Just bought a new Smith AR and wanting to paint. What's the best way to prep for paint, sand or scuff polymer stock or not what's best?
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Just bought a new Smith AR and wanting to paint. What's the best way to prep for paint, sand or scuff polymer stock or not what's best?
Check these three threads out:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=5102
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=84435
You might have to join to read the articles but it is worth it.
http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a...7&s=7336015661
All you will need is a couple 3M scouring pads (green).
Paper towels
Dawn
600 Grit wet sand paper
Use the scouring pad first, over the parts you want to paint
Wet sand it, fill a bucket halfway with warm water and some dawn, let it dry so you can see if you missed anyplace, be sure to get the corners good.
Wash it with new warm water and dawn with a paper towel and rinse!
Clean and degreaser, a little tape between the upper and lower, close the ejection port and throw in an old mag. Put tape on the front sight post and rear sight (optional). Bust out the paint.
It all depends on what kind of paint you use. If you're using spray cans, then I'd follow the directions on the can.
The M&P 15 polymer isn't a magical polymer that needs to be treated differently than others.
If you are using spray cans, I would advise against anything Duplicolor. I find they have the worst quality paint and often times doesn't even come close to matching the color displayed.
I personally wouldn't take the time to wash, degrease and scuff just to throw spray can paint on it. Spray paint chips and gets knocked off pretty easily. I'd just scuff quickly, wipe down with alcohol wipes and paint.
I save the time intensive cleaning/degreasing prep for Cerakote.
This isnt correct at all. Your paint job is only as good as your foundation.
Unless you want a half ass job I guess it wouldnt matter. You have to have something for paint to "bite" into.
I have painted alot of rifles and the jobs are STILL GTG. I usually finish with a matte clearcoat, it hardens the outside and prevents chips
This is all after tear down;
Use a goos automotive grade degreaser, wet on wet wipe off before it dries. Air dry, then hot soapy water (dawn soap), air dry again. I use a sprayable adhesion promoter, bulldog in a spray can with light even coats (maybe two at most) will do great. Light coats of your final paint whatever it is. Let it flash between coats a few minutes and you should have a great job in the end....
I dont give a shit if im using House of Kolor, One shot, Dupont or krylon. Its called taking a little pride in what you do. Ive been painting for around 6 years for Indy racers, MotoGP, Karts, dragsters etc etc blah blah blah.
People see my portfolio and cant tell the difference between Krylon or HOK...And who said anything about taking 8 hours? How long does it take you to prep a surface???
And youre exactly right, people spend thousands of dollars on a rifle, why half ass it, I dont give a shit if its Krylon, take your time and show a little pride in your work.
Im pretty sure the OP asked for best way to prep a rifle, He didnt ask about shortcuts or what you do to yours. The business Im in is CONSTANT fixing other peoples **** ups that could have been done right THE FIRST TIME!
Spray Paint = half ass job no matter how you do it.
Follow the instructions on the can. Krylon isn't going to know it's going on an M&P15-22 vs a Tyco RC car vs a Big Wheels.
It's very funny to see how enthusiasts can turn something as simple and mundane as spray painting into something that requires such strict procedures.
It's also very funny that a lot of people spend thousands on the nicest equipment that will far outperform their abilities and environments yet go to Home Depot for some Krylon to add a finishing touch.
Yes you will need to prep it but someone who spends 8 hours prepping a rifle is going to get no noticeable difference between someone who spends 20 minutes. Bang it up against a cinder block or brick wall and you are going to lose paint either way.
The whole point of spray paint is that it's easy and anyone can do it...even children. Simple prep and spray. When it scratches off or chips then just touch it up. Easy.
I've done automotive catalyzed paint, airbrushing, Cerakote, and although I hate to admit it I have done a few things with spray cans.
If you're going to spend a ton of time prepping then why aren't you using a better media?
The stuff I do is Cerakote. It's the most durable stuff I've ever used and in a year's time it'll pretty much look the same.
All I'm saying is that for spray paint there's no reason to "go all out"...if you really wanted to prep it the "right" way you could scuff, drown in water and Dawn, wipe with alcohol, spray an adhesion promoter, prime it with plastic primer, then spray it.
Maybe we just differ in our belief in spray paint but if I did all that prep work, there's no way I'd use a can of spray paint on it.