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4/25/2005 6:15:42 PM EDT
We completed our first custom job on a 6920 this weekend.  The upper and lower were both new, but purchased independently (they didn't match - the lower s an older model as can be seen by the "semi" vs "fire" marking).  We completely disassembled the rifle, smoothed out all the rough Colt factory milling marks (such as all the rough spots in the A3 handle), degreased it, and finished everything in Norrel's flat black and OD green (3 coats).  Did minimal "parts" work, but here's what we did do:

  • Replaced handguards with Surefire M73 rail system - moly resin flat black.

  • Added Magpul ladder rail covers, trimmed to fit - OD green (perfect match with Norrels OD green BTW)

  • Replaced trigger guard with Magpul enhanced trigger guard - moly resin OD green to match.

  • Added Colt bayo - stripped it down and refinished it in flat black and OD green to match

  • Stripped down four new colt LEO 30 rd mags - refinished in flat black with OD green floorplates

  • Replaced grip with black hogue grip

  • Replaced A2 flash hider with Phantom Flash Supressor



Here's the high points on new things we learned:

  • Had to cut the FSB off.  Ouch.  Have temporarily replaced the FSB with a set-screw FSB - I'm happy with the quality of the set-screw FSB, but still determined to tap some blanks for taper pins; Next time will put more effort into getting the FSB off correctly;

  • "Runs" in the moly resin are unacceptable - a single run makes the whole thing look like a "paint job" vs. a "finish";  the moly easily removes with MEK and a lint-free rag if done prior to baking - this process will not harm any undercoats of moly; If you catch it post-bake, buff it out and re-coat it;

  • We had to do multiple coats of moly - this was required for the OD; the upper and lower did not match to start with and they still didn't match after a single coat - it took 3 to reach a perfect match;

  • We wanted a perfectly smooth finish and found the only way to accomplish this with the moly was to buff with 000 (super fine) steel wool between coats, and even after the final coat; oiled and buffed the finish afterwards and it resulted in a really great and perfectly smooth finish;

  • Wipe your rubber gloves off with a damp MEK cloth before handling parts to keep the glove dust off the parts; change gloves often as moly buildup on your gloved hands will leave handling marks on your parts;  I understand there are "clean rubber gloves" available that don't have the cornstarch type stuff on them, but I haven't been able to find them;

  • Once you've degreased the parts, rinse them in distilled water before pre-heating them - avoids mineral residue on your parts which will impact your finish;  If you're going to use steel wool, rinse the parts with distilled water after each buffing to get the steel wool residue completely off;

  • So far I am very impressed with the durability of this stuff; the FSB had to be tapped into place with a plastic hammer - we oiled around it to miminimize impact to the barrel finish and there was absolutely no mark left where the FSB traveled up the barrel.



Learned a lot from all the previous posts on this subjct, and open to better ways around the points above (although don't get me going on this FSB thing again).  Here are a few pics of the finished product:





4/25/2005 6:34:59 PM EDT
[#1]
real nice looking job
4/25/2005 7:03:04 PM EDT
[#2]
Very, Very nice!!!!!! You have just enough black accents to tone down the OD. The two tone FF looks awesome as does the carry handle and Phantom.
4/25/2005 7:06:01 PM EDT
[#3]


That is outstanding!
4/25/2005 7:11:36 PM EDT
[#4]
Nice Colt.    

Colt_SBR  
4/25/2005 7:35:47 PM EDT
[#5]

We had to do multiple coats of moly - this was required for the OD; the upper and lower did not match to start with and they still didn't match after a single coat - it took 3 to reach a perfect match;


Using Norrells, you always want at least 3 coats.  Preheating will reduce or eliminate the drips and sags, which I agree, will totally ruin a finish.

It turned out very nice.
4/25/2005 10:42:35 PM EDT
[#6]
very very nice...my attempt at Norrel didn't turn that great
4/25/2005 11:00:56 PM EDT
[#7]
Looks Great
4/26/2005 5:53:50 AM EDT
[#8]
Wow, nice job. I like the bayonet too.
4/26/2005 8:24:30 AM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:
very very nice...my attempt at Norrel didn't turn that great





????    What happened?  
4/26/2005 9:06:42 AM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
very very nice...my attempt at Norrel didn't turn that great





????    What happened?  



well it worked fine for the barrel but my upper receiver was all beat up i.e. old military A1 upper that lost most of its anodizing. I soaked it in acetone for couple of hours, then let it dried, then heated it in the oven at 300 F..then spray paint using my badger and socom flat black .At that time it looked fine (ie no dripping or bubbles...), then in the oven for 1 hour at 300F. Still look fine when out. Then I installed ejection door/FA/1rear sight but it was scratchin way too easily. Maybe because most of the anodizing was gone to start with. I dunno.

ETA: maybe we can take in offline. Send me a pm with ur email, I'll send u pics if ur interested. Thanks for your help.
4/26/2005 1:35:56 PM EDT
[#11]
I have done a couple rifles in the same scheme. Did you disassemble the stock and Norrellify the buffer tube? It looks great if you do, and...unfinished if you don't.



I still need to moly resin my black parts black.

Your rifle really turned out well. I really like the Bayonett. I need more props for taking pictures...ammo box, camo net...very nice.
4/26/2005 1:37:43 PM EDT
[#12]
looks great
4/26/2005 3:49:36 PM EDT
[#13]

Quoted:
I have done a couple rifles in the same scheme. Did you disassemble the stock and Norrellify the buffer tube? It looks great if you do, and...unfinished if you don't.



doesn't look like it.

better off staying black- black and OD are nice, but trying to paint "every other" part black and then every other green gets a little cluttered looking- almost like you are trying to have the most fun possible with the paint.  

I don't think the paint on the barrel will hold up to that bayonet though..  
4/26/2005 4:55:14 PM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:
I have done a couple rifles in the same scheme. Did you disassemble the stock and Norrellify the buffer tube? It looks great if you do, and...unfinished if you don't.

home.comcast.net/~csehmel/Firearms/Carbine15.jpg

I still need to moly resin my black parts black.

Your rifle really turned out well. I really like the Bayonett. I need more props for taking pictures...ammo box, camo net...very nice.



Thanks, and nice rifle!  I did not disassemble the stock - only because I bent two punches trying to get the roll pin out of the lever assembly - what am I doing wrong here?  I do want to "norrellify" the tube.
4/26/2005 5:47:33 PM EDT
[#15]
Please don't take the pin out of the tube!!  Pull straight down on the latch, and it will pull out more than when you press in.  With it pulled out, the stock will slide right off the tube.
exocet-  PM sent
4/26/2005 6:06:26 PM EDT
[#16]

Quoted:
Please don't take the pin out of the tube!!  Pull straight down on the latch, and it will pull out more than when you press in.  With it pulled out, the stock will slide right off the tube.
exocet-  PM sent



Thanks - you're route seems to be slightly easier and less intrusive than pounding away with a hammer and punch.  BTW thanks for all the great moly resin posts as well - we referenced your write-ups for this job.  Already started on #2!
4/26/2005 6:29:43 PM EDT
[#17]
That is a Bad Ass M4!
4/26/2005 6:44:20 PM EDT
[#18]
TRIGGERFIN,

I'm flattered, thankyou.  As I'm sure you have already discovered, it becomes quite addictive....

Wait until you start getting the email and phone calls with people wanting you to do work for them, its only a matter of time.
4/26/2005 7:19:13 PM EDT
[#19]
yeah, like stickman said- pull the stock all the way to the rear, release the latch and then pull it down away from the tube and pull off.  I don't think anyone has been able to get the latch pin nut roll pin out without seriously damaging anything.  I think it's there to be installed and left alone.  there is absolutely no reason to remove it- you know that now.  When I first tried to remove one, I ended up going from one tool to the next until I ended up with the dremel and then a drill and increasing diameter drill bits...

You can't just buy the latch pin roll pin, latch pin nut, latch pin, latch pin spring or latch by themselves as far as I know.  LMT sells them all in one package.  I don't know any others that even sell that much...
4/26/2005 7:31:47 PM EDT
[#20]
Stickman: check email. Thanks.
4/27/2005 11:18:38 AM EDT
[#21]
Sweet rifle. I finally will get around to doing my first Moly Resin job this weekend.
4/28/2005 9:09:01 AM EDT
[#22]

Quoted:
Sweet rifle. I finally will get around to doing my first Moly Resin job this weekend.






Slacker......
4/28/2005 11:42:18 AM EDT
[#23]
Good God that's nice!
4/28/2005 12:01:35 PM EDT
[#24]

Quoted:
Good God that's nice!



+1, I have got to try this some day.
4/29/2005 5:31:31 PM EDT
[#25]
Thanks for all the great feedback.  Stock successfully disassembled (no hammering required per advice given) and buffer tube norrellified OD green to match.  Much better!  Oh, and 100 rds down-range to validate a successful re-assembly (success).  Great feedback at the range too, even from the AR uninformed.  The one thing I was not happy with was the finish on the mags. The mags were awfully "sticky" in the magwell with that finish and the finish on the mags didn't do so well (no harm done to the magwell finish).  I think I'll try some of the brownells teflon-based stuff on the mags.
4/30/2005 11:58:38 AM EDT
[#26]


I went with the all OD myself... NMR OD rifles = hotness IMHO!

- Gazukull
4/30/2005 12:02:25 PM EDT
[#27]

Quoted:
img127.exs.cx/img127/7105/greenmachinem4andotherpics2057.jpg

I went with the all OD myself... NMR OD rifles = hotness IMHO!

- Gazukull



nice looking rifle
4/30/2005 1:18:17 PM EDT
[#28]
Wow... what a great looking rifle!!!

Outstanding!
4/30/2005 5:24:38 PM EDT
[#29]

Quoted:

I went with the all OD myself... NMR OD rifles = hotness IMHO!

- Gazukull



Gazzy, haven't seen ya around Xdtalk lately.

Nice job!
4/30/2005 5:28:51 PM EDT
[#30]
Heya Krackels,

Yah, there is only so many times that you can go over:

1) My finish is rusting
2) 9mm vs .40
3) I switched to Glock

So I spend most of my time here and lightfighter!

- Gazukull
4/30/2005 6:45:12 PM EDT
[#31]
Trigger, where you at in NC?  I'm in Winston-Salem.
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