Painting guns

[American_Fusilier]

I recently got a Glock 22 LEO trade in with a bit of bluing rubbed off, probably due to holster wear. But I was thinking of just spray painting it black again (the slide). Is this a horrible idea?

Also, when you see Glock slides without a finish on them, do those need a special coat of bluing or get Parkerized or nitrited? Or can you just spray paint them too?

Obviously, cerakote would be the way to go, but if you're broke...

What do you guys think?

 

[mnrivrat]

Touch up the slide with a good cold blue product. Much better than painting it IMO. Most all gun stores sell a cold blue product. The slides you mention with no finish are made of stainless steel and require no finish.

 

[bersaguy]

I would skip the Krylon. Honest wear on a handgun never bothered me. I think that looks much better than flaking paint. Glocks have a Tennifer finish so it's not bluing, not really paint either. I'd say rock it as is, and save up for cerakote if the aesthetics are really bothersome

 

[edwardware]

Glock's 'Tenifer' is just nitrocarberizing. Someone wore the black color off, but there's no way they wore through the functional ultra-hard surface, so there's no need to fix it.

I've used Cold Bluing for cosmetic purposes, and it sort of works. . . but I would suggest treating it as honest wear and moving on.

Edit: If you Cold Blue, I like Brownell's OxphoBlue the best.

 

[DoubleMag]

Echo others here

The GLock finish is not just skin deep. However if you '' feel the need'' I would suggest Brownells Aluma-Hyde II spray application over any paint, any day. That said there are specific directions and it's a little more tricky to apply. But doable.

 

[S&W620]

To add to what others have said, if you plan on holstering the gun at all, that spray paint isn’t likely to hold up well and will just make a mess.

If it really bothers you, save a few bucks and have it cerakoted. It’s 50-75 bucks, sure, but will be much more durable. The finish will be fine until you save the money if things are tight at the moment.

 

[FL-NC]

It won't stick. Just save your $ and get it cerakoted, or just keep it oiled if you are worried about rust.

 

[Jim Watson]

Rubbed blue makes you look like an expert who does a lot of shooting.
Hardware store paint makes you look like Bubba's cheap cousin.

 

[bdickens]

Leave well enough alone. Merely cosmetic. Hurts nothing.

 

[AlexanderA]

Paint on guns is tacky. That includes "official" paint, such as the notorious black on British military guns.

I have an M3 Greasegun that was Lend-Leased to the British. When I first laid eyes on it, it was covered by that British black paint. I had the dealer strip it and re-Parkerize before I even got it.

 

[nofendertom]

I never worry about honest wear on a firearm. I use 'em.

 

[Outlaw75]

Always gets me. People will buy distressed leather jackets, pre-washed jeans, I've even seen distressed ball caps for sale. Heck, Fender Musical Instruments, for a hefty price, will even build you a brand new electric guitar that looks like it's been drug through every roadhouse from Tucson to Savannah for 30 years.

But a little bit of normal wear and tear on a pistol......WAHHHHH!!!!!

 

[AlexanderA]

But a little bit of normal wear and tear on a pistol......WAHHHHH!!!!!

I want all my guns to be pristine -- but I'm a collector, not a shooter.

 

[herrwalther]

Spray paint will start to wear the first time you put it back in a holster. There are cold blue products to match the color back. I tend to like BC Permablue right now. Depending on how extensive the wear is you can use Duracoat or some other conversion coating to redo the entire thing.

 

[LoonWulf]

I paint everything, but i spray duracoat and dont like plain black. Paint will ware off a slide really fast, so id either leave it alone or have it coated.

 

[Mn Fats]

For me it comes down to the pistol and the lines, if it's military or not, and what I'm using it for. Like a S&W 29 or a BHP that's just a range gun. I'll re blue one those to their original beauty. A Glock, not so much.

 

[jmorris]

Some guns I buy for looking at, others I use at the tools they are.

 

[Demi-human]

Glocks definitely are not bought to be looked at...

 

[Obturation]

If it were me, I'd try my hand at a fancy engraving job on it then have it nickel plated.
Just kidding, leave it alone- as someone else said, it makes you look like a top operator .

 

[Waveski]

Your gun is worn because it's used - that's ok.

Painting a gun is never a good idea.

 

[Trey Veston]

I painted the slide on my G29 four years ago and carry it in the woods all the time. Of course it rides in a Bianchi nylon military holster, but it's held up fine.

Call me names all you want; it's my pistol and I love how it looks.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Cerakote

 

[dh1633pm]

Echo others here

The GLock finish is not just skin deep. However if you '' feel the need'' I would suggest Brownells Aluma-Hyde II spray application over any paint, any day. That said there are specific directions and it's a little more tricky to apply. But doable.

I have done three rifles and a hammer with Aluma-Hyde. It works. Requires a little practice to get it right. It works with or without baking. If you don't bake the curing time can be long.

 

[DoubleMag]

Like ^^ ten days to two weeks

Just say'n

 

[dh1633pm]

Yes. Placing items in the hot sun helps.