Refinishing the Aimpoint Micro R1

[steamboat]

Many folks (myself included) are looking into refinishing the micro r1 lately. So, I thought I would create a post for everyone to share methods.

For myself, I am going with a professional refinish for my expensive optic. Cerakote is my preference for a durable, oem looking finish, so I contacted Dave at Daves Metal Works in Covina. He informed me that my color (FDE) would have to be ordered in the air cure formula (required for optics). I was told it would take a week to a week and half for delivery, plus another week to week and a half to do the job. Total down time of about three weeks if all goes according to plan. Dave quoted me a price of 60 dollars for the job, including ordering the materials.

So just fyi... Daves will have FDE cerakote in the air cure formula once i get my project rolling with them (tomarrow pending the ups driver). Maybe that means it will be cheaper for anyone coming after me since it wont have to be ordered again, but idk.

What are the rest of you considering for the midway special??

[Omega13device]

$60??!! Just tape the lenses and Krylon it.

[Echidin]

$60??!! Just tape the lenses and Krylon it.

That's the plan for mine once it arrives.

[steamboat]

Well, krylon seems a little underwhelming for the aimpoint. I can see that flaking quickly, and Im ocd so that shine coming through aint gonna work for me. Constant krylon recoats get nasty...

Initially I was just gonna go with alumahyde, but at twenty bucks in I figured I might as well just spend another ten/twenty bucks and get a nicer professional duracoat. I dont like how thick alumahyde flows and Im not a painter anyway.

Then I figured, screw it, I love cerakote and the optic was such a deal... why not throw some of the savings into a finish thats as hard as the optic. It is a pricey option, and definately not for everyone, but I think in the long run I will be very satisfied.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

For myself, I am going with a professional refinish for my expensive optic. Cerakote is my preference for a durable, oem looking finish, so I contacted Dave at Daves Metal Works in Covina. He informed me that my color (FDE) would have to be ordered in the air cure formula (required for optics). I was told it would take a week to a week and half for delivery, plus another week to week and a half to do the job. Total down time of about three weeks if all goes according to plan. Dave quoted me a price of 60 dollars for the job, including ordering the materials.

$60 isn't really that bad, considering you saved quite a bit and it is a high quality optic.

I look forward to your results, please post an update with pics after you get it done. If it works out, it would be a good way to breath some life to some externally beat up, but affordable Aimpoints that always show up for sale here and on other gun forums.

[SkyStorm82]

Damn it...I didn't think to get it refinished. I didn't get one because of it being silver.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Damn it...I didn't think to get it refinished. I didn't get one because of it being silver.

I feel the same way- wish I'd thought of it too. From actual user photos I've see they're "blinging silver". I just couldn't bring myself to paint a NIB Aimpoint.

[Omega13device]

I just couldn't bring myself to paint a NIB Aimpoint.

[steamboat]

Took delivery of the aimpoint yesterday... and Im very disappointed. The rear lens is distorted by some kind of thick coating on the inside. If I new what the hell I was doing with this 'puter I would post a pic, sorry, but it looks like a crescent moon on the right side and rings all the way around the lens about 2mm deep. Looking through the distortion shows a heavy blue tint, leading me to believe the optical coating was not applied correctly. Cant imagine how that missed quality control...

I contacted aimpoint and was given an rma#, and told that the sight would have to be mailed to Sweden for diagnostic. Approx turn around time given was six weeks.

[CmpsdNoMore]

I bought 5 of these to sell around here locally and for a few people I know. 4 out of the 5 have some form of mark on the eye piece lense, 2 of them being what i would consider major.

[kahai808]

please post pics when your sights are done!

[steamboat]

I bought 5 of these to sell around here locally and for a few people I know. 4 out of the 5 have some form of mark on the eye piece lense, 2 of them being what i would consider major.

Really??? Makes one wonder why these were such a good deal... Do you see something similar to what I describe? Since you have a few to compare, what do you think? Shelf wear? Manufacture flaw?

[steamboat]

For those asking, I will definatley post some pics after the cerakote. Bear with me though, it looks like thats gonna be at least two months away now.

[1sicklx]

tag

[CmpsdNoMore]

It reminds me of what happened to a pair of polarized ski goggles after they got wet and I didn't dry them fast enough. I would guess that it had something to do with how the coating dried, but I'm no professional. I also noticed on the one I decided to keep (the best one of the 5) that around the edges of the glass, if you look just right, there's a white film that comes out a few millimeters.

The first one I looked at was a complete circle with the width varying in some parts, but most of them only had a small dot. I do have to say though, I didn't notice the one with the complete circle until I read your post and looked closer.