Proper way to spray paint rubber grips on a small .38 Special?

[Waldowiseman]

I'm sure spray painting isn't the best option but I'm on a bit of a budget at the moment and already have some Krylon flat black lying around. Ntm, I may never even carry this one. Just kind of a backup of a backup. I had bought this little .38 snub nose for the girl I'm seeing b/c she works in downtown BR and I don't like seeing her unprotected. Well, turns out she's scared of it b/c there's no safety so now I own a new pink S&W snubby.

Only the grips are pink so I took off the grips, cleaned it w/ soap and water and scrubbed as advised by a YT video and then painted them.

I let it dry and cure for a full day before I flipped them over and did the back sides. Same thing, waited one more day before I put it all back together. Also, don't know if this matters but I had them in my back sunroom w/ windows cracked and fans going so it was like a wind tunnel in there, which I assumed would help it dry better.

Well, it's been 3 days and the paint is already chipping off. I'm the furthest thing from a painting expert so if someone could tell me any tips here to make this work, I'd really appreciate it. Maybe it just needs more coats? Maybe I should hit it with acetone and start over? Idk.

Thanks again

 

[drill sgt]

Never seen a 38 snubby with a safety.. Who makes one?? If carried in a holster with the hammer sitting on top of a dead cylinder hole and her booger hook stays off of the trigger you can not get much safer than that...... If needed it should be 2nd nature without delay having to fumble with a external safety to make ready for use............ Good luck in finding something she is comfortable with ... Is this for her??? Or is this for you wanting her to have something ....................................... drill sgt.

 

[La26]

If it is flexible type rubber (I guess it all is), you probably won't be able to get paint to stick to it. You might want to try some shoe dye or similar dye, designed for rubber. Or just do like we did in the old days and wrap tape around it until you can afford some new grips. Pink isn't so bad, who's going to see it anyway? If you carry it concealed or if it tucked away in a drawer at home, no one will know but you.

 

[3fifty7]

I know many people use RIT dye on “plastic” knife handles, it may work on your grips too.

 

[Waldowiseman]

Never seen a 38 snubby with a safety.. Who makes one?? If carried in a holster with the hammer sitting on top of a dead cylinder hole and her booger hook stays off of the trigger you can not get much safer than that...... If needed it should be 2nd nature without delay having to fumble with a external safety to make ready for use............ Good luck in finding something she is comfortable with ... Is this for her??? Or is this for you wanting her to have something ....................................... drill sgt.

Yeah I don't think there's a such thing as one w/ a safety lol. I didn't mean to imply some have them. I just didn't realize that would be a sticking point for her. She somehow believes it could just "go off" in her purse and blast some poor fool's knee cap off or something.

But to answer your question, it's much more for me than for her. She never asked for it but I did have some conversations about it w/ her beforehand and she said she'd 'consider' carrying in some situations and if she felt comfortable with the gun. Evidently I need to just buy her a mace gun or something until I at least take her to the range a few times w/ me and let her get comfy around firearms. That's really the whole problem.

 

[Waldowiseman]

If it is flexible type rubber (I guess it all is), you probably won't be able to get paint to stick to it. You might want to try some shoe dye or similar dye, designed for rubber. Or just do like we did in the old days and wrap tape around it until you can afford some new grips. Pink isn't so bad, who's going to see it anyway? If you carry it concealed or if it tucked away in a drawer at home, no one will know but you.

Yep I thought about the "who's gonna see it anyway" part and that's when I realized I'm doing it just for me. I just can't do a pink gun. And even the engraving and all on it is feminine looking (script) so it just adds to it.

Now queue up the tough guys - "A real man wouldn't care what color his gun is"... Well I guess I need some more testosterone then b/c I don't like it lol.

 

[Waldowiseman]

I know many people use RIT dye on “plastic” knife handles, it may work on your grips too.

Yep, I finished off my bottle of black Rit trying to dye this gun before I turned to the paint. Good lesson learned there - Rit Does Not stick to rubber... not even a little bit. Had the grips sitting in piping hot Rit dye for about 2 hours, periodically stirring and all, pulled them out w/ tongs after and still solid pink. Didn't even darken it.

 

[Gator 45/70]

Hang on WaldoW. Before you bubbaize this piece too far beyond recovery I'll give you $47.29 cents for it as is.
You can Thank me later bud !

 

[Sixtop]

GOON Tape

Soft Tape for Rough Work! GOON Tape is the finest tactical athletic tape on the market, and is trusted by professionals to get the job done. It's moisture wicking, and heat insulating to provide a steady grip when it matters most.

goontape.com

You won’t be able to paint with krylon or similar. Just wrap with hockey tape and call it a day until you can replace with some new grips

 

[SwampyDog]

. She somehow believes it could just "go off" in her purse and blast some poor fool's knee cap off or something.

To be fair, she's not wrong if its just riding around in a purse. Have you seen the amount of sh!t most purses accumulate? Were the revolver to snag on something, say a pen or lipstick, and the trigger guard isn't protected by a proper holster it's very much a risk. One of the many, many reasons purse carry isn't the best option. Not saying it's common, but it's a definite risk and I commend her for realizing that.

 

[Big H]

Hang on WaldoW. Before you bubbaize this piece too far beyond recovery I'll give you $47.29 cents for it as is.
You can Thank me later bud !

I'll go $50.00 even---could you meet me halfway---

 

[DBMJR1]

 

[340six]

You have confused a lock with safety.
And I have painted (dye) lots of plastics, vinyls including vinyl car roofs, on a professional level at a body shop.
A proper adhesion promoter is used 1st. It chemically binds to the plastics or rubber parts so.the dye, paint adhere.
Tops, Bumpers, door panels, etc. even vinyl seats are done with no problems.
Down side is cost of proper adhesion promoter, plus dye. I have had good results with proper prep even with spray bomb cans of SEM. But quarts of Dupont, PPG for spray gun use is king and can be mixed to colors-and shades of color.
Down side is cost. It is going to cost more than new grips.
That's why guys just cl ran an AR etc and spray bomb it. And live with poor results, and Re-Spray it again

 

[jdindadell]

SEM brand rattle can for plastic will be about the best cheap way to get paint that will stick to plastic. Rubber is another thing, and will likely require some sort of addl adhesion promoter as well as an exceptionally thorough clean. And it may not stick even then. I have painted alot of plastic.

Post up what model and brand of revolver you have and one of us will find you a cheap set of grips for it. Or stocks, sometime revolver guy get their little pee pees in a bind if you call the part you grip a grip...

 

[DBMJR1]

Why not just buy a used pair of grips for it ?

 

[FIRECHIEF]

WHAT MODEL IS IT ?
I HAVE MANY GRIPS FOR SALE

FIRECHIEF

 

[FIRECHIEF]

GRIPS FOR SALE
AJGS1982@GMAIL.COM