Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

[wIg SpLiTtEr]

Sup guys,

So I have a couple questions regarding the hard-ware, preparation, and maintenance of steel targets. I recently received my steel and I'm looking to take whatever steps necessary to properly prepare my targets prior to mounting. My targets have a small amount of rust on them already from sitting out in the "yard" I'm guessing. I was wondering if there was any benefit to sand-blasting or wire-wheeling the rust off of my targets prior to painting? If so, is there a certain type of media (sand, glass, lead, etc) I need to use for AR-500 steel. Also, what type of hard ware and paint are you guys using when mounting these targets? This hard-ware will be fully exposed. Do any of you guys cover up your targets to protect them from the elements? If so, with what? I'm probably being a bit to cautious with regards to this ARMOR PLATE but I tend to "baby" my shit. Any and all additional input is welcome and appreciated.

Thanks Hide!
Blake

 

[sinister]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Bucket of paint and a roller. It's going to get shot up and if outside it's going to rust (eventually).

 

[Here2Learn]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Just spray paint it with some mid grade spray paint and you will be fine.

 

[hiddenmongoose]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

It will fall apart from shooting long before it rusts apart .spray it up with paint and away you go. my steel sits out on the hills all year long

 

[ddavis]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

You could phoshporize it with Ospho, Jasco, etc. You can find it at Lowes/Home Depot, or your local hardware store. It converts the rust into something other than rust that you can paint over. I did this to my targets prior to the inital painting. I use it for just about everything I weld/cut/paint. The backs of my targets do not get shot, so the paint stays intact and they are not rusty. The fronts of the targets get repainted every trip. No big deal. I find the white "marking" paint that is used to paint the ground works well. You do not want the cheapest spray paint. You use twice as much, so you really aren't saving money, just making things more of a PITA.

 

[wIg SpLiTtEr]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Thanks for the input everyone. Is there a certain type of hardware you guys are using when mounting?

 

[Twitch2120]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

im sure glavanized chain eye bolts work well and the zinc keeps them corrosion resistant

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Rubber tire or conveyor belt material works best for hanging the targets - you can shoot through it all day and it still holds on. Chain or wire etc always seems to get shot off which is a PITA to go out an fix. Get some big bolts and bolt into a piece of tire you have doubled over to make a loop (then you can hang it off pretty much anything.

I have also been thinking about welding a small flange off the back of my targets so I can make a slice in the tire and just drop the flange through. This way there would be no exposed bolts on the front to get shot off. But this means you can't shoot the back - and its more work, so I may just stick with the bolts/tire method.

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Old fire hose or baler belt for the win!

May be able to get several hundred feet of fire hose in the next couple of months as my dept. is in the middle of hose testing. If I can get ahold of it, I may cut it up into strips and see if there is any interest around here.

If I can get my hands on some, I'll post it up and we'll go from there.

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Use some good quality grade 8 or better bolts. The regular ones will wear away from bullet splash and will simply blow apart if hit.

 

[wIg SpLiTtEr]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

Thanks guys, sure appreciate it!

Sincerely,
Blake

 

[Here2Learn]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twitch2120</div><div class="ubbcode-body">im sure glavanized chain eye bolts work well and the zinc keeps them corrosion resistant</div></div>

No, chain will get hit.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MP15</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Old fire hose or baler belt for the win!.</div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rrflyer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Use some good quality grade 8 or better bolts. The regular ones will wear away from bullet splash and will simply blow apart if hit.</div></div>

Yes and yes! This is what you want to do. Learn from my mistakes and go with fire hose and 1/2 bolts. Fire hose is normally free from departments getting rid of it.

 

[wahoowad]

Re: Maintenence & Preperation of Steel Targets

I can't tell you how many chains I have repaired or replaced - same for the bolts. Heavy chain starts to get expensive and your dumbass buddy is 100% guaranteed to hit it as soon as you bolt new chain on.

You are gonna hammer these steel targets over and over. Bolts will bend, get hit, tore up. Plan on replacing them every so often. I have to cut mine off with a cutting wheel in the garage sometimes.

Recently switched to conveyor belt material but have not shot them yet. So far every bright idea I've tried has failed, these will likely not perform as well as I want. Part of the fun is hammering them and then going to see what you get.