First time trying color fill...and now my issue

SteelersGuy · Feb 17, 2013

So i decided to give it a try today on my weapons. I went with using nail polish. I started off slow. Did my Glock first and then my S&W 22A. Both turned out great.

So i decided to do the AR and the M&P. I took my time, and did it like i did the previous two weapons. So i finished up and then noticed the residue. Tried to clean it of again (nail polish remover) and it looked better, but then when i took the pictures i guess the flash brought it out even more. From a foot or two away from each weapon you can BARELY see anything. But it just bothers me.

Any ideas what happened or how to fix it? I did get some gun oil and tried that, but these pictures were taken even after i did that.

Scopes · Feb 17, 2013

So that's the clouding people were talking about. I have heard WD-40 works. Personally, I use Goo-Gone.

SteelersGuy · Feb 17, 2013

Scopes said:
So that's the clouding people were talking about. I have heard WD-40 works. Personally, I use Goo-Gone.

I was reading back through some of the threads here and must have missed any mention of it. It just seemed weird to me that the pistols turned out perfect and the rifles not so much.

I will try both. Overall i am happy with the results. $3 worth of supplies and some of my time.

Scopes · Feb 17, 2013

They all look great though. I used crayons. Just did mine a few days ago so we'll see how long it lasts.

SteelersGuy · Feb 17, 2013

Scopes said:
They all look great though. I used crayons. Just did mine a few days ago so we'll see how long it lasts.

That was my next thought. How good any technique holds up.

Jgray1085 · Feb 17, 2013

Try windex!! It worked awesome to wipe away the excess for me with no clouding! Hopefully you can fix it!

153 · Feb 17, 2013

Aluminium finishes are closer to paint than finishes on steel firearms. Harsh chemicals like nail polish and nail polish remover may remove, etch or fog the finish.

Try WD-40 as suggested, and if you must fill in the lettering on your guns, use a crayon.

SteelersGuy · Feb 17, 2013

153 said:
Aluminium finishes are closer to paint than finishes on steel firearms. Harsh chemicals like nail polish and nail polish remover may remove, etch or fog the finish.

Try WD-40 as suggested, and if you must fill in the lettering on your guns, use a crayon.

i will next time.

clicker1944 · Feb 17, 2013

Mineral oil.

Taylor339 · Feb 17, 2013

Looks like the nail polish remover damaged the polymer

There were warnings in other threads that certain types of nail polish remover would harm polymer. Looks like you used it.

looseman · Feb 17, 2013

Taylor339 said:
Looks like the nail polish remover damaged the polymer There were warnings in other threads that certain types of nail polish remover would harm polymer. Looks like you used it.

Yup, nail polish remover + Polymer = bad.

WD-40 will help to mask it, which is the best you can do now that the damage is done. Also there are several plastic shine type products used for automotive plastics that would probably work as well.

atvdave · Feb 17, 2013

You may want to try hoppe's 9 bore cleaner. I used Testors paint, and used #9 to remove the majority of the paint. I then used Hoppe's 9 lub oil to get the rest, and help remove the bore cleaner, and the rest of the paint.

Hopefully the clouding effect is not permanent, and the oil will help remove it.

OldEagleEars · Feb 18, 2013

Unless the EPA or the FDA or one of those other alphabet-agencies has diddled with the stuff since I last looked, nail-polish remover contains acetone. When I was a kid I used acetone to melt the plastic "trees" that model car parts came on to make a filler for my version of the then-brand new 1962 Corvette. It turned the hard plastic into a thick putty-like mass that hardened quickly and was even more difficult to shape than it had been before the acetone. Since the 15-22 is indeed made of polymer (fancy word for plastic), the stuff will try to melt it and cause the clouding or crazing that you see. It has damaged the surface of the material and I'm guessing that something to scour the surface to bring the damaged and undamaged parts to the same level will be necessary to restore the finish. Or just paint the dang thing camo or dark-earth or OD green or lavender (and tell folks you use it for hunting unicorns). That may be the best cure for the problem besides not using fingernail polish in the first place.

Hemione · Feb 18, 2013

I have found that using white (or whatever color) automotive touch-up paint works the best. Brush it on to fill the engraving and wipe off the excess in about 60 seconds.

SteelersGuy · Feb 18, 2013

Taylor339 said:
Looks like the nail polish remover damaged the polymer There were warnings in other threads that certain types of nail polish remover would harm polymer. Looks like you used it.

I guess i did not see the right threads. Live and learn.

Like i said, to look at them they look good, but the flash from the camera magnified the problem 100 times over.

I will give some of the ideas in here a try and see what happens.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Jyezahn · Feb 18, 2013

OldEagleEars said:
Unless the EPA or the FDA or one of those other alphabet-agencies has diddled with the stuff since I last looked, nail-polish remover contains acetone. When I was a kid I used acetone to melt the plastic "trees" that model car parts came on to make a filler for my version of the then-brand new 1962 Corvette. It turned the hard plastic into a thick putty-like mass that hardened quickly and was even more difficult to shape than it had been before the acetone. Since the 15-22 is indeed made of polymer (fancy word for plastic), the stuff will try to melt it and cause the clouding or crazing that you see. It has damaged the surface of the material and I'm guessing that something to scour the surface to bring the damaged and undamaged parts to the same level will be necessary to restore the finish. Or just paint the dang thing camo or dark-earth or OD green or lavender (and tell folks you use it for hunting unicorns). That may be the best cure for the problem besides not using fingernail polish in the first place.

They have NON-acetone nail polish remover too. That's what should be used. I'm guessing it wasn't used in this particular instance.

roadkill45 · Feb 18, 2013

i use nail polish on all of my guns that i have colored. i ALWAYS use NON Acetone remover as it looks like you used acetone and it kinda melted the paint and polish together (have done it before) i paint them, let them totally dry, then remove with the non acetone, then hit with some rem oil. turn out fine. secret with nail polish is to try to just paint the whole thing, say the S&W emblem is 1x1, then paint a 1x1 square over the emblem. let dry totally, then take a sock turned inside out with the remover and with just a little, rub it until the excess is removed.
just what works for me.

Will-i-am_a_smith_addic · Jul 15, 2013

Scopes said:
They all look great though. I used crayons. Just did mine a few days ago so we'll see how long it lasts.

I did crayons the first time, but as soon as you shoot more than 10 rounds it melts .. just used nail polish ( while clean with NON-ACETONE nail polish remover. Make sure it's non-acetone it won't hurt the finish

Smithsrevenge · Jul 15, 2013

Will-i-am_a_smith_addic said:
I did crayons the first time, but as soon as you shoot more than 10 rounds it melts .. just used nail polish ( while clean with NON-ACETONE nail polish remover. Make sure it's non-acetone it won't hurt the finish

Also White-out brand Quick dry works really well.

If there is any clouding, some Hoppes 9 or nail polish remover on a q-tip will clear it all out

Majorlk · Jul 15, 2013

Will-i-am_a_smith_addic said:
I did crayons the first time, but as soon as you shoot more than 10 rounds it melts .. just used nail polish ( while clean with NON-ACETONE nail polish remover. Make sure it's non-acetone it won't hurt the finish

Sorry, but your experience is far from typical. My 15-22 was crayoned over 18 months and 13k rounds ago. Still looks new.

First time trying color fill...and now my issue

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