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Don't Like the Finish on My PS90 Receiver

9756 Views 43 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  SAVAGEJIM
I'm new to the PS90 scene, and looking at the PS90 receiver, I'm not too impressed with the casting and finish. Have a look at the pic of my PS90 receiver below.
The casting looks too rough and that flat black finish looks too cheesy to me for the price of the rifle.

I know that all P/PS90s look like this, and so long as it works without fault, that's what counts, but aesthetically, I'm disappointed that FNH did not use some of the rifle's very high price to address the final finishing details.

For me, the receiver black finish looks too shiny and stands out too much from the black polymer stock.
I tried to do a search to see what others have done or can do to refinish the receiver, but all I found was a few threads of some receiver finishes flaking/peeling off:
http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-ps90/20379-fiinish-peeled-one-spot-reciever-anyone-have-happen.html
And others wishing the receiver finish were not so smooth/shiny and "crude."
http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-ps90/141-what-changes-would-you-like-seen-done-ps90-3.html

Does anyone know what can be done to our receivers to clean up that crudeness and to refinish the cast aluminum surface to better match the black polymer stock?

Gun Trigger Gun accessory Starting pistol
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Prior to cerakote, or any other finishing, how should the receiver be prepped to strip off the old flat black factory finish?
And what kind of resurfacing can be done to remove the rough and crude casting surface?
On my ps90 after simply inserting a mag a few times I developed a couple of 1/3" spots where paint flaked and I was shocked:th_oops:::FF::! Most aerosol gun scrubbers can remove paint and or melt plastics, this is/was a major prob with Arsenal made AK's since they use military paint and it will wash off 100% unless u only use CLP!

yrs. ago I sprayed the action on a CZ 52 pistol after disassembly but a drop over-sprayed on to 1 grip and it started to bubble and fume, but I dropped in sink and was able to refinish edge of grip with 0000 wool as good as new, but recently saw where someone actually ruined both grips on same pistol and cant use them anymore!
Ur looking at spending some big bucks to have it done, instead stock up on mags and ammo!
I was extremely upset over how crappy the casting was on my PS90 receiver.

So, I decided to take a sanding block to the receiver and see if I could make it look a little better.



This was after a short sanding and a rattle can finish. I've been debating whether I want Cerakote, Anodizing, or Hydrodip.

Since this photo was taken I've gotten serious about sanding it till it's completely flat and doesn't have any imperfections.

I completely agree with your comments on it being sold like this, if it was an AR-15 with that crappy of a finish and the receiver as poorly cast the company would fail in a short order but FN has no competition on the PS90.
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Does look Better!
Birch wood makes a touch-up pen in flat and glossy black which work great, but their best product to turn Aluminum Black is called "Aluminum Black" and just degrease bare spot and instantly it turns black!:MM:
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Prior to cerakote, or any other finishing, how should the receiver be prepped to strip off the old flat black factory finish?
And what kind of resurfacing can be done to remove the rough and crude casting surface?
Aircraft aluminum paint stripper.
Then, if you really want to be snazzy, have someone bead blast it with something appropriate.
Prime it, bake it, paint it.
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the ps90 has a finish only a ak fan could love
the ps90 has a finish only a ak fan could love
:lol::-D Some of my AK's have the nicest blued finish u could ever wish for, now if ur talking WASR's those are quite bad!
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:lol::-D Some of my AK's have the nicest blued finish u could ever wish for, now if ur talking WASR's those are quite bad!
Can we see yours?
I'm new to the PS90 scene, and looking at the PS90 receiver, I'm not too impressed with the casting and finish.
If it will make you feel any better they are all the same.

The P90's look the same too.
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I actually have a receiver all stripped and glass beaded it is going to be anodized. If anyone on the forum has an extra project gun and they would like to have their receiver anodized along with mine at the same time flat black PM Me.... I will round up several send them out for anodizing. We will then split the cost there's going to be at least $150 flat charge no matter how many receivers we have unless they get into a high-volume plus shipping to and from the anodizer .... but we could split that up between the interested parties .
believe me anodizing , dealing with anodizer's !!!!!!!!!!!!! is such a PITA, this is a very generous offer.

Receiver owners are responsible for their own smoothing polishing deburring I will glass bead them all and send to the anodizer's. The finish will be man kave flat black just like the MK finish you see on the MK EMR's , MK ECH's ...stuff is pretty decent.

Just throwing it out there for all I know ,that FN PS 90 casting may not be suitable for anodize due to perosity , the finish etc. however I'm more than willing to risk it on one of mine.
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Some form of surface treatment, and coating will make it look better, if that's what you want.

Cerakote is the best finish IMO.
I bead blasted mine with aluminum oxide as that was what CERAKOTE recommended to use on aluminum before apply their product. The glass bead sticks in the aluminum if not cleaned properly and this will affect the application of paint.
BTW, the magazine rest area in front still gets affected even with CERAKOTE, just not as easily.
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Are there any vids on the proper way to strip down the receiver of the factory paint?
And any vids on how to sand down the roughness? (Especially in creases, and other hard to reach places of the receiver)

Also, should the barrel be dismounted form the receiver or can you just simply plug up the muzzle and chamber entry to protect the chamber and rifling?
None that I know of but u might want to ask PursuitSS who posted pictures on page 1 on this thread and he seems to have done a good looking sanding job on his I did read a post from someone who used Cerakote on his and he said the finish still comes off in the mag area but not as bad. Have u tried Aluminum Black for touch ups?
For chipping, I have Birchwood Casey aluminum black.

My PS90 hasn't chipped anywhere yet, but I did use the aluminum black to touch up a custom Picatinny tri-rail mount for one of my lever action rifles.

The Birchwood Casey aluminum finish is not as good as anodized finish or cerakote, but it does very well to hide the scars of chipping

[video=youtube;DxWGSQnQWgI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxWGSQnQWgI"]
► 6:29► 6:29
[/video]

www.youtube.com/w...
Dec 9, 2014
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Several comments...

When I started sanding on my receiver I quickly realized just how bad the casting really is. Paint hides a multitude of sins.

Its pretty bad when Airsoft PS90's have a far better receiver casting than the real ones do!

I was block sanding and found low spots that were FAR from flat so I switched to a VERY FINE CUT file.

After getting it CLOSER to flat I switched back to block sanding. I finally had to remove the barrel to do a better job (no biggie, it's going to be an SBR)

Keep in mind, unless you have a MUCH better than average PS90 casting you will not be able to get it completely flat and true without removing a hell of a lot more aluminum than I was comfortable in doing.

Going back to my comment "paint hides a multitude of sins", that's why I rattle can sprayed it. To see how it would look after a final finish.

I'm confident it's going to come out MUCH better looking than it was.

Here is a photo I searched for on Google Images to find the crappiest PS90 casting posted....

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