Tips on Duracoating

[mukwah]

I have an old Stevens 12ga pump I plan on shortening the barrel on and putting a flat black Duracoat finish on. I'm thinking on the Shake and Spray kit with the hardener finish. Anyone tryed this DIY project with Duracoat? Any tips?

 

[El Rubio]

I'm not familiar with the shake and spray kit, but have done a few projects using standard Duracoat. The most important thing is preparation. All of the guns I have done were previously blued. I stripped the blued finish with naval jelly, sanded off pits and scratches, or just scuffed some with scotchbright. I take the disassembled parts to be coated and hang with wire coat hangers. be sure to plug the barrel and chamber. Duracoat is a little thick and I would suggest you leave pins in place to avoid any build-up inside the holes. This makes it difficult to reassemble. Degrease everything to be coated. I use brake cleaner and spray down everything after it's on hangers. Make sure you get brake cleaner that says it doesn't leave residue. Dont touch anything but the hangers with your hands after this point. I put a base coat of KG K-Phos. After that is dry, I lay up very thin coats of duracoat allowing time to dry between. I usually end up putting about 5 coats, but I put very thin coats and you could do thicker and just put 3. I wait at least 24 hrs before reassembling. I've had outstanding results using this method.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

i re did an onld stevens 520a in black and OD came out great. I did not use shake and spray i used the regular duracoat

 

[DWT]

I've used the shake&spray kit. It works ok with the Duracoat but not the Durafill product. Durafill is a filler, used prior to applying the Duracoat finish. If you don't have a pitted surface you shouldn't need it. If you do, buy an air brush kit from Harbor Freight or a hobby shop.

 

[daygooz3v]

i used high heat engine enamel on my remington 870 and it came out perfect, i didnt even do much prep

 

[troy_mclure]

I've found the engine enamel, followed by the grill enamel to be superior to duracoat.
Like said above, prep is key. I've never removed blueing, but I strip/clean with Mek lightly buff with a green pad, then Mek again. Tape or plug all holes. If you can't get all holes before you spray find a drill bit that fits your pin holes, if after you paint the pins are too tight use the drill bit to open them back up.

 

[mukwah]

Welk I finished my Savage. I stripped the bluing, degreased, sanded, and degreased again. Here's what she looks like. I also chooped the barrel and installed a front bead sight and added a limb saver.

 

[edman87k5]

So yall are saying the engine enamel is easier to apply than duracoat (obviously) or a better product?

 

[troy_mclure]

Duracoat is just a relabeled paint, forget what. It's not engineered for durability or hardness. Engine enamel is. And it's way easier to apply.

 

[troy_mclure]

Welk I finished my Savage. I stripped the bluing, degreased, sanded, and degreased again. Here's what she looks like. I also chooped the barrel and installed a front bead sight and added a limb saver.

Looks good!

 

[Robbie]

Anyone ever tried to remove Duracoat?
Whats the easiest way?

 

[troy_mclure]

My go to for removing any coating is Mek(methel ethel keytone). It strips everything not metal off the metal parts.

 

[bigchris]

I've found the engine enamel, followed by the grill enamel to be superior to duracoat.
Like said above, prep is key. I've never removed blueing, but I strip/clean with Mek lightly buff with a green pad, then Mek again. Tape or plug all holes. If you can't get all holes before you spray find a drill bit that fits your pin holes, if after you paint the pins are too tight use the drill bit to open them back up.

how has it held up after use? does it scratch easy? jus curious to know...

 

[troy_mclure]

the grill stuff holds up pretty good, a sears and roebuck .22 i did in red for a buddys kid 5 years ago is just starting to chip.
i did a sawed off stevens/springfield 5200 sxs about 12 years ago in black engine enamel for my dad, it is his go to gun for thick brush rabbit and grouse.
its showing some wear on the muzzle, and a few chips on the breach, but no rust or any other issues.

on the other side, i did a ruger mk2 in green duracoat last year for my dad as his squirrel gun. the front half of the barrel is almost plain metal from holster wear, also there is some rust spots on the handle/grip from sweat.

ive also found brownells spray and bake stuff to preform poorly, especially compared to wheeler engineering ceracoat.

 

[mukwah]

Duracoat is just a relabeled paint, forget what. It's not engineered for durability or hardness. Engine enamel is. And it's way easier to apply.

That seems like a pretty bold statement. What info do you base that on? Just cuirous.

 

[rockmup]

That seems like a pretty bold statement. What info do you base that on? Just cuirous.

I believe it's a Sherwin Williams product. Can't recall what it is off hand. As to the rest he's wrong

 

[bigjakewelch]

I believe it's a Sherwin Williams product. Can't recall what it is off hand. As to the rest he's wrong

This^^^^^. If done right, this stuff is harder than woodpecker lips!

 

[mukwah]

That's the impression I picked up when researching it.

 

[BayouArms]

DuraCoat is far superior to engine enamel for coating firearms.

 

[troy_mclure]

I've used it 2x with not so good success, as have many others. I have refinished many firearms, with everything from hot blue, to wally world rattle-can.