Hydro dipped rifle stocks

brasscollector · November 6, 2016, 08:08 AM

I'm sure some of you have had your rifles stock hydro dipped. I've been thinking about having this done to one of my rifles if for nothing else just to experiment. Currently have one with a cheap ramline plastic stock that I am willing to cover up with camouflage. How does hydro dipping hold up to wear and handling? I'm sure there are brands of decals that hold up better than others. A co-worker offered to hydro dip for the cost of the decals. He also mentioned to apply some clear coat over top but I wouldn't want any coating that is going to make it any harder to hold onto with gloved hands or in wet weather. Suggestions? advice?

TMD · November 6, 2016, 08:41 AM

It doesn't hold up very well at all.

tahunua001 · November 6, 2016, 06:19 PM

yep, not good stuff.

brasscollector · November 6, 2016, 07:45 PM

Glad I asked. I will just leave it as is. No sense in making it any worse looking.

OcelotZ3 · November 7, 2016, 01:14 AM

No personal experience, but I've heard that it needs to be clear coated after to hold up at all.

jmr40 · November 7, 2016, 09:31 PM

On a cheap stock buy a can of Krylon. Or several cans in the colors of your choice and have at it. Google images of painted rifle stocks for ideas. Some look very good.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...fr=tightropetb

Saltydog235 · November 7, 2016, 11:25 PM

I've had 4 dipped, one I use all the time. Going on 4 years now and it's held up well. When I say held up, my deer season is 4 months long and I hunt 5-6 times a week. Then I hunt pigs for 3 more months then shoot a good bit. There's some wear on the forearm but that's it. Dipping is like anything else, proper prep is key to a quality finish.

AK103K · November 8, 2016, 10:31 AM

Ill second the paint thought. Its durable, easily touched up, and usually completely removable, with the right paints.

I know it wont give you the fancy patterns some of the dips will, but the effect is still very good, and if youre duplicating military type patterns, you can get really close with most of them just using rattle cans.

Ive been painting guns since the late 60's, and over the years, have done quite a few. Ive removed paint from guns that had been painted for over 20 years, and the wood and blued metal underneath was still pristine anywhere it was covered with paint.

lockedcj7 · November 9, 2016, 08:41 PM

I was thinking about it too until I researched the process. They paint a base color on and then apply the pattern using basically clear decals. Then they cover it with an epoxy clear coat.

I have a friend who just paints them and then does the epoxy clear. Money saved, they come out great and hold up just as well as dipped.

DPI7800 · November 12, 2016, 07:30 PM

Just go get some rattle cans and tape and go to town. When it get too scratched up redo it. But I find the more it gets scratched up the better it looks.

November 6, 2016, 08:08 AM	#1
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Hydro dipped rifle stocks I'm sure some of you have had your rifles stock hydro dipped. I've been thinking about having this done to one of my rifles if for nothing else just to experiment. Currently have one with a cheap ramline plastic stock that I am willing to cover up with camouflage. How does hydro dipping hold up to wear and handling? I'm sure there are brands of decals that hold up better than others. A co-worker offered to hydro dip for the cost of the decals. He also mentioned to apply some clear coat over top but I wouldn't want any coating that is going to make it any harder to hold onto with gloved hands or in wet weather. Suggestions? advice? __________________ He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise. -Charlie Daniels

November 6, 2016, 06:19 PM	#3
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	yep, not good stuff. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

November 6, 2016, 07:45 PM	#4
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Glad I asked. I will just leave it as is. No sense in making it any worse looking. __________________ He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise. -Charlie Daniels

November 9, 2016, 08:41 PM	#9
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	I was thinking about it too until I researched the process. They paint a base color on and then apply the pattern using basically clear decals. Then they cover it with an epoxy clear coat. I have a friend who just paints them and then does the epoxy clear. Money saved, they come out great and hold up just as well as dipped. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

November 6, 2016, 08:41 AM	#2
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,293	It doesn't hold up very well at all.

November 7, 2016, 01:14 AM	#5
OcelotZ3 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2008 Posts: 229	No personal experience, but I've heard that it needs to be clear coated after to hold up at all.

November 7, 2016, 09:31 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	On a cheap stock buy a can of Krylon. Or several cans in the colors of your choice and have at it. Google images of painted rifle stocks for ideas. Some look very good. https://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...fr=tightropetb

November 7, 2016, 11:25 PM	#7
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	I've had 4 dipped, one I use all the time. Going on 4 years now and it's held up well. When I say held up, my deer season is 4 months long and I hunt 5-6 times a week. Then I hunt pigs for 3 more months then shoot a good bit. There's some wear on the forearm but that's it. Dipping is like anything else, proper prep is key to a quality finish.

November 8, 2016, 10:31 AM	#8
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	Ill second the paint thought. Its durable, easily touched up, and usually completely removable, with the right paints. I know it wont give you the fancy patterns some of the dips will, but the effect is still very good, and if youre duplicating military type patterns, you can get really close with most of them just using rattle cans. Ive been painting guns since the late 60's, and over the years, have done quite a few. Ive removed paint from guns that had been painted for over 20 years, and the wood and blued metal underneath was still pristine anywhere it was covered with paint.

November 12, 2016, 07:30 PM	#10
DPI7800 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2014 Posts: 208	Just go get some rattle cans and tape and go to town. When it get too scratched up redo it. But I find the more it gets scratched up the better it looks.