Looking for ideas. I added a digital camouflage stencil to my recent Primary Arms order. What paint colors work best for this area, preferably stuff I can grab at Lowe’s. I’ve got an AR I’d like to get painted up. Share pictures if you can.
Rattle can colors
- Thread starter Whoknows
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baltimoreed
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Used Rustolium rattlecan camo colors with a matte top coat for my Mini30/M1a build I did some years ago. The scope mount is faux as the rings are mounted on the ruger recvr mounts. Accuracy Systems did the bbl brace and flash hider. The stock is a full sized m14 stock with a lot of jbweld and oak spacers. The ruger steel reenforcement lined up with the M1a reinforcement holes. I tapped them and used the bigger M1a two hole screws. Drilling the safety was tough, that is very hard steel.
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You do some really weird stuff and I love all of it.
Rust-Oleum has flat OD green, tan & brown that work well, but the brown is very dark. Matte clear will give it a bit of depth & help protect the paint, but will also give it a bit of a sheen.
What brand of paint holds up the best?
baltimoreed
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It’s been a long while but when I researched it the Rustolium was the better paint but in real use my rifle doesn’t get shot very often so I couldn’t say how well it holds up.
Bull Durham
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Spot on!
georgel
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Rust-Oleum has a line of camo specific paints. I've seen them at Walmart. I find Rust-Oleum paints don't reach maximum hardening/ durability until weeks later. Next time I'm trying the primer and an over coat.
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Krylon also has a camo brand of paint but they’re harder to find
Tractor supply sells a Camo line of paint but I found it gummed up the nozzle very quickly and didn’t work very well. I’d avoid it
Tractor supply sells a Camo line of paint but I found it gummed up the nozzle very quickly and didn’t work very well. I’d avoid it
I used these cans from Home Depot or Lowe’s to paint this rifle. It was my first attempt I think it’s ok, but I’ve considered buying some stencils and redoing it.
1bigtarget
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Rustolum works well but i always add a coat or two of matt clear ive found it really helps with durability
I've used krylon and Rust-Oleum, without any real cleaning or primer, it only wears quickly from contact areas, doesn't bother me. Tan and olive drab are pretty versatile, with a little dark brown. Dark brown and green work good for most of three seasons or deep in the woods.
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Dale Gribble
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I'm glad I'm not the only one that happens to. Annoying as heck. I lost 4 brand new cans to this, although it is some pretty good paint. I did find that holding it upside down and spraying until clear does slow/prevent this.
73Chall
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Holee kow, that gun looks just like dirt! 🤣🤣🤣
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baltimoreed
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Lucky, looks good. My only critique would be you need hard edges. Fronds, pine straw, netting for a stencil. There are hard lines in nature. This was my first attempt. I went with a lighter palette.
IrishCannon
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What type of sprays have you guys found work for an "urban grey" or Magpul type "stealth grey" finish?
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Alumahyde “Parkerizing gray” might be close to what you want…
This is Alumahyde 2 in Wolf Gray from Brownells. The grip is BCM grip in Wolf Gray. All was sprayed individually and baked then assembled. Only the grip and can did not get the Alumahyde. I'll say it is not a matte finish
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tobyscreams
Active Member
You’re likely through with your search but you’ll notice every picture has some sort of grey or grey/green to it. It just works. Digital is a huge pain to get it right and keep it square. I duracoated a guys three gun setup all matching. I’ll never do digital again.
IrishCannon
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I like this gray. I just did a Glock in OD and I think I'll do another one in this.
It wasn't too hard. More work than just spray paint, but not bad and to me it didn't stink during the bake. Disassemble, scuff if you need to, degrease with brake cleaner, preheat the part, light coat, bake, light coat, bake, I think is what I did. Then just let them cool overnight and harden. You can see on the mags were it was tight and I put them in right after baking and it came off. Or just spray it and wait 2 weeks to cure naturally. The red was high temp engine paint that didn't stick well.
I'll have to see about conjuring up pictures, but Krylon Ultra-Flat and Rustoleum camouflage rattle can colors are the best in my experience, you just have to degrease the parts to be painted, and then warm the paint before you spray.
I just bought a sheet of these stencils I’m going to try out soon. 
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baltimoreed
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Like the camo work bigdave. Where did you get your sheet of stencils? I assume they peel off. I want to do a WW2 look on my T-20 Garand build.
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I got them from eBay or Etsy I can’t remember. I’m pretty sure it was Etsy I didn’t see them in my purchases on eBay account.
