Tips on how to protect your $150+ anodizing investment

[Ando]

I don't know about the rest of you but I like keeping my stuff in good shape, inside and out. Nothing irks me more then finding a fresh ano job go to hell cause marker parts you just installed scratched, scraped or wore into the ano leaving parts exposed. We've all seen it on the underside of valves especially X-Valves and the under side of bodies and rails. It sucks and truthfully there's something you can do to keep it from looking that way. With all the new bodies, rails and markers coming out, even your own ano jobs on a old baby you've had for years. There are ways of keeping them shiny and new.

And is why I'd like to start up a thread showing what most of you guys do or use to keep those markers looking minty fresh. I have a few things I personally do which I'll be sharing too.

So don't be shy. Let us know what precautions you take to keep your markers looking their best.

For those of you not in the know and would like to protect your investment in case you have to sell it later down the road. You'll def get a better return on your marker if you follow some of these steps.

Ready...
Set..
Go.

[Ando]

I have a few things I do.

1. Masking everything off. The tape is thin enough that you'll have 0 worries about tolerance issues. Depending on the type of marker you have, I usually try taping just about everything having metal to metal contact. This keeps the ano on the underside of your marker components from getting tore up.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2mrft4w.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/2s8odhw.jpg
http://i38.tinypic.com/hvtemd.jpg

2. Another good idea is heading over to Wally World and picking up a few net-book neoprene bags. They're perfect size for paintball markers and are usually about 2-4 mm thick. Best transporting bag ever and will allow you to lay your markers on top of each other for easy storage.
http://i38.tinypic.com/104kx9k.jpg

3. Add plastic washers to screws heads before you tighten them down. This will def save your ano. Most of the screws on these markers are #4, 6, & 8. You can pick up the washers at any hardware store. If you look at my broken down E-Mag you'll see a washer under the bolt head sticking out of the body.

4. Adding a washer under the rubber bumper of your field strip screw. After a while the rubber piece is going to get worn and flatten out but adding a washer between the field strip and rubber bumper will keep the field strip screw from damaging the back side of your frame.

5. Avoid bunker rub. This is where barrels tend to get tore up. Try not to use your barrel as a stabilizer unless your protecting it. Anything from electric tape to the foam you see on old school 10 speed handlebars work great in keeping your barrel damage free.

6. HPA Tank cover. Self explanatory.

That's about all I got.

[Konigballer]

wow, I never thought of that. Good idea! I'm going to do the masking tape thing, since I'm crazy about scratches and dings also.

[Newt]

Neat idea. You could also use a liquid gasket or liquid electrical tape material. Masking tape gets pretty nasty after awhile.

[Ando]

liquid gasket or liquid electrical tape material
Have you ever used that stuff? Talk about getting nasty and good luck getting the liquid ele tape off :rolleyes:

Masking tape does not get nasty. I've been masking my markers off for YEARS and not once had it gone bad...How can it? Worst case, small parts of the glue won't come up with the tape but...pfft...2 sec of rubbing and your golden.

At least your ano will be as sexy as the day it came out of the oven. ;)

[Ando]

I've had about 9 PM's about the slip covers. The one pictured above is a 10" netbook cover and are the perfect size for mags with a lowrise feed neck and low profile drop forward. For those with larger feed necks and drops that hang, I would go with a 12" so you'll have some breathing room.

[Tym]

Out of the oven? hehe.. powder coating comes out of the oven, anno comes out of the boiling pot :)

For a case, I use an aluminum case (buy them from wally world) in the tool box area. I remove the compartments and put foam in both sides of the case, and wrap the foam in cloth (usually camo).

Works quite well..

[ZapTheMad]

Pretty awesome idea! I use clear scotch tape in a similar fashion between parts that show wear.

[Smoothice]

I use these bags.

http://www.anythingxtreme.com/pimages/B/Bag-RZ.jpg

They come in different shapes to fit your needs. Usually between $15-20.

I used to use the cases from Home depot or wally world. But when you become a gun whore those cases can take up a LOT of room. And the more space you take up the more the wife gets suspicious :ninja: