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Post by Sascha Gusdorf on Apr 27, 2006 20:55:27 GMT -5
Hi All, Ben here. Well, this week I received my first airsoft gun -- Thompson (thanks Gordak ). I would really like to get rid of the pesky looking orange tip; any suggestions? Paint? Anything?
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Russian
Corporal
Magician
Posts: 923
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Post by Russian on Apr 27, 2006 21:04:36 GMT -5
Use nail polish remover on the tip, it will look great.
Congrats on the Thompson!
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Post by Sascha Gusdorf on Apr 27, 2006 21:27:09 GMT -5
Use nail polish remover on the tip, it will look great. Congrats on the Thompson! Nail Polish remover aye? Thanks a bunch for the advice man; I really appreciate it. I'll get right to it. ;D
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Apr 28, 2006 5:18:01 GMT -5
please becareful though. I could be wrong, but if I remember right, in NY it is required to have the tip be orange to help police identify it as NOT a real gun. You might wanna check into if your state has a similar law. My friends inot airsoft here use black electrical tape to cover it for an event. I'll check with them again to verify if it is really a NY law or not......
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Nimlas
Master sergeant
grumpy
Posts: 1,594
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Post by Nimlas on Apr 28, 2006 5:46:01 GMT -5
He doesn't live in NY. He's safe.
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Post by Gordak on Apr 28, 2006 6:30:56 GMT -5
I use carb cleaner, (nail polish remover is too girly?) Do it over a sink with the water runnung so u can dilute the chemical as soon as the paint is gone, Dont point the barrel down or up, keep it level so that liquid or fumes, dont run up/down the barrel and attack the rubber inside your hop up. I spray carb cleaner onto a towel, and just rub the muzzle firmly and its off in about 10-20 seconds. -Gordak
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Post by CharleyNovember on Apr 28, 2006 8:28:43 GMT -5
I think the Orange tip is a federal law not state but I could be wrong. I'm not a lawyer.
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Post by predator06 on Apr 28, 2006 11:54:27 GMT -5
Pardon me, because some of this is OPINION not necessarily fact.
I Am pretty sure its NOT a federal law. If it is, it Violates the constitution. weather or not its real or a replica, doesn't really matter. you still have a right to keep, (as in own) and bear(as in carry on your person) a fire Arm. weather or not its real doesn't really make any difference. I can Pull my real steel .45 out and Paint it orange, but that wont make it a replica. Its much more Important to Behave responsible, and treat your replica exactly like a REAL weapon, because it dose in fact look like one to any onlookers.
If your state requires you to transport a REAL weapon in a gun case, instead of carrying it on your person, Don't just say, Well its just a replica with a nice safe orange stripe , so I can carry it on my shoulder. CARRY IT IN A GUN CASE! and keep in mind that "Brandishing" a weapon is illegal in EVERY state.
The Whole, "No officer, its not a REAL weapon, so its somehow less dangerous for stupid teenagers to fire up passing cars with it" is a BS argument to me. Any crime committed with an airsoft weapon, should be treated like a crime with a REAL weapon.
The Big reason for the Orange tip from what I under stand of the law, is for Import / customs reasons. It is illegal to Import certain real weapons into the united states. But its not illegal to ship a non firring replica. the Orange tip lets the customs guys know they should take a closer look before raising the alarm.
It is best to check with your local law enforcement to make sure. Don't take my word for it, because this country doesn't seem to me to be as "free" as people seem to think it is anymore.
And its always best to just play it safe, and not reveal your replica in public at all. save it for the game.
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Apr 28, 2006 15:12:38 GMT -5
1) I know he doesnt live in NY - I asked him to check with his own states laws....
2) Who said anything about replicas? an airsoft gun is not a replica gun. In fact technically, its not a gun at all, so the right to bear arms doesnt really make any difference. The orange tip was for law enforcement to identify the as not real and not shoot the person holding it. I know of several instances growing up where kids got shot by the police because squirt guns and other toyw were too realistic. I've never heard the orange tip in reference to import or customs laws....
I havent had a chance to find anything out for sure, but I will keep looking and post what info I find.....
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Post by Guinness on Apr 28, 2006 15:40:36 GMT -5
Well said predator! And here's another tip on blaze orange paint removal- I always start with plain old rubbing alcohol- Many if not most HK retailer's orange paint can be removed easily by dipping the muzzle in a capful of alcohol to loosen if not completely remove the orange in seconds. The thing with acetone or nail polish remover is being a bit stronger solvent, you risk dulling or altering the finish of the plastic underneath, which will just piss you off The process I have seen most from Hong Kong is to apply a greyish white primer, then apply the orange over that- I'm not sure what kind of 'paint' they use that is broken down so easily by alcohol, but my experience with WGC, DEN Trinity and the other common shops all seem to use this method. However, I have purchased guns from RedWolf and UN Company that had a much more resiliant coat of blaze on them and in those cases neither Alcohol, Acetone (Nail Polish Remover) did the trick, I had to move up the schedule of hazardous materials to Goof off before I could make a dent in the paint, then of course because that contains Xylene, it can really wreck the underlying finish on the gun- so BE CAREFUL it's very strong. Here is the generally accepted order of strength: >Rubbing Alcohol -Active ingredient..... isopropyl alcohol>Nail Polish Remover -Active Ingredient Acetone (note- the 'Acetone free' products won't work) >Goo Gone -Active Ingredient Naptha and "Citrus Oil", but its the Naptha that does the job >Goof Off -Active Ingredient Xylene this stuff will take the color out of your skin- be careful
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Post by Gordak on Apr 28, 2006 19:06:52 GMT -5
the federal law is that replicas need to have orange tips to be imported into the country. I think NY does have some evil laws involving "airguns" which includes the cheapest springer and a 9000 fps uber lead pellet gun into the same lot.
Not sure tho. one thing is for sure where ever you are, its a grey area... just be smart, play it safe, treat it like its real.
-Gordak
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Post by Sascha Gusdorf on Apr 28, 2006 19:56:38 GMT -5
Um.........thanks guys.........I think. Sorry to make everyone get into a crazy arguement. All I wanted to know was what to use to get the "orange" off...............
--Ben
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Post by Gordak on Apr 28, 2006 20:35:55 GMT -5
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Post by HellRazor on Apr 28, 2006 22:50:31 GMT -5
OMG....Can I swipe that picture...thats PERFECT!!!
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YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
Posts: 2,462
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Post by YankeeDiv26 on Apr 30, 2006 0:16:36 GMT -5
great pic gordak. now just take your shirt off and youll look just like rambo.
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silencer
Private 1st Class
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Post by silencer on Apr 30, 2006 1:08:19 GMT -5
actually, in california it is required by law to have the orange tip. We have lots of trouble with teenagers and 20$ springers. However, one of the ways to get passed that is with bright tape, put that around it and your good.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Apr 30, 2006 20:20:35 GMT -5
State law does vary considerably. Federal law regarding orange tips is relative to import and US Customs requirements for replicas. Interestingly the interpretation is almost universally misinterpreted by Customs. Replicas by definition do not fire anything! Airsoft guns should be outside this declaration. However the US Customs sees them as replicas first and formost and shooting toys secondarily. They'll seize a shipment without an orange tip on an airsoft gun or replica and will also seize guns with trade marks intact. Colt, H&K Smith & Wesson being the most ardent offenders. My brother just retired from US Customs after 30 years and has helped me on more then one occassion. Not to violate the law mind you. He wouldn't hesitate to let his contemporaries destroy one of my shipments if it was in violation but he's helped to insure that the regulations were followed correctly and interpretations were exact.
My advice is be sure your shipments have the tip painted orange with paint that is not readily and easily removed and that logos and brand identities are obliterated. One other big issue lately. (Not a big deal for WW2 weapons) is avoid any gun with a silencer. ATF and Customs are seizing and destoying models that include silencers as they see them as functional and therefore illegal. Even when there is no way they could be used on a real weapon. I know this is a departure from the original post but should serve as good and carefully researched advice. Orange tips on airsoft guns has been around a long time. Most retailers leave them on, not to comply with state law (except in California) but for their own liability protection. If someone brandishes it or gets shot by a law officer or citizen they can testify that when it left their premises it had an orange tip! Often times the retailer will void the warranty once it's removed. (Smart move on their part!) They like the fact that they know when the customer gets it home virtually the first thing they do is remove the orange tip. Frankly the orange tip is really meaningless. It's probably not going to be enough to save your ass if you're being stupid and painting an orange tip on a real guns would be easy enough if bad guys thought so. Gun cases may not be required in every state but they are a wise investment in civic responsibility and your own personal security.
There's my soap box for the week!
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silencer
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Post by silencer on Apr 30, 2006 20:37:44 GMT -5
" Frankly the orange tip is really meaningless. It's probably not going to be enough to save your ass if you're being stupid"
The senetors or whoever make laws in california know that, they wanted to make all the guns completely orange! I can't belive that, I would be a full time paintballer if that happened. Just another fact that i picked up. Good information though 2nd bat, definitly helpful.
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on May 1, 2006 18:22:32 GMT -5
I talked with my friend at work today. He thought that it was both a state and federal law, but he didnt know for sure.......he did say that if I ever gear up in full tactical gear with an MP5 and no orange tip that he did not want to stand next to me.....
In NY, everything from airsoft to plastic toys at Toys R Us all have to have the oranger tip. Squirt gun makers avoid doing this by making them from colored see-through plastic, unless its one of the those super-soaker things......
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Russian
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Post by Russian on May 1, 2006 18:44:16 GMT -5
In Illinois, it is a state law that you are [glow=red,2,300]forbidden[/glow] to fire your airsoft gun/air pellet gun over public property. Which means that you arent allowed to fire it, without an orange tip, over streets, or public parks, etc.
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Post by predator06 on May 2, 2006 8:06:32 GMT -5
Apparently some people are under the Impression that my above post was directed at them Personally. I Assure you that the above post was directed at NO ONE on this board. Just the general situation in general with airsoft these days. It also just so happens that I read what is at the following link, the same mourning as my above post was made. Which is the only reason My above post may seem a little angry. www.whiotv.com/news/8790852/detail.htmlOnce again, I was not referring to ANYONE on this web board with my above post. But I still stand By Everything I have said. and if some of you don't like it, well then thats an issue you have to work out for yourselves then isn't it? PS, any Modifications I generally make to my posts, are because I tend to forget to run the post thrue SPELL CHECK before posting.
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Post by CharleyNovember on May 2, 2006 10:32:03 GMT -5
eh don't sweat it we all get carried away with emotions from time to time....and well we all have problems of our own to work out
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Post by jardows on May 4, 2006 18:52:03 GMT -5
Back to the original question about removing the orange paint, I would like to add that Nail Polish remover with acetone is not as strong as plain acetone, which you can pick up in the paint section at Wally World. Though the polish remover is cheaper.
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Post by Sascha Gusdorf on May 4, 2006 21:55:44 GMT -5
...thanks a bunch Jardows; and thanks to everyone who helped out; I really appreciate it.--Ben
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