White Lettering on 15-22

[Tacticruel]

Hi Guys,
I've noticed that some of the forum member's 15-22 pics have white lettering on the sides of their lowers. Mine is just gun colored. Is there something that you guys did to yours to make it look like that?

 

[mlubuguin]

Hi Tacti,

I'm a new 15-22 owner myself and asked that same question as well. I just learned this little "trick" from one of the helpful users on this forum on how folks do that. Use a "crayon" and rub it into the lettering so that the crayon wax builds up in the grooves. Then wipe off the excess with a cloth with some cleaner on it. Voila! You have colored lettering. Folks here have done various "color schemes" (i.e. some have some red lettering others have orange). Me, I just went a little more "subdued" and just went with all "light grey".

Good luck with the lettering on yours.

 

[Ranger98]

Use WD-40 and a rag to wipe off the excess..

 

[DownRange&Upwind]

Hi Tacti,

I'm a new 15-22 owner myself and asked that same question as well. I just learned this little "trick" from one of the helpful users on this forum on how folks do that. Use a "crayon" and rub it into the lettering so that the crayon wax builds up in the grooves. Then wipe off the excess with a cloth with some cleaner on it. Voila! You have colored lettering. Folks here have done various "color schemes" (i.e. some have some red lettering others have orange). Me, I just went a little more "subdued" and just went with all "light grey".

Good luck with the lettering on yours.

I was that helpful user lol.. and So far at least.. Im the only one that has orange.. seems almost everyone uses red. Welcome aboard Tacti.. you can find the answers to the pretty much all of the questions you have about your rifle from other members here. And that light grey color sounds cool. Id LOVE a FDE color that SHOWS up well on the letttering, so it would match my rifles color scheme.

 

[Brett248Vista]

Here's a great video from one of my fellow YouTube Friends that shows how to do the Tacti-Crayola(TM) lettering!

YouTube - M&P 15-22 Project (Part 1) TactiCrayola

While you're there, go ahead and Subscribe to Matt's channel! He's aiming for 100 Subscribers and he has a great channel!

 

[ill_noiz]

I used orange, white, red, and gray. then used rem oil and shop towel to clean it up.

 

[Smithboomer]

I've never tried the crayon trick. I use ordinary classroom chalk when I am trying to make serial numbers more clear for photography. White chalk washes off with just a damp cloth.

 

[Tacticruel]

Ha! That's great. I'm gonna go raid my kids crayola box right now...! Thanks guys.

 

[Tacticruel]

Done. Insta-HK look.

 

[kenjen]

i can't see using a crayon, i'm sure it works, but what happens on really hot days at the range? doesn't it melt? any way i took some time and used model paint. i used a pin or needle and dabbed a little at a time to fill the groves than used a q-tip with thinner on it to remove the over flow looks good and should last a long time.

 

[joeface]

i can't see using a crayon, i'm sure it works, but what happens on really hot days at the range? doesn't it melt? any way i took some time and used model paint. i used a pin or needle and dabbed a little at a time to fill the groves than used a q-tip with thinner on it to remove the over flow looks good and should last a long time.

Yes it melts, mine is back to stock black. Too hot here in the south to use crayon.

 

[DownRange&Upwind]

i can't see using a crayon, i'm sure it works, but what happens on really hot days at the range? doesn't it melt? any way i took some time and used model paint. i used a pin or needle and dabbed a little at a time to fill the groves than used a q-tip with thinner on it to remove the over flow looks good and should last a long time.

Yes it melts, mine is back to stock black. Too hot here in the south to use crayon.

Im in the south-ish as well and have ran around 400 shots give or take per outing, and the lettering has NEVER even came close to melting off. I've taken my rifle to the range at 100+ degree days many, many times over and never had one issue. I fire off my 15 22 for a few hours, leave it on its bipod and then fire off a few hundred rounds total for each of my weapons..Springfield XDM .45 then my .223 rifle, that by the way has the same white lettering done to it. It as well doesnt have any "melting" issues. But if your melts. I guess Im just lucky then. I really pack the crayon in thick in the lettering.. as in, untill its level with the frame, then pack it more as to have more total crayon mass in the letterings.

 

[Tacticruel]

I used a heat gun to let the wax flow into the engraving. It's a good way to try out the look before you go the paint method. Thanks for the tips guys.

 

[Snyderman]

Im in the south-ish as well and have ran around 400 shots give or take per outing, and the lettering has NEVER even came close to melting off. I've taken my rifle to the range at 100+ degree days many, many times over and never had one issue. I fire off my 15 22 for a few hours, leave it on its bipod and then fire off a few hundred rounds total for each of my weapons..Springfield XDM .45 then my .223 rifle, that by the way has the same white lettering done to it. It as well doesnt have any "melting" issues. But if your melts. I guess Im just lucky then. I really pack the crayon in thick in the lettering.. as in, untill its level with the frame, then pack it more as to have more total crayon mass in the letterings.

How you liking that XDM? That purty 45 has been the apple of my window shopping eye for a couple weeks now. Ive heard (from an unreliable source) the safeties can be a pain.


I live so far south, I would actually need to drive north to get to the 'deep south'. FLA represent. My rifle is only a week old, but has done 400 rounds on hot days with no melt probs.

 

[chuck s]

A paint stick will do the job more permanently than crayon. Same procedure. We highlight the serial numbers in our Army arms vaults to aid 100% serial number audits. A PITA to read otherwise.

The photos you're seeing may seem like just decoration (or trying to look like HKs) but at least they're not as expensive as the MagPul decorative stocks, etc.

-- Chuck

 

[DownRange&Upwind]

How you liking that XDM? That purty 45 has been the apple of my window shopping eye for a couple weeks now. Ive heard (from an unreliable source) the safeties can be a pain.


I live so far south, I would actually need to drive north to get to the 'deep south'. FLA represent. My rifle is only a week old, but has done 400 rounds on hot days with no melt probs.

Oh, Im loving it. Its a VERY good gun overall. Be it used as a sidearm, or home defense, etc etc. I love the adjustable backstraps to allow for a custom fit to my hand, and the grips that are designed to " lock your hand to the gun" on them are superior to my regular XD as well. I bought my XD 9mm when I was looking for a new pistol, and couldnt find a XDM any where. So I figured, ehh.. lets go with the regular XD version, LOVE it as well. Turns out my wife had snuck and talked to the local gun store on my behalf,( knew I really wanted a XDM instead of the XD) and had them to hold one for me.. as they told her they would be getting more in the store in a few weeks, and then had them call me to come in to fill out the paper work, once it got to the store.

So now I have a XD 9mm and a XDM .45 ACP. As far as the saftey goes, I actually like the saftey on the grip, as it cant misfire, or fire at all unless that is fully depressed. Basicly setting in your hand in the "fire" position. The thing I DO love about this gun is on the XDM you DONT have to pull the trigger when breaking the gun down for cleaning, as my XD you do have to pull the trigger. Granted saftey checks should ALWAYS be done, but I like that added feature on the new models.

 

[sparks59]

i can't see using a crayon, i'm sure it works, but what happens on really hot days at the range? doesn't it melt? any way i took some time and used model paint. i used a pin or needle and dabbed a little at a time to fill the groves than used a q-tip with thinner on it to remove the over flow looks good and should last a long time.

does the thinner affect the polymer. ie melt

 

[n0inf0]

So how do you remove it in case you get bored with it or want to change color scheme?

 

[corpulent]

Toothpick.

 

[n0inf0]

Toothpick.

Sounds labor intensive