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10/18/2014 10:01:41 PM EDT
So earlier this year when I finished my degree I was in pretty bad shape financially. I'm sure many of you have been through this; working two non-paying internships, watching the student loan debt grow, stressing over finals..... Then suddenly boom! Schools over! So I was fortunate enough to land a job quite quickly, and a good friend of mine helped me get my crap together so I could move south for the job.






As a thank you I built a rifle for him. He requested an A1 with an A2 buttstock (dude is really tall, the A2 stock fits him best). He was not concerned with things like fire/safe marks and correct ejection port doors. So here is what I put together for him:







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Yeah, I know. The "Tombstone Gray" Duracoat looks Terrible!







So now it is time for a re-finish!

 
10/18/2014 10:03:44 PM EDT
[#1]
So I started off by breaking the rifle down



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Ugh, that gray looked a lot cooler in the sample pics online!
10/18/2014 10:06:35 PM EDT
[#2]
I used a Pain and Epoxy stripper (Klean Strip) to help lift the duracoat:



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Ewwwww!
10/18/2014 10:09:36 PM EDT
[#3]
After a lot of elbow grease, a steel wire brush, and some heavy chemical gloves:



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Ahh, that's better! You can see where I re-profiled the rear of the receiver. My buddy probably didn't care, but I couldn't help myself!
10/18/2014 10:11:51 PM EDT
[#4]
Next it was into the oven for some MolyResin!



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Man, I love Norrel's!!!
10/18/2014 10:16:34 PM EDT
[#5]
looking great!
10/18/2014 10:18:19 PM EDT
[#6]
Norrels is some great stuff. For anyone wanting to do a budget build or refinish
small parts it is in my opinion the ticket.
10/18/2014 10:22:50 PM EDT
[#7]
And then assembly. The barrel is 1/12 twist chrome lined from AR15 Sport and it works quite well. Went to the range today to sight it in and it functioned flawlessly. Got a bit of attention too!
















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So now my friend is happy, and I can feel good about giving him a clean looking rifle!








 
 
 
10/18/2014 10:33:34 PM EDT
[#8]
Looks great you did an awesome job. Its so nice to be able to do things like this for friends
I think the build looks great and if your friend wants to go a step further I would change the
port door to the correct A1 style.
10/18/2014 10:37:37 PM EDT
[#9]
Beautiful!  But needs moar bayonet.
10/18/2014 10:40:29 PM EDT
[#10]
Thanks for the compliments!!!



Yeah, as I spend more time on this site I am starting to desire older ejection port doors.....



10/18/2014 10:41:30 PM EDT
[#11]
One more pic, with the carbine I finished a few weeks ago. Shot that one for the first time today too, I loved it!



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10/18/2014 10:42:26 PM EDT
[#12]
And I should have taken a bayonet pic!
10/18/2014 11:08:13 PM EDT
[#13]
I assume that is Norell's Colt grey moly.

10/18/2014 11:12:55 PM EDT
[#14]
Ohh, sharp rifle! And I love the rack number!



I used Norrell's "Gray Flat". I like it but it really has a bit too much blue in it. Next time I'll go for the "Greyish Flat Black". A lot of you guys seem to use it, looks a little more appropriate!
10/18/2014 11:14:29 PM EDT
[#15]
The stock came with the rack number and I thought I would just leave it.
10/18/2014 11:21:58 PM EDT
[#16]
Nice . Good job.
I use norrells for every project now, for me it's just too cost effective not too .
Anodizing may be stronger but it add a lot of cost to
Every project. And the money I save starts a other gun
10/18/2014 11:44:53 PM EDT
[#17]
I agree! For those of us on a budget.... Norrell's! I really dig the look and feel of the finish. A buddy of mine had an AR cerakoted, and I was able to buy an airbrush, airbrush compressor, and the molyresin for a heck of a lot less than he paid for the cerakote job.



Besides, the military used this stuff too (according to Norrell's website)....
10/19/2014 12:41:36 AM EDT
[#18]
I just picked up the new Shotgun News and Brownells had an Advertisement for new Aerosol Cans of Norrells.
10/19/2014 1:17:30 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:
I just picked up the new Shotgun News and Brownells had an Advertisement for new Aerosol Cans of Norrells.
View Quote



Get an airbrush, even a cheap one.  Trust me, it is worth it, I have used both.  Goes on much thinner and give a much better result.

Cans are fine if you aren't going to be picky but for retro work, stick with a paint brush.
10/19/2014 5:40:52 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote History
Quoted:



Get an airbrush, even a cheap one.  Trust me, it is worth it, I have used both.  Goes on much thinner and give a much better result.

Cans are fine if you aren't going to be picky but for retro work, stick with a paint brush.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I just picked up the new Shotgun News and Brownells had an Advertisement for new Aerosol Cans of Norrells.



Get an airbrush, even a cheap one.  Trust me, it is worth it, I have used both.  Goes on much thinner and give a much better result.

Cans are fine if you aren't going to be picky but for retro work, stick with a paint brush.


Thanks for the tip, but I'd still like to try the Aerosol can for a small project, I send my receivers out to Victor and to be honest never used any of the spray on finishes. So I thought that now that they are offering it in a spray can, I might buy 1-2 cans to have on hand.
10/19/2014 3:23:22 PM EDT
[#21]
Looking good!  I live down the road from Mr Norrel, and he is an awesome guy. Its a great product and I let him know how much we appreciate that product in the retro world..


10/19/2014 3:48:12 PM EDT
[#22]
Please do let him know! He is very responsive, quick to answer e-mails and such. Good customer service is rare these days!
10/19/2014 3:57:21 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote History
Quoted:
Looking good!  I live down the road from Mr Norrel, and he is an awesome guy. Its a great product and I let him know how much we appreciate that product in the retro world..


View Quote


Let him know i think his product is great also please.

OP great looking rifle. Makes all the hard work you did worth while.
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