Will bare aluminum oxidize spread?

[Koda]

So I'm putting new mounts on my rifle and like all mounts nothing is ever perfect. I got the height I wanted but due to the shape of the scope objective bell I'm just a hair short of my perfect eye relief.
Now I can live with it, but this is my favorite rifle and these are premium components on this build. I want to move the scope back maybe 1/8" and the eye relief would be perfect except it would then hit the front ringmount edge.

Now... if I carefully file an angle or chamfer on that front edge it wouldn't take much and I could get with the perfect mount, except then I would have bare exposed aluminum in that small spot. I don't have a way to apply a finishing other than maybe model paint, would that work? And if it doesn't, just how bad will that small strip of bare aluminum oxidize over time?


see front edge of ringmount:

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[Nutty4Guns]

What about Birchwood Casey 'Aluminum Black'? It's supposed to be a touch up for marred aluminum.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I would think that model paint would come off , depending on what you used to clean your rifle with.

Birchwood Casey makes Aluminum Black which works pretty well...might be worth looking into.
Andy

 

[Stomper]

I third on the Birchwood Casey as well..... that or a black sharpie.











OK, don't use a black sharpie.... it easily gets in your teeth!

 

[Nutty4Guns]

I third on the Birchwood Casey as well..... that or a black sharpie.











OK, don't use a black sharpie.... it easily gets in your teeth!

Lol, I usually cheap out and do the sharpie.

 

[thorborg]

You could look into Bonderite or Alodine to touch up your work, but for that little amount, go with Birchwood. Also Birchwood Casey stock wax I use on the metal parts too Which ads to the protection, particularly where there are scratches or other bare metal exposed to the air

 

[Koda]

Ok so what I'm hearing is everyone's ok with the idea of me "bubbafying" the edge of the mount and it looks like unanimously Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black would easily seal the filed surface....

Its cheap enough and designed exactly for sealing small exposed surfaces, I guess I should go for it...

 

[ilikegunspdx]

The aluminum black works pretty good and comes in a touch up pen. If you use paint make sure to acid etch the aluminum first or use an etching primer. Some of the automotive trim paints (for the black trim on cars) are self etching as well and come in many shades of black to grey. SEM is the brand i used to use for trim paint. They have like 10-15 different shades or something. Comes in a spray can.

 

[Koda]

Im going to try the Birchwood Aluminum Black, Sportsmans has it in stock so I will pick up tomorrow and finish the mounting. The grinding went very well, looks clean and straight though a bit more than I wanted but the scope clears nicely. Im thankful for all the tips, I didn't know about the Birchwood Aluminum black.

 

[CentraloregonJ]

It's aluminum…it's going to be oxidized an hour after you file it.

 

[Koda]

It's aluminum…it's going to be oxidized an hour after you file it.

I'll give it another pass tomorrow after I get some Birchwood in hand.

 

[LoganLittle77]

So I'm putting new mounts on my rifle and like all mounts nothing is ever perfect. I got the height I wanted but due to the shape of the scope objective bell I'm just a hair short of my perfect eye relief.
Now I can live with it, but this is my favorite rifle and these are premium components on this build. I want to move the scope back maybe 1/8" and the eye relief would be perfect except it would then hit the front ringmount edge.

Now... if I carefully file an angle or chamfer on that front edge it wouldn't take much and I could get with the perfect mount, except then I would have bare exposed aluminum in that small spot. I don't have a way to apply a finishing other than maybe model paint, would that work? And if it doesn't, just how bad will that small strip of bare aluminum oxidize over time?


see front edge of ringmount:
View attachment 2033633

As also mentioned by others; I prefer the Aluminum Black Touch-Up Pen for imperfections on blued rifles.

 

[Koda]

As also mentioned by others; I prefer the Aluminum Black Touch-Up Pen for imperfections on blued rifles.

To follow up on this the Aluminum Black worked really well. I wouldnt want to refinish a whole part with it but for a small surface it worked really well.