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Posted: 3/24/2016 11:11:12 PM EDT
I was not wanting to Hijack BROvet04 thread, so I figured I'd start a new one. Give me your opinions on if you think I should try to strip this Arsenal refinished 604. If the color was a little closer match I wouldn't bother but I know I'll never be happy with it as is. I've even wondered how Norrel's Molly would hold up on it as is? What would you guys do with this thing?
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| That is a somewhat rare upper. You could strip it and if it doesn't look great send it off to Victor at US Anodizing. With a vintage upper like that I would definitely go with anodizing over a paint on finish. I think whatever it's coated with is thin as I can see grey under the black coating. Also doesn't seem to be corroded with pits. A lot of early uppers suffered from corrosion and had severe pitting which is the reason they were arsenal refinished. |
| Don't take this wrong, but If that is the Krinkle type Finish I don't think you can get it off without blasting. I would like to see it thoroughly tried though as I have a milled FA 603 aka 605 upper with that stuff on it and would love to take it off. I say go for it. |
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The finish is not gritty at all, actually it's a slicker finish than the NDS lower. There's some pretty detailed pictures of the upper in the appraisal thread posted by the prior owner. If not the last page, close to it. Honestly I don't really know what the finish is, It's the same color inside as out, it's doesn't appear to be thick either. Honestly it feels like the same texture as any other older upper, just darker. At first I was trying to convince myself, that it maybe the original finish but looking at it under some magnification you can see small dings that has been covered over.
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Quoted:
I've got a twin to the 604 upper. Same Arsenal refinish and notch under the ejection port door. I tried striping that finish off with every paint stripper I could find. Nothing touches it. Same here. My next attempt will be various strengths of acid. The trick will be to eat the paint, but NOT the aluminum. |
| I tried Jasco on a norrels coated early 603 upper the other day left it there for 2 days and barely did anything. I have read on here that some have had good results from Dads. Not knowing what your finish is I guess you just have to try different products till you get results. Good luck though and let us know how it progresses. |
I'll bet if you soaked it in a can of Chem-Dip carburetor cleaner, that would take the arsenal paint off. I soaked a (steel) Imbel FAL lower in that stuff for a couple of days, and the paint came off like a snake shedding its skin. This was intentional, by the way.  The paint didn't dissolve, but it did come off! The factory Imbel paint is also notoriously tough stuff.
Please take note! The Imbel lower is made of steel, so the chemicals had no adverse effects on it. Your very rare and nice looking upper, being aluminum, might not fare as well. Most carburetors are made of aluminum or zinc, so the upper probably wouldn't dissolve. However, Chem-Dip will dissolve the gold iridite finish right off a Holley carb., so your anodizing might be at risk. |
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I am not a retro guy but trying to learn stuff... I suppose I could ask this anywhere but how would it corrode in the first place?
I was under impression that aluminum really didn't corrode. I know technically it self-anodizes but didn't think it would actually corrode to the of pitting. I guess now that I type that it makes it sound like I think aluminum is some sort of super-metal or something. Not really but if someone can educate me on this that would be cool. Quoted:
That is a somewhat rare upper. You could strip it and if it doesn't look great send it off to Victor at US Anodizing. With a vintage upper like that I would definitely go with anodizing over a paint on finish. I think whatever it's coated with is thin as I can see grey under the black coating. Also doesn't seem to be corroded with pits. A lot of early uppers suffered from corrosion and had severe pitting which is the reason they were arsenal refinished. |
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Quoted:
I am not a retro guy but trying to learn stuff... I suppose I could ask this anywhere but how would it corrode in the first place? I was under impression that aluminum really didn't corrode. I know technically it self-anodizes but didn't think it would actually corrode to the of pitting. I guess now that I type that it makes it sound like I think aluminum is some sort of super-metal or something. Not really but if someone can educate me on this that would be cool. Quoted:
I am not a retro guy but trying to learn stuff... I suppose I could ask this anywhere but how would it corrode in the first place? I was under impression that aluminum really didn't corrode. I know technically it self-anodizes but didn't think it would actually corrode to the of pitting. I guess now that I type that it makes it sound like I think aluminum is some sort of super-metal or something. Not really but if someone can educate me on this that would be cool. Quoted:
That is a somewhat rare upper. You could strip it and if it doesn't look great send it off to Victor at US Anodizing. With a vintage upper like that I would definitely go with anodizing over a paint on finish. I think whatever it's coated with is thin as I can see grey under the black coating. Also doesn't seem to be corroded with pits. A lot of early uppers suffered from corrosion and had severe pitting which is the reason they were arsenal refinished. 
http://products.asminternational.org/fach/data/fullDisplay.do%3Fdatabase%3Dfaco%26record%3D300%26search%3D |
Well Guys, I've had the mystery coating saturated in Aircraft stripper all day long and it hasn't budged.  What ever the coating, it appears to have been dipped in it as the inside is coated as well as the outside. I really don't want to be the one who basted this thing.....Anyone know if Victor at US Anodizing will take care of that also?
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| As someone who has done a good amount of painting, you can find an aggressive stripper gel and liberally coat the upper and let it sit and watch for wrinkles. If the stripper doesn't burn your eyea and skin on contact and require lots of ventilation, it's not strong enough.. Try ks-3, it removes epoxy and other finishes. |
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Quoted:
Well Guys, I've had the mystery coating saturated in Aircraft stripper all day long and it hasn't budged. What ever the coating, it appears to have been dipped in it as the inside is coated as well as the outside. I really don't want to be the one who basted this thing.....Anyone know if Victor at US Anodizing will take care of that also?You now have first hand experience with the arsenal refinish black.It is the devil. 
I have an upper just like yours but not in as good condition. Im considering having it painted if I keep it instead of trying to deal with blasting or stripping it. |
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