restoring original etching

[jeepforfun]

I have CS40 in blue/black that I bought used. The Chiefs Special emblem and etching on the slide and frame were originally white. Over time and/or previous owners misuse of cleaning supplies this etching is now about the same color as Hoppes #9. Does anyone know of a way to restore this close to the original color short of having it professionally re-etched?

This is the only one I have that has this light colored etching and nothing I have tried so far seems to change the dirty look of the original emblems and such.

 

[BUFF]

I wonder if the white color in the lettering was something that a prior owner added.

I would just scrub it all out with solvent and a toothbrush.

 

[tirod]

Often white coloring can be added by the use of a grease pencil or tire crayon. Others clean out the engraving and use Testor's model paint and superfine brushes dropping color into the grove.

There are a number of posts on AR15 build forums describing the procedures. It's how I plan to add color to the safety dot on the frame of my 4566TSW.

 

[Big Shrek]

Lot of folks used a toothpick and Testor's white...
one has to be VERY careful and deliberate, doing that

 

[Barrie]

If I have to paint something that small I use a penny match book match. Tear it out of the book and use the torn end to paint with. I usually burn the match 1st for just a sec to get rid of any chances of it going off in my hand and then just dip it lightly in the paint. Works really well as long as the area is cleaned before hand. Certainly a lot cheaper then a real fine brush and just as accurate.

 

[AveragEd]

Before I tried anything else, I would hit the etching with some aerosol brake parts cleaner. It might remove all the coloring in the etching and you are at the point of recoloring it anyway. BUT it just might remove the staining only.

Ed

 

[gregshake2]

When was the last time you seen a match book? They will only light using the scratcher


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jeepforfun]

Definitely not looking to paint it, just looking for a way to clean the stain off of the slide. I had thought about the brake cleaner but was afraid of it stripping off the original color.

 

[Barrie]

Most grocery stores still sell box's of 50 match books. for around $1.00- $1.50 or so. Yes thats quite a few of them but they are handy to have around the house in a emergency as well. Power goes out, lite your candles for example or something similar. I always light them up only for a sec or so and then let them cool before doing any painting or other similar task with them.

 

[4T5GUY]

You have described exactly how the etching on my CS9 looked
when I got it. I also didn't know what to do, but knew something
had to be done. I ended up just letting Break Free stand on it,
then gently "rubbing" it of. I did it over several hours. It turned
out OK, not perfect, but it was almost nonexistent before I began.
Sorry I don't have any before pictures.

 

[AveragEd]

4T5GUY pretty much confirmed my suspicion that the etching just needs cleaned out.

Ed