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Quoted: I've been wanting to do this for a long time and finally did it. I used rustoleum from walmart and the khaki and sand are ridiculously similar in color (easier to tell difference in person though). I got a little repetitive with my sponge , but overall I think it looks good. I went light on darker colors because of how tan most of the desert is this time of year. Lots more green in the winter months. https://i.imgur.com/LHcQlAw.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/nDgxna4.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/ubO45Za.jpg?1 Used a filter on this one to make it more obvious. https://i.imgur.com/KKIMEPC.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/VzXK7M4.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/F3MaVaK.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/l9QbKwm.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/qHKkkAz.jpg?1 View Quote That blends in very well! Nice work! I don't think your marks are too repetative. I like the almost chocolate-chip style look you ended up with. |
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Quoted: My holster was black and I decided that definitely was not ok. So I broke out the rattle cans and sponges again. Overall looks much better https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/373944/20200518_193306-1428085.jpg View Quote Hell yeah! Nice!!!! I need to remember to do a few more of my holsters the next time I paint......which should be soon. My son and I have new optics coming for a few rifles, and once we get them on, we will have to paint. |
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Another 1st rattle can job on an AR.
Turned out a little lighter than I hoped but it'll do well in the dry times of the year. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Turrible lighting in my garage. Just turrible. I have a new Tikka T3X and Leupold VX5 waiting to be my next victim... |
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Quoted:
Another 1st rattle can job on an AR. Turned out a little lighter than I hoped but it'll do well in the dry times of the year. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/370487/20200525_131638_jpg-1432455.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/370487/20200525_133116_jpg-1432456.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/370487/20200525_134606_jpg-1432457.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/370487/20200525_135906_jpg-1432458.JPG Turrible lighting in my garage. Just turrible. I have a new Tikka T3X and Leupold VX5 waiting to be my next victim... View Quote To make it darker, all you would need to do is spray the darker stripes over top in a couple areas. Try not to divide the rifle up into even parts. We want slight differences. Once you have the darker colors sprayed, then apply sponges again, remembering not to use too many really light color marks on the dark areas. Just a few, with more medium marks on the dark and black areas. You can see the Light to dark to Light stripe fades on my AR9. I just put a new Eotech on there this morning. I'll have to blend the paint with the rest, and I'll do it the same way. Spray my stripes, then apply sponges again to blend it in to the rest of the composition. |
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Quoted: Adding a little paint to darken it wouldn't be too hard if you really want it darker. Spraying the dark diagonal wide stripes before you sponge paint, will create darker areas. To make it darker, all you would need to do is spray the darker stripes over top in a couple areas. Try not to divide the rifle up into even parts. We want slight differences. Once you have the darker colors sprayed, then apply sponges again, remembering not to use too many really light color marks on the dark areas. Just a few, with more medium marks on the dark and black areas. You can see the Light to dark to Light stripe fades on my AR9. I just put a new Eotech on there this morning. I'll have to blend the paint with the rest, and I'll do it the same way. Spray my stripes, then apply sponges again to blend it in to the rest of the composition. https://i.imgur.com/vEnveSi.jpg View Quote Thanks for the tip! I ended up just adding some more sponging with the green on the light areas. I used the squint technique to pick spots to break up the profile. I'll put up a pic when I get home. |
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When rattle can painting mags, is it critical to tape off the section of the mag that sits inside the magwell?
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Quoted: When rattle can painting mags, is it critical to tape off the section of the mag that sits inside the magwell? View Quote Absolutely. Tolerances are too close on some....not all, but I usually error on the side of I want all my mags to drop free. Magpuls, especially, need taped. USGI mags I've gotten away with painting the whole mag. I wouldn't recommend it. |
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Quoted: Absolutely. Tolerances are too close on some....not all, but I usually error on the side of I want all my mags to drop free. Magpuls, especially, need taped. USGI mags I've gotten away with painting the whole mag. I wouldn't recommend it. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: When rattle can painting mags, is it critical to tape off the section of the mag that sits inside the magwell? Absolutely. Tolerances are too close on some....not all, but I usually error on the side of I want all my mags to drop free. Magpuls, especially, need taped. USGI mags I've gotten away with painting the whole mag. I wouldn't recommend it. Thanks for the insight. I have no desire to reinvent the wheel as far as what works/doesn’t work. Is it the same issue with AK mags? I have a bunch of Sand AK PMags I purchased in close out, and was thinking about rattle canning them as well. |
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Quoted: Thanks for the insight. I have no desire to reinvent the wheel as far as what works/doesn’t work. Is it the same issue with AK mags? I have a bunch of Sand AK PMags I purchased in close out, and was thinking about rattle canning them as well. View Quote I had to go check. I couldn't remember what I did. I did tape the AK mags too, although the tolerances are so loose my guess is its unneeded. |
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I taped off two mags to rattle can them id at, but I was Brownelled
My brand new van of FDE Aluma Hyde sprayed a short stream of sticky crap on my mag then died. So much for a $12 can of spray paint. Now I have no FDE Aluma Hyde snd I have to sand down the side of the mag. I’m not very impressed with Brownells $12 can of spray paint, nor their customer service. |
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Quoted: I taped off two mags to rattle can them id at, but I was Brownelled My brand new van of FDE Aluma Hyde sprayed a short stream of sticky crap on my mag then died. So much for a $12 can of spray paint. Now I have no FDE Aluma Hyde snd I have to sand down the side of the mag. I’m not very impressed with Brownells $12 can of spray paint, nor their customer service. View Quote Do this.... Take the nozzle off. Put a pen tip in the opening of the can and press down. Make sure the can is pointing down in a trash can and have gloves on. It should clear the straw. Shake it up really well. And then put the nozzle back and try it again. You may also have to clear the nozzle too, or replace it. Sometimes if I dont have spares I swap back and fourth. Mine do that if they sit for too long and I dont shake them well enough. I think there are even pictures in this thread of me clearing a can like that? |
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Quoted: Do this.... Take the nozzle off. Put a pen tip in the opening of the can and press down. Make sure the can is pointing down in a trash can and have gloves on. It should clear the straw. Shake it up really well. And then put the nozzle back and try it again. You may also have to clear the nozzle too, or replace it. Sometimes if I dont have spares I swap back and fourth. Mine do that if they sit for too long and I dont shake them well enough. View Quote Don't stores also sell replacement nozzles that are usually nice to have for when the inevitably die? |
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Thanks, you’re the man! Success! had to use a toothpick inside the nozzle after I cleared the can, but one mag is painted. The other one has crud on the side that I’ll have to sand down if I want it to look nice.
Attached File |
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Quoted: Thanks, you’re the man! Success! had to use a toothpick inside the nozzle after I cleared the can, but one mag is painted. The other one has crud on the side that I’ll have to sand down if I want it to look nice. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/314595/6F0A8562-847C-476B-88AB-4D1E447C4EBB_jpe-1462901.JPG View Quote I have a whole rifle like that..... kind of like the rough flat texture of it. I was running low on some color and it was all o could do to get the last little bit of it.....and it was very old paint. |
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Quoted: https://i.imgflip.com/3iobvt.gif ETA I too was worried about this when I bought the paint for mine. Luckily I had no issues. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: I taped off two mags to rattle can them id at, but I was Brownelled My brand new van of FDE Aluma Hyde sprayed a short stream of sticky crap on my mag then died. So much for a $12 can of spray paint. Now I have no FDE Aluma Hyde snd I have to sand down the side of the mag. I’m not very impressed with Brownells $12 can of spray paint, nor their customer service. https://i.imgflip.com/3iobvt.gif ETA I too was worried about this when I bought the paint for mine. Luckily I had no issues. Lol, yes, that gif sums it up nicely. Since this clogging is apparently not terribly uncommon, you’d think the Brownells “gun tech” I eventually was transferred to would have said what guns762 said. Nope. That’s why we have this forum I suppose. |
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With Aluma hyde I find it helpful to keep a can of carb cleaner near by, once done spraying a coat I turn can upside down and vent it then I pop the nozzle off and stick it on the can of carb cleaner to blast it clear immediately. I believe the AH has a shelf life and it's not terribly long.
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Did a test panel today, also posted to gd.
https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/First-attempt-at-sponge-camo/5-2341869/?r=86162726&page=1&anc=86162726#i86162726 Attached File |
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So this isn’t a sponge Camo job, but I did repaint the slide in my LCP using what I learned in this thread when I sponge painted a rifle stock.
The starting point: Attached File Attached File A very shiny slide, and I have discovered glare from the sun off the stainless nubs that pass for sights makes it even harder to acquire the front sight. As suggested earlier in this thread, I marked off the slide and then hit it with AlumaHyde II in matte black. The result: Attached File Solid matte black slide. I let it cure, and now I’m posted a high visibility white dot (rectangle) on the front sight. I found even if I never grab a sponge, this thread was invaluable to giving me a push towards painting guns. And surface prep us your friend. |
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Quoted: Did a test panel today, also posted to gd. https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/First-attempt-at-sponge-camo/5-2341869/?r=86162726&page=1&anc=86162726#i86162726 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/54712/BBD4429E-337C-4686-AD7E-4E3DBBB53B85_jpe-1475137.JPG View Quote Excellent job on the pattern. |
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Quoted: So this isn’t a sponge Camo job, but I did repaint the slide in my LCP using what I learned in this thread when I sponge painted a rifle stock. The starting point: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/314595/AC89E3A4-AE6B-4688-8459-C382A1ACEE64_jpe-1475322.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/314595/1A78B397-CCCB-4CDB-98DD-44DD66FEFB37_jpe-1475323.JPG A very shiny slide, and I have discovered glare from the sun off the stainless nubs that pass for sights makes it even harder to acquire the front sight. As suggested earlier in this thread, I marked off the slide and then hit it with AlumaHyde II in matte black. The result: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/314595/775D26C5-F0CC-4D14-98AA-4C7E4C7B4910_jpe-1475325.JPG Solid matte black slide. I let it cure, and now I’m posted a high visibility white dot (rectangle) on the front sight. I found even if I never grab a sponge, this thread was invaluable to giving me a push towards painting guns. And surface prep us your friend. View Quote Nice! |
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Quoted: Excellent job on the pattern. Thanks, I'm hoping it works out the same way on the gun. I'm going to paint up my can cannon and probably my scorpion. I also have neat idea for a welding helmet with some ghosted in logo's that I'm going to start on next week. I have a friend with a vinyl plotter that's going to make some stencils. |
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Quoted: Here’s my first sponged rifle: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/58346/A0532B90-B04B-4C94-85BD-C00D76A1600A_jpe-1481095.JPG View Quote Damn that looks awesome. |
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Quoted: Thanks. I learned a lot. I didn’t think it was coming together, until it just did. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Damn that looks awesome. Thanks. I learned a lot. I didn’t think it was coming together, until it just did. Looks good. I agree on the process - first sponge camo job I painted, there was a point where it went from “that looks like a preschooler painting” to “now that looks like a camo pattern”. |
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Quoted: Looks good. I agree on the process - first sponge camo job I painted, there was a point where it went from “that looks like a preschooler painting” to “now that looks like a camo pattern”. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Damn that looks awesome. Thanks. I learned a lot. I didn’t think it was coming together, until it just did. Looks good. I agree on the process - first sponge camo job I painted, there was a point where it went from “that looks like a preschooler painting” to “now that looks like a camo pattern”. This is the same mental process that students go through with Art projects.. ...there's always that point where you are saying to yourself, "this looks like shit! I want to quit," and then, persistence takes over and the project magically comes together. It's an awesome thing to watch from a human behavior standpoint. |
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Quoted: Here’s my first sponged rifle: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/58346/A0532B90-B04B-4C94-85BD-C00D76A1600A_jpe-1481095.JPG View Quote Excellent work! |
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Quoted: This is the same mental process that students go through with Art projects.. ...there's always that point where you are saying to yourself, "this looks like shit! I want to quit," and then, persistence takes over and the project magically comes together. It's an awesome thing to watch from a human behavior standpoint. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Damn that looks awesome. Thanks. I learned a lot. I didn’t think it was coming together, until it just did. Looks good. I agree on the process - first sponge camo job I painted, there was a point where it went from “that looks like a preschooler painting” to “now that looks like a camo pattern”. This is the same mental process that students go through with Art projects.. ...there's always that point where you are saying to yourself, "this looks like shit! I want to quit," and then, persistence takes over and the project magically comes together. It's an awesome thing to watch from a human behavior standpoint. It’s great we have an outstanding art teacher here on Arfcom to teach us art! |
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Here’s a side question about Aluma Hyde:
I learned about Aluma Hyde from this thread. I tried some out, and despite a few hiccups learning about nozzle clog, the results have been excellent. This stuff seems to be a step up in durability over basic Krylon/Rustoleum paints. Reading the instructions, Brownells basically advises on about 30 minutes after the first diary for touch ups or additional coats, and after this window to wait for a full cure before more Aluma Hyde. Fir folks using this stuff, when doing sponge painting do you try to do everything fast, or do you wait for cure between every different color? Or is Brownells bring too conservative on the window? |
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Quoted: Here’s a side question about Aluma Hyde: I learned about Aluma Hyde from this thread. I tried some out, and despite a few hiccups learning about nozzle clog, the results have been excellent. This stuff seems to be a step up in durability over basic Krylon/Rustoleum paints. Reading the instructions, Brownells basically advises on about 30 minutes after the first diary for touch ups or additional coats, and after this window to wait for a full cure before more Aluma Hyde. Fir folks using this stuff, when doing sponge painting do you try to do everything fast, or do you wait for cure between every different color? Or is Brownells bring too conservative on the window? View Quote I do it all at one time. I don't rush anything, just progress through the process. |
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Great job! That’s a nice collection!
So rattle can painting a stock pack works? Just plain Krylon/Rustoleum, or do you use a special paint? |
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Thanks. My wife saw it and said “Don’t touch any of my guns.” Hehe...I guess it’s not for everyone. I’ve had to fight the temptation to go shoot it. Should probably let it cure for a few days.
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Quoted: I figured I’d give this a try. Used a P250 because if I mess it up, oh well. Combo of some Rustoleum and Krylon paints.https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/407215/238560EF-D300-4832-A63C-7311CE688CCA-1495524.jpghttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/407215/47B429EB-A766-4341-9C5A-3B98A2263771-1495525.jpg https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/407215/FC02DCDF-F849-4979-A4C2-A1C140F182FC-1495533.jpg View Quote Color combination on that is awesome! Excellent work! |
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Quoted: 1st attempt at sponge camo. I'm impressed with the finished product. Excuse the horrible pics/lighting. Base coat https://i.imgur.com/nTI8vGP.jpg Secondary color https://i.imgur.com/yFMO1j6.jpg First sponge pass https://i.imgur.com/aIOIjSe.jpg Final product https://i.imgur.com/kw8ZR6I.jpg View Quote That is an impressive 2 color version. Love how you shaped the base colors. |
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Quoted: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/341567/6123E71D-4753-4191-8AB1-CA0B92D1D8A1_jpe-1501489.JPG First attempt using op’s method. I’m pretty happy with it. View Quote Looks great! I need to attempt a more flecktarnish composition like that. |
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