body) was simply sanded, sprayed, then used. Paint hasn't flaked the least bit and I don't see why it would if you properly sanded the body with 220 grit before-hand.
-VM

[Deftonius]

Originally Posted by Firewalker

Because having your paint flake off is AWESOME!

It adds the "Been in the shit too long" look to your AEG. Unlike some Gucci-primed-and-clear-coated paintjob.

Put your AEG on the ground, take a can of Krylon, and spray. That's it.

[matt491]

Originally Posted by Deftonius

It adds the "Been in the shit too long" look to your AEG. Unlike some Gucci-primed-and-clear-coated paintjob.

Put your AEG on the ground, take a can of Krylon, and spray. That's it.

Hah! That's very true and that's pretty much what I'm going to do. Just sand it down and give it a coat or two or seven of flat black krylon.