Turning polymer frame black again?

NewToGuns17 · Mar 28, 2019

I gouged my shield frame a bit and now the plastic is grayish. How do I turn it black again? Tried ballistol but it did nothing. Marker won't hold up so I'm not going to try it. Any ideas? Thanks

gwpercle · Mar 28, 2019

I dyed a set or white polymer revolver grips black with powdered Rit dye.
I put enough water in a small pan to cover the grips. heated the water and mixed in a packet of Rit powdered dye, the boiling water dissolves and concentrates the powdered dye. Removed pan from heat and soaked grips in hot dye overnight. Removed , washed them and they are a beautiful jet black color and the dye does not rub off. The dye seems to get down into the plastic... I've shot with them several times the black stays put.
Try brushing the hot dye into the gouge with a small brush , fill the gouge and let it soak in over night . The dye was absorbed by the plastic grips and might color your frame. The packet of dye is not expensive .
Gary

03hemi · Mar 28, 2019

Heat it with a heat gun.

NewToGuns17 · Mar 28, 2019

03hemi said:
Heat it with a heat gun.

Won't that melt it?

NewToGuns17 · Mar 28, 2019

gwpercle said:
I dyed a set or white polymer revolver grips black with powdered Rit dye.
I put enough water in a small pan to cover the grips. heated the water and mixed in a packet of Rit powdered dye, the boiling water dissolves and concentrates the powdered dye. Removed pan from heat and soaked grips in hot dye overnight. Removed , washed them and they are a beautiful jet black color and the dye does not rub off. The dye seems to get down into the plastic... I've shot with them several times the black stays put.
Try brushing the hot dye into the gouge with a small brush , fill the gouge and let it soak in over night . The dye was absorbed by the plastic grips and might color your frame. The packet of dye is not expensive .
Gary

I thought about rit dye. I was introduced to it for dying knife scales

dwcopple · Mar 28, 2019

Rit dye 4 sure

03hemi · Mar 29, 2019

NewToGuns17 said:
Won't that melt it?

Yes, if you hold it on it too close, a lot of people are bringing their black flares on their Jeeps back from faded out white to black with this method.
Obviously, keep the gun moving and not too close.

Walt Sherrill · Mar 29, 2019

The polymer used in most gun frames won't melt until the temperature gets up around 800 degrees, so if you're careful with the heat gun, or use boiling water (212 degrees f), you should be OK.

Mister X · Mar 29, 2019

Any chance you can post a picture?

gwpercle · Mar 29, 2019

Mister X said:
Any chance you can post a picture?

Do a before and after picture .
Gary

hardluk1 · Mar 29, 2019

Isn't your shield really just a defensive tool . Is keeping it purdy really needed and the scratch will still be there . Some of us think honest wear is fine . Just a thought !

03hemi · Mar 29, 2019

hardluk1 said:
Isn't your shield really just a defensive tool . Is keeping it purdy really needed and the scratch will still be there . Some of us think honest wear is fine . Just a thought !

Exactly, its a plastic gun, does anybody really care about what it looks like anyway. It's not like you'd get any money for it to begin with if you sold it.
Good point hardluk1

NewToGuns17 · Mar 29, 2019

03hemi said:
Exactly, its a plastic gun, does anybody really care about what it looks like anyway. It's not like you'd get any money for it to begin with if you sold it.

Good point hardluk1

It's not honest. A dog chewed it a while ago lol.

How does the heat change the color? Just so I understand what I'm trying to do.

gwpercle · Mar 30, 2019

NewToGuns17 said:
It's not honest. A dog chewed it a while ago lol.

How does the heat change the color? Just so I understand what I'm trying to do.

I don't think the heat will change the color but the warmed plastic might help the warmed dye to color the plastic.
The instructions for dying grips indicated placing the grips into the pan of heated dye (hot but just less than boiling ) and letting the pan, dye and grips slowly cool down overnight helped get the color into the plastic.

Some instructions say to simmer the grips in the dye for a half hour but I was afraid the grips might warp so I just did the hot soak.
A gun frame just might stand up to a 30 min. simmering and be completely re - finished so to speak .

I didn't think it wold work...but the grips are now black and the color doesn't rub off even when shooting the gun with sweaty hands on a hot day.

tlawler · Mar 30, 2019

NewToGuns17 said:
It's not honest. A dog chewed it a while ago lol.

You left a gun where a dog could access it? People have been shot by their dogs!

okiegtrider · Mar 30, 2019

NewToGuns17 said:
It's not honest. A dog chewed it a while ago lol.

Now we really need to see a picture.

hardluk1 · Mar 30, 2019

Take control again of your doggies new chew toy and knock down the high spots with a file or sandpaper on a board and you may end up with some extra texturing to aid grip control . And you will have new talking point at the next trip to the gun range . heck yea , Wheres the photo's !!!!!! Maybe a bright yellow frame ?

PHolster · Mar 30, 2019

NewToGuns17 said:
It's not honest. A dog chewed it a while ago lol.

How does the heat change the color? Just so I understand what I'm trying to do.

If it is just the grip area, put a Hogue grip sleeve on it.

Rastoff · Mar 30, 2019

I too would like to see a picture. It would help to know the full extent of the damage.

For me, I would just hit it with a Sharpie. Yes, that might wear off after a while, but it's less than a second to re-apply.

BlackTalonJHP · Mar 30, 2019

Used motor oil and sandpaper

Turning polymer frame black again?

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