SBR's, Steel Receivers, Engraving & Rust

General Firearms NFA
1

[b]As you NFA fellas are well aware, our SBR’s require engraving. My previous experience is with AR’s however, which have lowers made from aluminum.

My 556 pistol, that I’m eagerly awaiting my Form 1 approval, has as you all know, an all steel upper, which is what needs to be engraved.

My question is this. How do you deal with the prospect of rust in the engraved area? It would seem to be an almost inevitable result after carving through the finish.

How do you guys take care of this situation?[/b]

2

Paint it or fill it in with lacquer.

3

This method has worked on my steel SBS/SBR’s for over 15yrs. Never had a rust issue with any of them…at least not with the engraving. Cold blue works well, too.

4

Its called oil.

5

Are you always a raving douche?

Does Colt “oil” under the front sight base to prevent rust…or do they opt for a more permanent solution for exposed, unfinished steel?

It’s the later I’m looking for here, but then again, you knew that.

6

Colt is parked under the FSB. So yes… there would be some post-Park oiling. :cool:

7

I appreciate your compliment.

Parkerizing does not prevent rust.

On a scale of 1 to 10 of how rust proof something is, parkerizing is about a 3 while oil is a 8 or 9 and absolute vacuum is a 10.

Yeah, I do know what I’m talking about.

I can never get over of how so many people on the internet and in life in general have a rust issue and can’t seem to use any oil.

You implied in your OP that you were worried that removing the park will rust your gun. This should not be a worry if you worried about the real issue at hand and oiled.

There are many guns that have bare finish steel parts that do not rust if oiled.

8

You are still a douche though.

9

I could give a shit less what you think.

10

If you look at any of your older ARs you can find plenty of exposed steel. The Flash hider, Front sight bases, Rear A2 sight housing, and Sling loop on the rifle stock with usually be rubbed to the bone. Rust doesn’t generally appear there unless you’re near salt water. I don’t think it’ll be an issue at all.

11

Thanks…the question was really more of a curiosity, but I appreciate the feedback. I’ve never had to engrave a steel receiver. Figured some touch-up paint would probably fix the problem…but it doesn’t sound like its much of a problem at all.

Living in coastal S.E. FL, if it can rust, it usually does…thus the question.

12

In engraving school we filled our engraving with ink. The type that they use for finger printing. In an art store it goes by the brand called Speed Ball.

13

[i][b]Generally calling someone a douche, whether or not they are actually acting the part, is considered a personal attack or insult.

So, based on our charter docs there are some people here acting outside our rules. Do I need to start handing out infractions?

I really hope not.[/b][/i]

14

I had my Sig556 pistol upper engraved and I intend to paint over it with Krylon and keep it oiled. If I see rust develop, I will strip it down and do something more permanent to keep the water locked out, combined with oil.