Crosman 600 finish?

[Geoff555]

Hello chaps, I don't use them very often just every couple of months, just to keep them working. Kept in flight type boxes wrapped in soft cloth. Took one out and found that the 'paint' or what ever was used is flaking off, Seems to be just one very thin coat. Bought them as restored a few years ago, mechanically are 100% and never had any kind of problem.
Finally getting to the point I will remove the present finish and I don't know what to do, key the alloy ( doesn't appear to be at the present.) and spray high gloss black or polish to a mirror finish??
There always seems to be a risk of paint falling off or chipping ,a polished finish will be 'safe'. I really don't want to strip it and send it off to be professionally done, I have had enough problems with things going missing (rifle) or being damaged beyond repair.
Your thoughts, ideas and brickbats gratefully received.
Cheers.
Geoff.

[Troubledshooter]

I've successfully used Halfords acrylic black satin finish spray paint on various pistols and rifles, but never tried the gloss alternative, although I see no reason why it shouldn't work just as well.
I've also never had to refinish any of my 600's, but from the sound of it, your 'restored' 600 didn't have a very good finish applied.
I think your idea of stripping, keying then refinishing is possibly the best way to go, although I am sure there will be others on here who may have successfully used alternative methods to refinish their 600's.
Cerakote seems to be a modern popular method of refinishing, although should be professionally applied, but not having had any experience of it, I would suggest you contact RichardH on this BBS who has his own refinishing business.

[gingernut]

I'm useless with paint but a friend of mine did a 600 of mine in the paint mentioned by TroubledS.

It was fine after I allowed it a long time to dry.
About 3 weeks on his advice.

[Geoff555]

Thanks chaps you are confirming what I was afraid of, I had 3 two which you know about, 1 hasn't shown any signs ,as yet, of shedding the paint, 1 that is and seems that some parts are solid and would need a sharp scraper to shift the paint. I am hoping its only one! The third one, I think I was done as it was the most expensive and was supposed to have been done by a very well respected chap but was so bad that it was scrapped, a lesson learned.
When I have done some shopping I will give the satin paint a go, but wait for the atmosphere to improve ,temp and damp.
Thanks again, I will come back and let you know the results.
Cheers.
Geoff.

[Troubledshooter]

I would use the gloss paint to match the original finish, and would use Nitromors paint stripper, or something similar, to remove the existing finish, with only stubborn bits carefully removed with a scraper.
To my eyes the satin finish is superb, but it's not what the 600's were originally finished with.

[gingernut]

Nor is chrome but I put up with mine