Well I decided that it's time to take the plunge and repaint my gun handle on my beloved ST:TNG. I looked around and didn't see much info but had a few helpful hints passed along. This seemed a good excuse to document my successes and failures of my rattle can approach.

Step 1: Disassemble gun handle from machine. This came right off no problems here. Once handle was off, it was a simple matter of using a security bit to remove the four screws holding the two sides of the handle together (plus 2 regular screws).

Step 2: Assemble the supplies. I headed down to Lowes and selected a spray on stipper that seemed easy to apply. I am spraying into a metal paint tray on top of a thick drop cloth. I bought chemical resistant gloves and some scrub pads. I picked out high gloss paint and a spray on clear coat. Total cost of supplies is under $30 USD.

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Step 3: Spray handles with stripper and let sit for 15 mins. Then scrub with stripper pads and inspect. I got a good deal off but much more to remove. Sprayed a second time and let sit for 15 mins. Scrubbed paint off and starting to make good progress (see photo below).

Step 4: While handles were soaking, I popped all the bolts/screws that are used by the handle into a cardboard box. They were already very smooth so I took the lazy route and immediately sprayed them with black paint. A wiser man would have likely sanded and cleaned them first. You can see the before and after shots below.

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Step 5: After 4 dips and scrubs in stripper solution (see first photo) I gave the handles a quick wipe down with rubbing alcohol and then a bath in soap and hot water. Then I sanded with 2000 grit sandpaper, ensuring there were no mars left from the heaver brush used during stripping. Second photo below was after both pieces had been sanded and re-wiped down with alcohol again.

Step 6: First coat of black paint. Finally getting somewhere! I will wait until very dry and sand again.

After four treatment of the stripping agent
After sanding
1st coat

Final Step: Assembly

I am still waiting for my trigger to dry but my handle and bolts are done and ready to go. I had to restart from scratch because I didn't read the fine print on my can of paint. You either add another coat within an hour or wait 24 hours. Otherwise it will bubble. So I ended up stripping back to metal and repainting. I added four coats of paint and then two coats of poly. Overall it looks fine from a distance but I am pretty disappoints up close. I couldnt get the rattle can approach to lay down flat for me like I wanted. Actually, the heads of my bolts look great, but the gun handle is a little rougher then I wanted. I am impatient at this point and am simply calling it good enough. If I want better down the road I will probably look into powder coating.

Painted bolts
Handle ready for installation
Handle installed

Ah! Good to know. Got any reference photos you can share?

Yeah, was just trying to find the sweet spot between quick restoration and a HEP restoration. Total effort thus far is less then an hour and I think this will come out shiny and smooth and last for years to come with no chipping. I also just want the experience of stripping the metal and repainting as I can use it for future projects.

Really? Thats much cheaper than I would have thought. Was this at a local car place or someone who does powder work specifically on small pieces?

Well shucks...I added a 3rd coat of paint on last night and not sure what I did but it bubbled. So back to stripping off all the paint again today and starting over with the paint. I prolly need to go lighter on the coats and ensure proper curing between coats.

Ok, good advice! Slow and steady.

Mine is not that stiff and feels pretty smooth. Your should look something like this if all is well.

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