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TripleBravo
23 February 2011, 21:37
I started an overhaul of a departmental M4 this week. Ever wonder what an M4 might look like in a box?

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/Crandell%20M4%20Project/BoxofM4-web01.jpg

OutlawDon
23 February 2011, 21:53
Clean it up and get it running!

TripleBravo
23 February 2011, 22:17
Clean it up and get it running!

I'm work'n on it...I'll throw up another pic when I'm done.

CLBME
24 February 2011, 05:46
Great "before" picture. I'm looking forward to the "after"!

TripleBravo
26 February 2011, 22:36
I worked all day trying to get this done, and I still have a few loose ends to tie up. Here's a quick photo of the project near completion...

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/Crandell%20M4%20Project/CrandellM4doneleft01-web.jpg

It was a royal pain getting this dirty bastard apart then blasting all that rattle can paint off. This thing fought me the whole damn way.

Here's what I did to it:
-- complete disassemble and degrease and clean
-- blast off several layers of user applied paint
-- cut down FSB and convert to low profile gas block
-- Duracoat upper, lower, SOPMOD stock, and user picked YHM free float rail in OD
-- Duracoat barrel, buffer tube, castle nut, end plate, surefire light, CQD rail sling attachment and all lower small parts in black.
-- Reassemble weapon and install YHM 5C1 (user picked) and new gas tube.

The original pistol grip went back on the M4 while the end user picks a new grip. The light is waiting for an offset mount.

AR-10
26 February 2011, 22:47
I love it, it looks great.

I would jump at the chance to play with a lower with an extra hole, especially one with a pony on the side.

That will probably never happen unless I move.

Does that little barrel have an HBAR profile under the handguard?

It looks a little fat.

TripleBravo
27 February 2011, 06:18
It's Colt's standard 11.5 inch barrel.

Here's a photo of it on the box it was in...

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/Crandell%20M4%20Project/M4onbox-web01.jpg

Eric
27 February 2011, 07:18
Nice! I like the color. Optic, BUIS, sling and it would be duty ready.

CLBME
27 February 2011, 07:33
That looks awesome TripleBravo! A great project. Well done. I realize it's being swapped out but actually like the original pistol grip for the photos as it's a window into the past.

Aragorn
27 February 2011, 09:04
B3, that was an excellent job of resurrection you just did!

Hmac
27 February 2011, 10:05
Nice. How did you get the old rattle-can paint off? What did you "blast" it with, and how did you refinish it? Did you do the Duracoat yourself?

tac40
27 February 2011, 13:05
Nice build.

TripleBravo
28 February 2011, 04:08
Nice. How did you get the old rattle-can paint off? What did you "blast" it with, and how did you refinish it? Did you do the Duracoat yourself?

I blasted it with 60 grain Aluminum Oxide, and yes, I Duracoated it myself.

Hmac
28 February 2011, 05:22
I blasted it with 60 grain Aluminum Oxide, and yes, I Duracoated it myself.

It appears that I can use baking soda in my little sand blaster attachment, and that seems like it could be a good way to go for small parts and soft metals. What's your take on using baking soda instead of aluminum oxide for this application? Any downside to the AO?

5pins
28 February 2011, 11:10
I don’t think that baking soda would be abrasive enough to take the pant off.

Hmac
28 February 2011, 12:56
It is, but I was wondering more about damage to the underlying aluminum - silica vs aluminum oxide vs baking soda.

TripleBravo
13 March 2011, 13:02
Got a chance to snap some quick photos of the M4 totaly rigged for duty...

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/Crandell%20M4%20Project/DutyReady-right-HR01.jpg

Denver45
13 March 2011, 13:06
Looks great! It's amazing to see it go from a box of beat up looking parts to what you have there. Nice job!

TripleBravo
6 April 2011, 04:29
Here's another M4 overhaul. Not a lot of pics because I had to get it in and out the door quickly...

Before:

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/Armagost%20M4%20project/A-M4-before01.jpg

After:

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/Armagost%20M4%20project/A-M4-after02.jpg

rayray
11 April 2011, 18:10
Looks Good, great job..........

Striker071
11 April 2011, 18:57
I beleive baking soda would be fine to remove the old paint without any damage to the aluminum. I am sure you would just have to make sure you wern't removing the anodizing. The aluminum oxide also gives Duracoat something to adhere to. I could be wrong but I think the baking soda would be too smooth a finish afterwards.