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Posted: 3/28/2012 4:02:32 AM EDT
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Are all A1 pistol grips & stocks made of the same material that becomes mottled after the finish wears down?
Is it Bakelite that they are made from? Finally, I once saw a thread that has been archived where the OP had simulated mottling a stock by painting. Anyone have a lead to that thread? Thx |
You can take older grips/stocks etc. and polish them down to a mottled state, although generally you can find some on the EE that meet your needs. I polished this set below down using scotch bright pads.
John Thomas does some amazing work - especially on 601 furniture. Here is a link to some of his work. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_143/773745_Retro_601_brown_mottled_finish_replication___.html You can also try mottled painting - using black furniture, painting undercoat of brown, then overcoating that with green - some trial and error is likely, especially if you use acrylic paints as they will tend to crackle if you don't do it right.  I will try and post an example of the set that I did later. Used a testors green for the final coat.
Do a google search on it and you can find some old threads that might help. |
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This is an interesting question that I have long pondered. I am the guy you see at the swap meets and in the surplus stores who is constantly rummaging through the dusty boxes of furniture.
I think there is a debate about whether mottling is due to natural wear of the bakelite furniture, or whether it is the result of some defects in the injection process. Those little brown, gold, or white-ish flakes. I think it is both. Clearly, some furniture came from the factory as solid black, some came with mottling. As pointed out above, you can usually bring out some form of mottling by removing the top layer off some furniture. I have not found this to work for handguards. Pistol grips seem to be where the most mottling is found, buttstocks second, and handguards, are kind of hard to find in a good mottled state. I think this is due to the material and how the dye is injected into the mold. I have a new belief about mottling, I think heat brings out mottling, or causes it. Can't tell which. I have an absolutely sick mottled pistol grip that looks like it was partly melted. I guess the abrasion of the scotch-brite pad is the same concept. |
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Quoted:
This is an interesting question that I have long pondered. I am the guy you see at the swap meets and in the surplus stores who is constantly rummaging through the dusty boxes of furniture. I think there is a debate about whether mottling is due to natural wear of the bakelite furniture, or whether it is the result of some defects in the injection process. Those little brown, gold, or white-ish flakes. I think it is both. Clearly, some furniture came from the factory as solid black, some came with mottling. As pointed out above, you can usually bring out some form of mottling by removing the top layer off some furniture. I have not found this to work for handguards. Pistol grips seem to be where the most mottling is found, buttstocks second, and handguards, are kind of hard to find in a good mottled state. I think this is due to the material and how the dye is injected into the mold. I have a new belief about mottling, I think heat brings out mottling, or causes it. Can't tell which. I have an absolutely sick mottled pistol grip that looks like it was partly melted. I guess the abrasion of the scotch-brite pad is the same concept. You are correct about heat. A propane torch will bring up mottling on a grip by causing the solvents to evaporate and leave indentions, but won't look as nice as if naturally aged. |
| I recently bought a mottled D type stock. I have always believed that the mottling was due to wear, but that's only partially true - the stock showed up BRAND NEW showing the mottling through a thin layer of paint. So yes, the paint wears off, but this stock is a NEW mottled stock, which I never thought I'd see. Not a scratch on it. Rubber coated swivel if anyone cares - again, no sign of sling, no scratches on butt. Friggin thing is pristine dammit, and I bought it thinking I'd use it for a beater build...hard to look a gift horse in the mouth though eh? |
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