DIY: Remove Spray Paint From Your Gun

In this blog you will find the easy to follow tutorial on how I went about painting my AR15. It can be found here at DIY: Paint Your Guns. In truth it is very easy and cost effective to rattle can any and all of your firearms if that suits your needs. 

But I have been asked about this numerous times. "Why would you want to ruin a gun putting spray paint on it?" Or "what if you decided you didn't want it that color anymore?" 

Short answers are:
"This is my gun, I will do whatever I choose to it. Frig off."
And "You can very easily just paint over it, or remove it and repaint it." 

Admittedly, I have stalled doing this project because I didnt know what sort of nonsense this could open up. And as it turns out I learned a few things out I will explain near the end. If you painted your gun with decent spray paint then this should not be too difficult. 

List:
Goof Off Spray (get the actual brand goof off) 
Big hard bristled brush 
Gloves 
Toothbrush or small brush. 
Brake cleaner

Cleanup - you will need a hose with sprayer attachment to spray brushed etc. Spray all your tools you want to reuse like the brushes. Label them for paint removal only. 

Going over this list you will see that I suggest Goof Off branded spray. That is because I know it works. If you want to use something else because its cheaper, do it your way. Few things are worth saving pennies on and this sort of thing isn't an area I would chance it. I used about 70% of a can which is a lot more than normal people would use because I had 4-6 coats of paint built up. For most folks I think one can could clean 2-3 guns before blowing out. 

The goof off is pretty simple to use. Spray the entire gun down with it and wait 2-3 minutes. Then you can start working on areas. If its thick and built up expect to use quite a bit of elbow grease and spray. Hit an area, spray again, wait 2-3 minutes, scrub, repeat. All the little hard to get areas you can use a toothbrush on. 

Note: goof off worked fine on all my plastic parts. 

After the bulk of the paint starts to come off you can see areas where it adhered better. Just spray these areas and wait and hit with a toothbrush if necessary. Let the Goof Off work for you.

Once the bulk of the paint is off you can wipe a lot of it off the gun with a clean rag. For me it took probably 1-2 hours to get everything pretty well stripped. Now, I'm not a perfectionist. And for this project I didn't need to get absolutely all the paint removed because I am just going to paint over it again. So for perfectionists, its going to take a lot more time and elbow grease and attention to detail. 

When you have removed all the paint you preferred I debated about using a brush and soapy water to clean it up. However I avoid water at all costs if I can help it when it comes to guns. Instead after I wiped everything absolutely clean as possible I sprayed the entire gun with brake cleaner. It worked pretty well. After its totally cleaned up and back to what condition you would like you can lube it and its good to go. It appears the brake cleaner did remove all the remnants of Goof Off.

Final thoughts and notes:

It was daunting when I first started but realized the Goof Off worked for the paints I used. Mind you I used Rusto. I dont like Krylon or any other paint. So I cannot say how it would work for anything else. But with that in mind, you should probably stick to one brand if you learned this process.

The brake cleaner will dry everything out hardcore. You should lube and clean it up as soon as possible. The plastic parts will dry out very badly and so will the metal. The brake cleaner did remove the Goof Off, which was the primary reason I chose it. Some used water and soap but there is no way I am doing that. That option is a last resort for some project for me. 

I did have to take the hand guard off and the gas system, and the muzzle brake off. Everything had to be broken down to actually clean it. Perfectionists, this is a reality and if you want to do this you better plan on a complete break down of your firearm. 

Once I took everything off I needed to wiped it down and started to put it back together the budget hand guard on my AR was definitely the weakest link on my build. It was loosening up without firing, it had some weird proprietary parts I didn't like, and the overall quality was okay at best. I spent probably $30 on it and for good reason, its shit. When I started this build I didn't plan on making it the way it ended up. I added a bi-pod and I eventually wanted a light. This 16" barreled carbine was not made to be the lightest option I owned by any means. It was made for being toted short distances, or used in propped up against something, or with a bi-pod. Going m-lok was a good choice for me in the beginning KNOWING it was going to be a bit lighter than other cheap options. After looking at the attachments and my needs I decided it needed to be switched to something more robust, secure and fitting for what job I assigned it. I chose to swap out the hand guard for a 15" quad rail instead. 

It didn't make any sense to keep the m-lok on it if it was just a pain in the ass to add rails on it all over the place. I don't go rucking with the rifle anyways. Added weight wont be an issue now that it will no doubt be heavier than before. 

In other words what I am saying is go into removing paint and doing these projects at your own risk. You may be forced to look at your build honestly and make other changes to it you didn't plan on. I definitely didn't plan on it and now look at me... checking my bank account to see if I can afford some new tools like a proper armorers wrench and a very durable hand guard that is quad railed. You build your own for the freedom to make it what you choose. And to do so at your leisure. 

It really is like legos for grown men. 

First Aid Crash Course

 

For the people who are self reliant it should be a no brainer that basic first aid is important. What is strange to me is that a ton of people who have taken up the hobby of firearms training and practice, rarely have it. 

Basic first aid?! BASIC FIRST AID! People... shooting guns.... without the most basic of FIRST AID!!! 

This is careless and ignorant stupid. My personal take on this is there are 3 levels of concentration. In a short list I prioritize like this. 

1. First aid (basic and trauma)
2. Gear and general protection (protective equipment, guns, gear)
3. Training and application (shooting, drills, practice, and other advanced coursework)

Without the first aid in general you are a burden. First aid is for your own sake. If you work out in rural areas, it can easily come in handy if you get cut accidentally. In the realm of the avid shooter it can save someone else's life or your own as well when the worst happens. 

I am not a professional. But for the sake of this article I do have certifications from the Red Cross and have ASIRT *active shooter* qualifications, and bleed stop training. As far as more extensive blow out courses go I have completed coursework without any advanced certifications. So take all this with a grain of salt. 

IF YOU SHOOT OFTEN AND ITS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A HOBBY, PLEASE GET FORMAL TRAINING IN SOME CAPACITY! 

There are two levels of first aid to me you have boo boos, and blow outs. 

Basic First Aid

This can be treating small and minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, bug bites, and the treatment of shock. Also choking, and CPR can be all grouped as basic first aid. Most of these minor things are just boo boos.

Those new to first aid can easily do a search online for either free or very cheap Red Cross training programs. A lot of the times employers will even pay to have you take them. Find out what your employer has available for you to take before spending money on it. Typically they will offer a very basic first aid course along with a CPR certification. Sometimes they will also add skills like how to help someone who is choking as well. These courses are only a few hours long and you can learn life saving techniques that will stick with you a lifetime. And, chances are your work is going to pay for it. Congrats. You know more about first aid at this point than more than probably 98% of the people shooting at your local range! Scary huh? 

Click to find Red Cross Classes

After you get CPR trained, basic first aid, and would like to find out more advanced training there is a ton of other resources you can use online and for in person classes with professionals. If you are fortunate enough to have local ranges that offer CCW classes a lot of the times they will have skilled people available to teach trauma level classes related to gunshot wounds etc. I highly suggest looking for these classes if you would like to and don't mind paying money for them. However, a lot of these classes can be found online for free. 

Combat First Aid

When it comes to combat level first aid, these are blow outs. This is the life threatening material. Combat level related first had concentrates on mostly bleeding control and wound management. All of which is very important if you are dealing with firearms since they concentrate on gunshot wounds and serious lacerations or injuries. These courses usually will feature a good chunk of lecture and then practicing techniques using tourniquets, hemostatic agents, and clearing and opening airways. A vast majority of these are geared for civilians and require no previous first aid experience. The prices for these courses will vary however a lot of them are available completely for free online. 

*for some reason this video on mobile does not work*
Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training - Full 3 Hour Course (Click here)

Here are some youtube creators to check out for combat medic related materials. 
CarryTrainer - Full Courses Available
SkinnyMedic - Medical Videos and Prepper Info
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC)

Really, there is no excuse to have basic first aid and some combat first aid under your belt. There are a ton of free resources available out there at your disposal you just have to find it. As mentioned before a lot of the times employers will pay for these sorts of classes and things but you won't know unless you ask. The other good thing is that if you have insurance a lot of the times insurance will cover your medical and first aid related gear. Something to think about. 

First aid is integral in the prepping community. I urge everyone and any one to get basic first aid. But for those of us that are shooters and gunnies, this is absolutely essential to be a well rounded modern day warrior. 

Remember. Your IFAK (individual first aid kit) isn't for your buddy. Its for you. Urge your battle buddies to do the same and get their first aid shit together. Please. For their sake and for everyone around you. 

Plug holes
Stop holes 
Make holes

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