Coloring etchings on AR lower?

[Cheeseybacon]

I've seen a number of AR lower receivers lately that had the safety selector etchings colored in. "Fire" was red, and "safe" was white. I really liked the way this looks and would like to do the same on both of my AR lowers.

I was thinking about applying the paint with a toothpick or really fine brush, but just the other day I watched a guy on TV color in the etchings on the gauge cluster of an old WWII tank that he was restoring. All he did was fill in the etchings with a regular old paintbrush then wipe off the excess paint with a rag. Is it safe to use the same technique with an AR lower?

What is the best way of going about this?

Paint suggestions?

[Kaos]

I've seen alot of people use crayon...believe it or not...to achieve this effect.

[Cheeseybacon]

Crayon? Really?

Any idea how Crayon holds up in the long term again solvents and such?

[RocketFoot]

Here is a really good tutorial on painting roll marks from AR15Armory...

http://www.ar15armory.com/forums/ind...dpost&p=264135

[Trooper]

I used crayon, you just rub it in really hard, then use a hair dryer to heat the receiver and melt the crayon in. I heated the inside, it made the crayon completely fill the impression and kept the liquified crayon from blowing all over the place. Let it cool completely then wipe the excess with a rag with Zippo lighter fluid. Keep switching to a clean part of the rag.

Mine came out really sharp, I don't seem to have pics here at work to upload, I'll try to do that at home.

[blendingnoise]

https://www.micro-tools.com/store/it...temCode=L51123

Used it on 2 guns so far. You rub it on a piece of paper really lightly to remove the outer film around the tube (you have an extra cardboard outer tube also) and then just rub it over the engraving and fill it in. Wait a couple of minutes and wipe the rest of it off with a dry paper towel. If it refuses to wipe of for some unknown reason then use mineral oil to clean up the area.

Pretty permanent and will withstand regular gun cleaning for me so far. If you don't like it you can pick it out with a dental pick or toothpick and clean it out.

[Cheeseybacon]

I'm gonna try the testor's model paint first, as I happen to have some on hand. It it turns out well I'll post pictures, otherwise I will get some of this magical Lacquer-Stik.

[XD45]

Originally Posted by Cheeseybacon

I'm gonna try the testor's model paint first, as I happen to have some on hand. It it turns out well I'll post pictures, otherwise I will get some of this magical Lacquer-Stik.

talk to jaybell about the crayon, i'm fairly sure he's done it before

[DeltaII5]

China Marker

No idea where they got the name from, but thats what you use. It's a combination between a crayon and pencil. (Looks like a colored pencil though).

Red

White

You simply fill the inlay with it. Then go over it with some type of solvent.

I found a tutorial once that suggested going over it with rubbing alcohol. That didn't work to remove it from the finish. I used Hoppe's #9 and it came off great.

ETA: My local staples didn't have any in stock. Not sure if they even carried them, I found them at a local business supply store though.

[crakkajakka15]

do you have to use the testors paint?......what TYPE of paint will work