Odd paint job for AR15

[Zack112]

Well, I don't know what caused me to become fixated on the super distressed "apocolyptic" gun look (actually I do, it's Mad Max: Fury Road). But now I feel like I have to trash up my AR and or Glock.

I post here as a request for information, have any of you tried something similar? I thought of using Rustolium, the only downside I can think of is that it might chip... But isn't that what I'm going for?


I love the look of this, he uses an air soft gun and it looks fantastic. Is there any reason not to do it to my rifle?
I also noticed that Duracoat sells a distressed "to hell and back" kit, has anyone tried it?

[davidb]

Id paint with krylon and then get out and use the gun...it will start to look distressed and worn all on its own

[Zack112]

Id paint with krylon and then get out and use the gun...it will start to look distressed and worn all on its own

The nickle "scratches" is probably what I'm looking for the most, at one point I considered dragging my rifle through some gravel. When I think of krylon I just think of it flaking off in chips, I'm not sure if that's the worn I'm looking for or not

[Merc1138]

So go take some carbine courses and put some honest wear on your gear. I hate to break it to you, but the paintjob in that video looks absolutely silly considering he's got wear in places that don't make sense, while other areas that should be worn look almost pristine by comparison. The funniest part is the nickel paint he's putting all over plastic components like the pistol grip and magazine... what? Why? But the paint for the selector markings is intact? Where is the wear on the edges of the rails? The grip where you actually hold it? Above the grip from using the selector? Of course I'm ignoring that the color it's worn down to doesn't make sense but...

Seriously, that stuff just looks whack to anyone who has seen or even used a firearm that has actually got some wear and tear on it due to actual use. It's your gun, your money, and if you think that looks cool... go right on ahead. Just consider for a moment that you're worried your fake wear finish might chip(really?).

[davidb]

The nickle "scratches" is probably what I'm looking for the most, at one point I considered dragging my rifle through some gravel. When I think of krylon I just think of it flaking off in chips, I'm not sure if that's the worn I'm looking for or not

I have an upper I krylon'd and its not flaking it shows scratches pretty well, I'll take a pic when I get home

Its pretty weak paint so it starts to wear just from holding it and bumping around with normal use, idk if I'd go as far as dragging it through gravel. For the nickle scratches maybe do couple solid coats in that and then whatever you want on top so when it wears through the nickle will show

If you're skilled at painting go for the distressed look from them get go if you want, I just seems like it would be hard to get perfect on the first try to me

[Zack112]

I have an upper I krylon'd and its not flaking it shows scratches pretty well, I'll take a pic when I get home

Its pretty weak paint so it starts to wear just from holding it and bumping around with normal use, idk if I'd go as far as dragging it through gravel. For the nickle scratches maybe do couple solid coats in that and then whatever you want on top so when it wears through the nickle will show

If you're skilled at painting go for the distressed look from them get go if you want, I just seems like it would be hard to get perfect on the first try to me

Skilled painter I am not, I like the layer idea a lot. Thanks for the tip!

[SonofWWIIDI]

If you're gonna paint it, I'd first paint a light colored undercoat (like the color of aluminum). That way when the surface coat does chip, it will look like the anodizing is worn off instead of chipping down to the anodized surface.

Just a thought.

[fritztkatt]

The best way to paint it is definitely spray can and then hard use. I see no point in high dollar finishes on guns that aren't safe queens, trophy pieces, bench guns, collectors items, etc...

For a truck/carry/duty/hunting, that sort of thing... spray it on for $5 and beat the cap out of it. It looks better that way. Way more functional too. I'll drop my AR, glock, mossberg in the dirt, wipe the junk off the sights and keep shooting.

Now my 1911... not happening. Not because I don't trust it to run, it's because she's a classy lady and deserves to be treated well. There's already two too many scratches on her. 1, my wedding ring on the front strap (tungsten carbide ring), and 2, my idiot self slipped when punching the front sight on. I intend to keep that pistol to be a shooter, but still pretty.

[alfred1222]

Go use your gun, it will wear just fine

[Tall Tree]

So go take some carbine courses and put some honest wear on your gear. I hate to break it to you, but the paintjob in that video looks absolutely silly considering he's got wear in places that don't make sense, while other areas that should be worn look almost pristine by comparison. The funniest part is the nickel paint he's putting all over plastic components like the pistol grip and magazine... what? Why? But the paint for the selector markings is intact? Where is the wear on the edges of the rails? The grip where you actually hold it? Above the grip from using the selector? Of course I'm ignoring that the color it's worn down to doesn't make sense but...

Seriously, that stuff just looks whack to anyone who has seen or even used a firearm that has actually got some wear and tear on it due to actual use. It's your gun, your money, and if you think that looks cool... go right on ahead. Just consider for a moment that you're worried your fake wear finish might chip(really?).

Did you forget to read the title of his post, "Odd paint job for AR15"?

[Merc1138]

Did you forget to read the title of his post, "Odd paint job for AR15"?

Nope. Did you forget to read the post you quoted and seem to be complaining about?

[JDay]

You could just hit it with a sandblaster real quick.

[Zack112]

Nope. Did you forget to read the post you quoted and seem to be complaining about?

Did you forget to read the title of his post, "Odd paint job for AR15"?

Let's keep it classy yall.

I understand it's not going to be the most popular paint job, I wouldn't go for the nickle on plastic look either. The reason I was asking about spray paint is because I just don't have the funds to go through multiple carbine courses + the thousands of cartrages they would require. I get out to shoot 2-3 times a year, any wear on any of my rifles is because they're either surplus (my ar is not surplus) or my cat knocked them over

[Merc1138]

Let's keep it classy yall.

I understand it's not going to be the most popular paint job, I wouldn't go for the nickle on plastic look either. The reason I was asking about spray paint is because I just don't have the funds to go through multiple carbine courses + the thousands of cartrages they would require. I get out to shoot 2-3 times a year, any wear on any of my rifles is because they're either surplus (my ar is not surplus) or my cat knocked them over

Then the obvious solution is to lock the cat in the safe with the rifles. You'll either end up with wear, or depending on what else you left in the safe... a variant of schrodinger's cat.

[sealocan]

warning. I think the professional looking distressed look that you see in the movies is harder to pull off then you think, especially the first one or two times that you try it.

if you want that without going through the wear and tear process or even as suggested above spray paint AND then the wear and tear process.

I watch a lot of videos on the special effect that you're going for.
we do have some model builders here who use airbrushes to amazing effect & on their models they give an amazing distressed look.

if that's the look you want go for it but my vote is also with just use the snot out of your rifle and in a year or two it look like that.