What do you guys think of this?

[NASA racer]

Long story short:

Bought a dark IR3 off ebay from a store which had good feedback...it was a "demo gun" which had "only been fired out back". Got it...total BS, it had been played and played hard...guy offered to take it back and then I stupidly dropped the thing in my shop and got a huge scratch down the side.

So...ended up doing this...it was a solid black gun and I was just sick about it but really didn't want to pay hundred(s) of dollars to have it reanodized.

Took it only so far with the polish because a natural finish will get scratched all the time and there's not much point in making it 100%.

Also left the high-rise with a rough finish just to see how that would look.

Comments?
http://images.fotki.com/v11/photos/4/41918/109066/ir3pol1-or.jpg
http://images.fotki.com/v10/photos/4/41918/109066/ir3pol2-or.jpg

[5150]

I would say send it back. Then call the BBB

[NASA racer]

Originally posted by 5150
I would say send it back. Then call the BBB

I'm talking about the finish on it. He offered a full-refund...it was my stupidity damaging the marker which made that impossible.

[Emmit]

Originally posted by NASA racer
I'm talking about the finish on it. He offered a full-refund...it was my stupidity damaging the marker which made that impossible.


Actually the "stupidity" (you used the word first) came the second you chose to begin removing the anodizing, or polishing it whatever you did. If he sold you a marker that was not what he stated he should have made good on what he sold you. Just my opinion on that matter.

Now as far as the job you did...well it looks pretty nice. Nice and shiny. Certainly unique. It looks like there is still some black inside the grooves on the breech, and in the tear drops on the back of the gun, and I think it gives it a special look. Certainly with all the black accesorries it gives it a nice contrast, and the polished aluminum looks better than chrome.

[PaintballPhreak]

i like it. it looks bad ass

[spamburg]

nice polish job

[Ming]

I like the look ...

but I think you will have to protect it some how or it will oxidize or corrode and dull the finish.

P.S.
I would make sure I get all the polishing compound off any moving parts like ram, exaust valve, bolt , breech. ect...

[NASA racer]

Originally posted by Ming
I like the look ...

but I think you will have to protect it some how or it will oxidize or corrode and dull the finish.

P.S.
I would make sure I get all the polishing compound off any moving parts like ram, exaust valve, bolt , breech. ect...

Yeah, I've been as careful to keep the internals clean as I could and am going disassemble it to quadruple check that...maintaining the finish would be a labor of love...one would have to polish it regularly...probably why most people go with chrome finish instead of polishing.

[seven11]

What did you use to polish it?

[perpetuul]

it looks sexy

[Puma]

I like how some of the black stayed on , in the grooves.Looks Gothic, or medeivil .

And also very appropriate on a Dark.

[NASA racer]

Originally posted by seven11
What did you use to polish it?

Well, I started on the side which was scratched to see if I could buff it out...the scratch was nearly the entire length of the marker and the answer was no.

That hard anodize seems to chip or scratch relatively easily but certainly does NOT come off easily. I tried the "Easy Off" method (supposedly takes Anodize off) and it didn't work so I got 400 grit sandpaper and a fine wire wheel and spent a ton of time with that...you have to be REALLY careful with the wire wheel because it creates a "texture" on the soft aluminum which has to be sanded out.

I also made considerable use of different grades of steel wool...this is the best thing once the anoidze is off and the metal needs polishing.

Finally I got a buffing wheel and "chrome" polishing compound at the hardware store and put that on the drill and that's what brought the shine up to a nearly mirror finish...finished off with some very fine polishing compound (like barrel polish).

If you look at the rough texture of my high-rise, this is what will happen if you go nuts with a wire wheel so that's something you really want to be careful with. I didn't worry about the black inside the milling because I wanted to leave it there like an H.R. Geiger painting.

I used duct tape (not masking tape) to protect the parts I didn't want to strip and removed the bolt and plugged any openings and constantly checked for junk getting in there (particularly pieces of steel wool) and I have the solid "vanity plates" on my marker not the "grille" ones.

Also, the polishing compound gets everywhere in fine particles...DEFINITELY need to wear a dust mask. The main thing was patience, starting with 180 grit to get the bulk of the anodize off and being very careful not to use the wire wheel too hard or for too long on any area. ALSO be REALLY careful that the hub holding the polishing compound doesnt hit part of the marker (this happened with my dremel polishing wheel).

Took HOURS to do...maybe 10-12 hours to get it to this point. I might continue on the marker at some point (the anodize on the reg is not that good) but need to see how the maintenance on this finish is.

http://images.fotki.com/v10/photos/4/41918/109066/polish-or.jpg

[Eclipse]

10-12+ hours!!!! DAMN!!!!:lol: thats a hella long time but it looks kicken

[darkmamba]

i think it looks very sexy except for the black trigger frame it just kinda sticks out

[epic]

looks pretty cool

[DarkiR3Angel]

I just hope that you didn't pay too much for it cause, You asked for my opinion so here it is.....it's wick wick wack! Kinda like Frankenstein only because it looks like someone in the projects stole different pieces from other iR3's and put it together. Wow I can't believe you missed out on getting your money back, even with that scratch....he shouldn't have lied to you about the condition in the first place. Just get it annoed, it'll last longer!

[MorpheusX]

i agree send it off to crazy ivan and get it anoed black for like 100$

[pimp with a limp]

well, i think ur either very confident or crazy to do something like that. it does look hella awesome,but a little strange

[WarpedKid02]

I think that it looks really sweet. I would keep if it was mine.

[acoenfam1]

I like it!! It has that one of a kind type of appeal. And I really like the black accents in the "tear drops" Wouldn't change a thing.

[paintballguy990]

the former owner of my old cocker did something similar to that and it has the same finish as mine, if the metal is the same as my cocker than it shouldnt corrode or anything, just to keep the shine use a metal wax on it once and a while and after you polish it up with that, put a regular car wax on it to keep the shine and protect the body from small scratches from playing! it looks pimpin and I think you should keep it like that, just do it to the frame too!