M14 Forum

washington

I have a couple synthetics with stainless steel barrels that I would like to paint. I have never painted a rifle. Are there any special considerations when painting a stainless steel barrel? My rifle is brown I will touch it up with green and black. Which paint is best? How about prep? Also, what is a good source for patterns? Thanks.

M1A's r BEST

My vARmint rifle has a stainless steel barrel. I used Krylon (the camo kit) to paint the whole rifle.

No issus so far but I don't use it much.

bd111

Like we do with stainless gas cylinders, I'd be game for trying Krylon or engine paint or similar product on the stainless barrel, but what's the answer to getting it to stay put without trying to bake the barrel in the oven (no simple feat with a receiver attached)? My AR's stainless barrel has some kind of oxide or nitride that looks and holds up like park, but it came from the factory that way. I haven't been able to jump that gap. Does the stainless steel barrel need to be etched, primed, bead-blasted? Does the operation require using hazardous solvents? Just asking, if anybody knows.

wbm

I use the Krylon Camouflage on stainless barrels. Clean the barrel with brake parts cleaner to remove any oil, spray a light coat, wait half an hour and apply another coat. Works really well.

Lougotzz

I am a professional house painter. I have thought about this as well. I have not done it yet but it is in the back of my mind. I have a RRA varmint with SS BBL. If I were to try this I would do the following.

1. Clean the surface with denatured alcohol.
2. lightly dull the surface with steel wool.
3. I would want to prime with some sort of high heat primer in a spray can.

If I couldn't find high heat primer I would use high heat paint in Flat finish. The flat finsh will bite better then a paint with a sheen.

4. I would finish with some sort of high heat paint in a spray can. Like BBQ paint ect.

The key is clean, prime and finish coat. With concern about heat.

Good luck

stoky

Duracoat is considerably tougher than the rattle can stuff. With a decent air brush or small sprayer, it is easy to apply. It flashes over quick and is less prone to running than spray paint. De-greasing is the only prep required for stainless steel.
http://www.customdigitaldesignsonlin...my-barrel.html
Get a self-healing cutting mat and you can cut your own patterns out of masking tape with an X-acto knife.

dprice3844444

brownells.com

Essayons

I've successfully painted stainless 10/22 and AR15 barrels with Norrell's Moly Resin. Norrell's recommends blasting the barrel first with Aluminum Oxide of a specified grit, cleaning and degreasing. I did that, and then pre-heated the barrel per Norell's instructions and painted. My barrel fit in the oven so I could cure it. It would be fairly easy to make a curing chamber suing some ducting and a heating element or lamp if your barreled action won't fit in the oven (although a 20" barreled AR actions will fit in my home oven).

http://www.molyresin.com/

washington

Thanks everyone for the very helpful suggestions. I have research to do!

mack7.62

Aervoe paint has good colors and is good up to 300 degrees.