Some idiot painted my gun.. before I bought it..

ThinkingMan · Nov 16, 2011

Okay so I bought a XD .40 from a Northwest Armory, we all thought it was duracoat OD Green. I'm not holding it against them because I really do want to believe them. it looked real nice when I got it..

Now... not so much...

I want to get this crap off my gun.. but I don't want to damage the Finnish that is under the paint..
Suggestions? Ideas? How to's Please!

Phather · Nov 16, 2011

Maybe a mineral spirits bath overnight?

ThinkingMan · Nov 16, 2011

Phather said:
Maybe a mineral spirits bath overnight?

I thought about that but Don't like the idea of putting it under and submerging it.. But perhaps soaking a towel in it and rolling it up.. i don't know..

chase · Nov 16, 2011

Get one of those sonic cleaners, might help. Other then that not sure.

The B · Nov 17, 2011

pour some lacquer thinner in a glass/metal cup, stick a toothbrush in it, and start scrubbing. wipe with plenty of clean paper towels and make sure your work area is very well ventilated. it's not going to hurt the finish... i've done it a bajillion times

the paint will start to dissolve immediately.. with good wiping, you should be done in like 20 minutes

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something to think about, though.... why take the paint off? the rattle-can paint on my glock doesn't look any better, but i see absolutely zero reason to remove it or repaint it.. i didn't buy it for looks, i don't carry it for looks, and i certainly don't shoot it for looks. just me, though.. some people are vain. :-D

Tbucket · Nov 17, 2011

I don't know about vain but that gun looks like crap. I would strip it and do it right.

civilian75 · Nov 17, 2011

Assuming slide is parkerized or blued, as said above, thinner, mineral spirits, or acetone.

Strip it; and strip it good. That gun offends my aesthetic sensibilities.

Straight Shooter · Nov 19, 2011

Acetone should wash it right off. $50 will recoat a slide with real Cerakote any color you want.

FullCaliber · Nov 19, 2011

I vote for being vain! If you are concerned about the above do-it-yourself methods, just take the slide off and ship it to one of the vendors on here who Cerakote. I had my Glock 27 slide done in OD green @ South Ridge Arms, looks great. They will clean/strip whatever is on the slide before they coat it, so you can ship it to them with that custom spray paint job as is.

DAPSRT · Nov 20, 2011

You could send it in and get it duracoated or cerakoted. ****of course if I had read the whole thread I would have seen someone suggested that already!!! ***

ThinkingMan · Nov 26, 2011

Hey everyone I wanted to say thank you to all of you for the great advice.. I ended up going with mineral spirits (odorless) which was a little too light but with some gentle scrapping with my S&W knife (after trying a variety of plastics) lol I ended up with a look that I THINK i want to keep.. ultimately I am not selling this gun, its my everyday carry, But I wanted to ask what everyone thinks of what I ended up with.. I think that once money is a little better in my world I may have it professionally redone to match this..

beavernation · Nov 26, 2011

I think it looks like an XD that was poorly painted that has now had SOME of its poor paint scraped off. Sorry but you asked.

ThinkingMan · Nov 26, 2011

Right but the question was about the look in general having it done professionally, i recognize that it looks like crap (less than) now..

the4thshake · Nov 27, 2011

Looks like your not done yet.

coltnewbie · Nov 27, 2011

I suggest you send it to the someone in here who can fix it...it looks like a woman's fingernail whose polish is about to come off...seriously.

no time · Nov 27, 2011

Another vote to remove the rest. The accents do nothing to make the weapon look better. JMHO

Both Eyes Open · Nov 27, 2011

I think that if you really like the accent color you have now you should send it out and have that done professionally. If you are really happy with it as is, more power to you and enjoy your firearm!