Painting the ar-15 selector marking and manufacturer's marks

[SC-Texas]

Here's a good technique. I wish i had used this method the last time i marked lowers.

Things you will need,

Testors model paint and the Testors enamel thinner.
Rubbing alcohol
Paper towels
Card stock or paper board from old packaging or cereal/cracker boxes. You will find that the stuff that has printing on it works best because the printed side is slick and won't absorb paint. More on this below.
Tooth picks
Masking tape

• Clean the areas you are going to paint with rubbing alcohol and then wipe dry.

• Dip a tooth pick in the model paint and start filling the engraving until the paint is just slightly above the surface. Make sure every part of the engraving is filled to the top. If its starting to leak onto the top surface that's when you know its ready.

• Cut a strip of your card stock about 1/2 inch wide and like 1-2 inches long. Make sure the short side is nice and straight. You are going to use this like a squeegee so you want your edge to stay flat against the receiver.

• Put the short side against the receiver and lightly drag it across the painted area. If your card stock only has printing on one side make sure the printed side is against the paint. Paint is going to flow all over the surface as you drag across but that's ok. The printed side is slick so its going to smooth out the paint. Drag any big paint drops away from your engraving and clean them up with a paper towel. The goal is to get the paint flat with the surface of the receiver and not have any puddles around the engraving. There is still going to be some surface paint but that gets cleaned up later.

• Once the paint is even with the surface of the receiver, let it dry for about 15 minutes.

• Put some enamel thinner on a paper towel and start lightly wiping the surface. Get a flat spot in the paper towel and just drag it across the engraving. You will be able to pull the surface paint away from the engraving then scrub it away. Don't scrub on the engraving or you will pull the paint out.

• When all the excess paint is cleaned up I will put some masking tape over the area to keep dust out of the engraving as its drying. Let it dry overnight before handling. It takes a few days for the paint to fully cure so don't use any gun cleaners until its cured.

 

[Willy]

This makes sense and I will probably do it. Let's see some pictures for in the meantime.

 

[country_boy]

I have some model paint collecting dust, sounds like a plan.

 

[Code3GT]

I did this method on mine a while back. Worked like a charm.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

 

[Dcav]

Sounds like a good method Sean thanks for sharing.

 

[PopsXD9sc]

Used pretty much the same method for my M&P 15 a couple of years ago. Red paint for fire and white for safe and manufacturer's roll marks. It has held up great and in the event it gets dirty and can't be cleaned; touch up is quick and easy.

 

[wakal]

Lazy version...

Paint pen (craft section, WalMart)
Spray can, carb cleaner (auto section, WalMart)
Paper towel (paper towel roll, cardboard)

Fill engraving with paint using pen. Spray carb cleaner on towel. Wipe off excess paint with wet towel. Repeat as necessary.

Messy, but fast...


Alex

 

[Michael-Dallas]

I use Lacquer Stiks. Brownells sells them, but I got mine from Amazon.com for less.

Michael.

 

[CanTex]

Cheep and old nail polish. Needs to be "gummy" and not flow easily. Old credit card, nail polish remover and a shotgun patch. Fill the marking with the nail polish to above or at level. Wipe with the edge of the credit card to strike off any excess. Put nail polish remover on patch, wrap patch around credit card and wipe to clean off any excess.

However, I have also used crayons, rub them over the stampings till they fill in. Use an alcohol swab to remove any that gets anywhere you do not want it. I have used this method to make stampings and serial numbers easier to read for years. Have a couple rifles that were done about 10 years back that still look good.

 

[BigD24]

no one has a b4 and after picture?

 

[Bluesman001]

DIY Coloring AR15 Lower Receiver - YouTube

Here is the Glock version, same principle.
Glock 17C white engraving (inlay) How to - YouTube

 

[Bluesman001]

Full Step by Step guide to Building Your own AR-15: Part 3 Painting roll marks - YouTube

 

[RetArmySgt]

Used a very fine tipped paint brush to do mine.
http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/gunsmithing/28326-just-painted-letters-my-ar.html

 

[SPCHardin]

This sounds tempting to try. Ill do it on my old bm lower and post up some pictures this weekend.

 

[Bumble442]

This makes sense and I will probably do it. Let's see some pictures for in the meantime.

Like This?

 

[Bumble442]

 

[Stumpy]

subscribed

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Lazy version...

Paint pen (craft section, WalMart)
Spray can, carb cleaner (auto section, WalMart)
Paper towel (paper towel roll, cardboard)

Fill engraving with paint using pen. Spray carb cleaner on towel. Wipe off excess paint with wet towel. Repeat as necessary.

Messy, but fast...


Alex

I marked one the other day like that and made a huge mess. I didn't let it dry before I tried to clean it up and ended doing it all over again. I also realized that I suck at art.

 

[noomi]

However, I have also used crayons, rub them over the stampings till they fill in. Use an alcohol swab to remove any that gets anywhere you do not want it. I have used this method to make stampings and serial numbers easier to read for years. Have a couple rifles that were done about 10 years back that still look good.

 

[London]

I marked one the other day like that and made a huge mess. I didn't let it dry before I tried to clean it up and ended doing it all over again. I also realized that I suck at art.

Sounds like modern art genius to me!