Painter's Tape Took Off Gun Finish?!

[woodandsteel]

I think i may have screwed up a customer's gun with the blue painter's tape i use to attach a wooden dowel for the sight channel. When i was done, it looks like the tape removed some parkerizing or matte bluing from the ejection port.

Ahs anyone else experienced this? Would electrical tape be better?

Edited October 21, 2011 by woodandsteel

[particle]

Can you post a picture? Have you tried oiling the gun? I use blue painters tape and have never had a problem. The tape usually leaves a dull finish because it grabs and removes the surface oils to some extent. Wipe it down with an oiled piece of cloth or a silicone cloth and see if that helps.

[woodandsteel]

I tried oiling it with some CLP, but the matte blacking is gone, and there's shiny metal exposed. I'm not positive I did it, but I don't remember it being there before (The gun looks brand new) and it corresponds to where the tape was on either side of my sight dowel. So I'm pretty sure it's my fault. It's a sickening feeling.

This is on top of the fact that I already made a few goofs on the holster and mag holder that I've been working late nights to finish.

(ugh... I need a sewing machine!)

[Eaglestroker]

Best thing to do is suck it up and offer to fix it. As particle said I always whipe mine with oil before starting but that looks like a rattle can or bake on finish on the barrel. Sometimes we learn through experience, my first handgun was a new Kimber 1911 and I screwed up the finish learning to make holsters. Better mine than a customers right? I've also had one instance where I had to foot the bill on a slide refinish. Couldn't prove it was my fault but it wasn't worth the hassle. That customer has paid for that repair ten times by now.

[particle]

Whoa!! What kind of gun is that....?

Okay - first off - if the tape did it, that sucks. The finish sucks too, but it sucks that the tape was able to damage it. That being said, the top of the barrel is going to take some wear anyway with use. I had a Springfield XD and ended up polishing it to remove the black coating that was wearing away anyway with normal use.

Do you have a black dry-erase marker? If so, color the affected area with the marker, then cycle the slide a few times to see if the movement wipes the marker off. If so, it's normal wear and you didn't do it. If it doesn't go away, just wipe it off - use a little windex if you have to.

You might also call the manufacturer to find out what kind of finish it is and ask why it was so easily damaged (assuming the previous step proves it was the tape). It may be able to be repaired under warranty by the owner. He may be relieved to find out he has a faulty finish on his barrel that can be repaired under warranty.

[Denster]

First off relaxyou didn't do it. For that type of gun if it has been fired or cycled more than 20 times you will have those marks they are unavoidable. Tape is not capable of removing normal gun finishes however if the owner colored those marks with cold blue or magic marker, yes some guys do that, tape can remove it. In any case those marks are normal to the gun and you didn't do it.

[dirtclod]

In the future take pictures of the gun before you do anything hopefully with the customer there and you know if it's something that was there before. I started doing that after a customer said i scratched a saddle that i was working on and i knew i hadn't. Really cheap insurance.

[Warpe]

That is normal wear and tear on the barrel hood. More than likely someone touched it up and the tape took off the touch up.

Painters tape should not damage any factory or properly applied finish. What you are seeing is the slight scrape you get when the barrel drops down

to disengage from its locking lugs and the slide moves back and over the hood.

[Denster]

That is normal wear and tear on the barrel hood. More than likely someone touched it up and the tape took off the touch up.

Painters tape should not damage any factory or properly applied finish. What you are seeing is the slight scrape you get when the barrel drops down

to disengage from its locking lugs and the slide moves back and over the hood.

Exactly! You said it better than I did.

[TwinOaks]

I agree that that is normal wear. However, if you have a gunsmith or gun dealer that could verify it, it wouldn't hurt to have an impartial expert 3rd party that could back you up if needed.

Here's the other thing- That appears to be a S&W M&P...and I don't think that's a factory finish on it. If the barrel hood was retouched with something like Duracoat, then improper cleaning of the metal prior to application would allow the "finish" to peel off. Is there anything stuck to the tape? That would be the easiest way to determine if you are at any fault.

If nothing else, stick another piece of tape to the same area and see if anything else comes off. If it does, contact the customer and tell them you've discovered a problem with the finish. Don't shirk your responsibility (IF IF IF IF IF you are responsible), but don't automatically assume that you are to blame. The customer may have just paid somebody to refinish it before bringing it to your for a holster. Most finishes have a required curing time, and if the customer didn't follow the directions, then YOU are not at fault.....or at least not totally at fault.