Tip! How to paint your pistol frame - blog by 80% Arms

[Racer88]

Linky:

How to paint your pistol frame — (Part 1)

Want to paint your GST-9 a different color? Well these methods will work with any polymer pistol frame whether it's an 80% or a 100%.

www.80percentarms.com

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I've used the RIT dye process on AR and AK magazines. It works great. Magpul has mags that are plain white, ready to be dyed. Sig also has (or had) frame that you could color using the same method. The color choices of fabic dye are more or less limitless. So if a fuchsia frame is your thing... go Sig.

I painted a 7.62 suppressor with the Brownell product. FDE. It came out OK. It was durable but over time it discolored a little from heat. Cans can get very (red) hot so I wasn't terribly surprised. Later, that suppressor suffered a baffle strike that ended its life.

 

[MikedaddyH]

I have painted a few slides and an AR upper and lower with automotive paint. Prep the metal , use alcohol just before painting. Maybe test your spray gun on something else . Two or 3 light coats over an hour or more. I have only done it on hot days here.

 

[MikedaddyH]

I was at my old Gunsmith shop and he got an oven for baking Cerakote barrels, receivers and frames.Its quite the setup. Transfer freshly painted item into the oven and bake. Coat hanger style

 

[FrankenGlock]

I was at my old Gunsmith shop and he got an oven for baking Cerakote barrels, receivers and frames.Its quite the setup. Transfer freshly painted item into the oven and bake. Coat hanger style

That's what I do with my Cerakote too. I typically use the H series which you have to bake for a few hours and also have an oven with hanging racks. Made some double ended alligator clips that work great for smaller items and have the S shaped hangers as well as wire for really big or really small items. Not too proud to say I have also used metal hangers as they are pliable and retain their shape. The metal clothes hangers are great for hanging things while you spray them. It's definitely an art form and much harder to do than regular paint but it is also way more durable.

 

[One Ping Only]

when I was building, there was reticence on my part to cerkote or dye my frames for the simple reason of wear and the base polymer showing-through. But y'all done some great jobs!!!