Stripping paint from a gun
 

So... I've got in my hands a gun that was originally clearsoft but painted over. I don't like the paint job and would like to redo it. Is there a safe way to strip the paint off a clearsoft gun that's been painted?

I'm thinking a disassembly and dunking it in some solution or another (paint thinner possibly? rubbing alcohol? or I've heard brake fluid tossed around? anyone have any comments on that?).

The gun in question is an EBB so I don't know how safe it is to dunk it in paint thinner or even where to start to take apart the gun.

I'd really like to get it down to the base plastic so I can do a proper paintjob so any help is appreciated. I'm also planning to sand it with something like 120 grit sandpaper just to rough up the surface but does anyone have any comments on what I'm doing?

Painting should be easy and heck if I run into trouble ASC search function is right there but stripping paint off a gun to repaint is isn't a topic that's been covered I don't think.

acetone? paint thinner in a paint gun?

Lol acetone will eat the gun if it's plastic.

Dot 3 break fluid is your best bet here

i applied acetone to my crossman shotty before painting it and it didn't melted it :p maybe i didnt putted enough! :D

Take a dab of it on a cloth, and rub it around in a circle for a little bit... You'll notice some goopy plastic lol

use the #1500 sandpaper to burnish the paint off from the surface,dont try some #700 sandpaper,or there will be so many scratches ....

Actually, I acetone stripped my entire CA stock, ended up fine as well.

Alright so it looks like:

1) Disassembly
2) Strip off paint with Brake Fluid
3) rough up surface with 1500 grit sand paper
4) paint while disassembled (krylon ultra matte)
5) reassemble
6) ???
7) Profit!

I have another question. Lets say I want to "pimp my airsoft". How would I go about doing a "two tone" paintjob? I'm thinking just taping it off with painters tape and saran wrap would be sufficient.

Hey, soak it in break fluid for 24H, scrub it with an old toothbrush.

I don't think you'll need 1500 grit sand paper... Maybe to rough it up for the paint to adhere better...

Mask with masking tape and newspaper, not seran wrap :)

If you plan on leaving it in for 24H, check it every 2 or 3 hours. During a paint stripping project that was supposed to be soaked for 24H, we found it was ready to clean off with in 7H.

24H is using break fluid, not actual paint stripper lol

24H is paint stripper... would make the body dissapear

You can also use automotive degreaser
to do the same job. I've used the one
sold in CrappyTire, SuperClean in the
purple bottle. Very gentle on plastic &
nylon fibre stuff.

You will need to scrub a bit though,
which requires rubber gloves as the
degreaser will strip all the natural
oils from your hands, leaving them
like a thousand year old mummy.

Just spray over the existing paint. ;)

you guys keep mentioning Krylon paint, where is this stuff? whenever someone talks about the new guns with the clears recievers you all say you'll paint it over with Krylon* paint. where do I get this stuff? I'm guessing by all your references its the best stuff to paint your gun with?

edit* typo's

Krylon is avalible everywhere... canadiantire, home depot, hell even in many art stores.
It's good if you use a primer then spray a few coats of the actual paint; it dries in 15 minutes so you can so it quickly.