Recently I picked up a beater HWM Windicator in 38 Special for an around-the-house/truck gun. As is typical of used zamak framed guns the paint had seen better days with lots of holster wear. Figuring to pretty it up some and keep the frame from corroding out here in the rainy northwest I detail stripped the gun and proceeded to repaint it. THREE times.
Didn’t seem to matter the kind of paint, the prep, or whether or not it was primered first the paint just wouldn’t stay. Since I wear it on my hip almost constantly it’s always gettin’ banged against doorways, the tractor, etc. Within a couple days the paint would start chipping off near the hammer. I dunno, maybe ceracoat or duracoat would work better, but I’m stingy and the gun ain’t worth investing a lot of effort or money into.
Today I’ve gone a different route, trying Casey’s Super Blue. Stripped her down, sanded some scratches with 600 grit, hit it all over with 000 steel wool, then degreased with carb spray. Applied the blue with a sopping wet cotton ball, let sit, light scrub with steel wool, reapply. Took it in to the sink and ran the water as hot as I could get, let it soak a couple minutes to suck up some heat, then scrubbed with a toothbrush. Repeated the application, rinse and scrub twice more.
Turned out pretty well. The resulting color is a satin grey-black, a couple shades lighter than the cylinder & barrel, with just enough tooth to hang on to oil. Guess we’ll all find out in a few days if this is any kind of durable. Gotta be better than paint chipping off, and touchups should only need a few dabs with a Q-tip.
Didn’t seem to matter the kind of paint, the prep, or whether or not it was primered first the paint just wouldn’t stay. Since I wear it on my hip almost constantly it’s always gettin’ banged against doorways, the tractor, etc. Within a couple days the paint would start chipping off near the hammer. I dunno, maybe ceracoat or duracoat would work better, but I’m stingy and the gun ain’t worth investing a lot of effort or money into.
Today I’ve gone a different route, trying Casey’s Super Blue. Stripped her down, sanded some scratches with 600 grit, hit it all over with 000 steel wool, then degreased with carb spray. Applied the blue with a sopping wet cotton ball, let sit, light scrub with steel wool, reapply. Took it in to the sink and ran the water as hot as I could get, let it soak a couple minutes to suck up some heat, then scrubbed with a toothbrush. Repeated the application, rinse and scrub twice more.
Turned out pretty well. The resulting color is a satin grey-black, a couple shades lighter than the cylinder & barrel, with just enough tooth to hang on to oil. Guess we’ll all find out in a few days if this is any kind of durable. Gotta be better than paint chipping off, and touchups should only need a few dabs with a Q-tip.