Rifle Scopes Painting a scope

P

pklin1297

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 10, 2008
987
2
46
Fontana, CA
#1
Hi all,

Can someone post a link to a scope painting post here? I'm looking through the hide and google but can't seem to find it. Closest I've come to is one of 30calsniper's USO scope painting post but I would like to see the painting process on a built scope. Doesn't matter what was used (Ceracoat, Duracoat, Krylon, Alumihide II, etc.). Just want to get the gist of the process, what to tape over, what to watch out for, etc.

Thanks much!
 
#2
Re: Painting a scope

I just tape the index marks on the turrets and power ring, close the Butler Creek caps, and go for it.

Base coat,
Img_8830.jpg
 
#5
Re: Painting a scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I too want to paint my USO with Alumahyde II, but am afraid, very afraid!
laugh.gif
</div></div>

USMCj,

No worries on the AH II. After you spray the AH II, take a good look at it and figure out if it's what you want. If not, uncured AH II comes right off with acetone. I have worked with AH II for some time and love the stuff.
 
#6
Re: Painting a scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SoCalPete</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hi all,

Can someone post a link to a scope painting post here? I'm looking through the hide and google but can't seem to find it. Closest I've come to is one of 30calsniper's USO scope painting post but I would like to see the painting process on a built scope. Doesn't matter what was used (Ceracoat, Duracoat, Krylon, Alumihide II, etc.). Just want to get the gist of the process, what to tape over, what to watch out for, etc.

Thanks much! </div></div>

SC Pete,

I am fixing to paint a couple of scopes in the very near future. I'll do a step by step for everyone on the process. Not as hard as you'd think, just take your time and get after it.
 
#7
Re: Painting a scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Da-Law-Dawg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

SC Pete,

I am fixing to paint a couple of scopes in the very near future. I'll do a step by step for everyone on the process. Not as hard as you'd think, just take your time and get after it. </div></div>

That would be great! Looking forward to it.

I am itching to try Alumihide II on a beater Makarov pistol just to see how I like it. I don't have blasting equipment so that is the only option I can think of, other than Krylon. I have the means and have applied Duracoat myself on long guns and pistols before but just am a bit weary about all the moving parts, and the optics on a scope, as USMCj said. My new one is an USO SN3-TPal so don't want anything to go wrong.
laugh.gif
Also didn't know if taking a heat gun to a scope would be a good idea to prep for Al. II...
 
#8
Re: Painting a scope

SC,

Don't have to use a heat gun for the AH II. You can use a hair dryer and obtain the same results with out excessive heat. Per the instructions, only have to warm the part to about 90* F. I warm the parts with a hair dryer and warm the AH II as well. After I spray the AH II, I use the hair dryer on low setting and go over the AH II and help it "flash" a little quicker.

On other parts, that heat isn't a factor, I spray the AH II and use the hair dryer as above. After the AH II flashes, I put the parts in a WARM oven, repeat WARM not hot. I let the parts stay in the oven for an hour or two and remove them and let them cure out. I have found that this speeds up the cure time and helps the finish cure better.

Allin all, the AH II isn't that hard to work with. The key to it is in the prep of the parts and letting it fully cure out. Here's a link to a rifle I just finished. Barreled action and bottom metal in AH II Earth Brown.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=1668785#Post1668785
 
#11
Re: Painting a scope

Denatured alcohol. Wear powder free nitrile or latex gloves. Take a good clean cotton cloth saturate it with DN alcohol and wipe the body of the scope down. Use it sparingly and be careful not to sop it around areas like the power adjustment ring, ele & wind turrets, etc. as it can destroy some seals. On those areas, lightly coat (damp not soaking) the rag with the DN alcohol and wipe gently in those areas. Be extremely careful around the lenses as well as the alcohol can damage some lens coatings.

Change rags frequently and after it is wiped down, do not touch it with bare hands. Especially when using AH II.
 
#12
Re: Painting a scope

The reason Im afraid is that I know of no easy way to remove cured AH II. I coated my entire barreled action in AH II and it came out real nice, but I have still not worked up the nerve to paint the scope.
 
#15
Re: Painting a scope

I've used Citristrip for removing cosmoline when I was cleaning my C&R rifles...
laugh.gif
Works great and smells great.

I think I'm going to get me a can of AL II to try.

Da-Law-Dawg, have you ever used AL II on a polished metal surface? I would imagine the adhesion to be terrible, but just wondering.
 
#16
Re: Painting a scope

it will chip off way too easy Pete. I regret not having my barreled action blasted before I painted it with AH2. It is some hard stuff once cured, but that hardness leads to easy chiping when the surface is smooth and the paint has nothing to grab onto.

Has anyone els noticed AHII getting sticky when the barrel heats up from shooting? Not sticky enought o come off or show your fingerprints on the finish, but sticky feeling like you are touching the glue side of weak packing tape.
 
#17
Re: Painting a scope

SC,

USMCj is correct, better to have the parts blasted before apllying the AH II. Regardles of how well you prep the area, a polished surface won't hold as well. The finish on the SPS's and 700P's are ideal. Rifles like my 5R require blasting to promote good adhesion of just about any spray-on finish. My 5R is fixing to get a coat of AH II just as soon as I get the bolt shipped to Hooper and get it done. The action will be blasted locally and coated when I get everything back.
 
#18
Re: Painting a scope

Hmm, maybe I'm chicken - but I'd be concerned painting my Razor HD scope (and if I had a more expensive scope I'd be even more concerned
smile.gif
). I'm leaving it as is.
 
#24
Re: Painting a scope

I did my MK4 in AHII, great stuff. Its not hard to do, just hard to bring one's self to do
wink.gif


Once I finally make the mental commitment to my 5-25 I've got half a can of Coyote AHII sitting on the shelf just waiting.......
 
#27
Re: Painting a scope

I think you should keep it sobrbiker, but I don't think you should coat it since it is a prototype... It may remain a bit more valuable if it is not changed, like an original collectible.
laugh.gif
 
#29
Re: Painting a scope

The idea of painting my scope bothers me a little. But it is the prospect of stripping the paint that bothers me a LOT! I'm sure that solvent is murder on o-rings and seals. How do you get the paint out of the cracks and crevices, or anywhere near any cracks and crevices, without the solvent or even its fumes seeping in wherever it can?
 
#34
Re: Painting a scope

mask off the index marks, put 1" or wider tape on the outer edge of the objective and eyepiece, some blue painters tape around the turret numbers (or completely mask off, touch up with brush later). wipe off with alcohol or acetone, spray lightly so as not to have it ooze into the grooves / gaps that the power rings and other adjustments have around them (dont want to paint it them "shut" like a window).

22_mag_desert_camo_TOP_VIEWJPG.jpg


308_DESERT_PORT_SIDEJPG.jpg


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mouse07410</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's the real gain of having the scope painted anyway? Especially if it comes from the factory brownish rather than pitch-black?</div></div>
the same reason anyone would want to paint their stock and barreled action - either for concealment, or so it would look like you need it to be concealed (tacticooled). much like the same reason you replace factory rims with chrome ones on your car/truck and add some pinstripes - 'cause the other guy may not have such a cool looking car/truck as you.
 
#35
Re: Painting a scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mouse07410</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's the real gain of having the scope painted anyway? Especially if it comes from the factory brownish rather than pitch-black?</div></div>
the same reason anyone would want to paint their stock and barreled action - either for concealment, or so it would look like you need it to be concealed (tacticooled). much like the same reason you replace factory rims with chrome ones on your car/truck and add some pinstripes - 'cause the other guy may not have such a cool looking car/truck as you.</div></div>
grin.gif
Thank you, I understand.

As I never felt the need to add any pinstripes to my car (it runs just fine without them
smile.gif
) - I'm not likely to lose much leaving my scope as is (and my OD stock too
smile.gif
). Though I could see myself painting the stock if need came.
laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
did i made an error while mounting this scope?
Replies
29
Views
667
JWG
J
carbonbased
Flare / Glare / Backlit notes on 4 scopes (NX8 4-32, Razor Gen II 4.5-27, Razor LHT 4.5-22, S&B 5-25)
Replies
10
Views
459
carbonbased
carbonbased
R
300Blk At Distance
Replies
35
Views
1K
45-90
4
baker72
USMC DMR McMillan Black M14 Stock 1 of 4
Replies
7
Views
1K
baker72
baker72
LuckyDuck
Marsupial Gear Spotting Scope Cases
Replies
0
Views
339
LuckyDuck
LuckyDuck
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts