I'm thinking of using Gun-Kote from Brownells to coat a few gun parts. I've read quite a bit on it, and it seems to be very popular and well liked by many for its durability and looks.

 

I have a few issues. The sand blasting of the parts, and the oven. I'm thinking its not a good idea to use my kitchen oven for obvious reasons. I also don't own the media blasting equipment, as the parts have some factory garbage coating that needs to be removed. I haven't tried paint remover just yet...

 

Does anyone here on the forums offer a gun coating service using Gun-Kote or similar product? Or perhaps anyone withe the equipment , namely sand blasting stuff, and a "project" oven? I'd be willing to compensate for the usage.

 

Thanks

What are you trying to coat?

No you dont want to use your house oven. No you dont want to sandblast. You want to bead blast it. Its different. What is the current finish? Not many I know of that paint remover will work on other than...well... paint

You can have the parts "media blasted" with very fine glass beads (any good auto restoration shop), then drop off the parts at a "chrome shop" for "just nickel plating". You may have to clean up any bores or orifices, for fitting the parts. Otherwise a lasting finish.

 

Spectre

Gotcha, media blasting with glass beads. The parts are basically everything but the receiver on two rifles.

 

One surface is stainless steel, so that won't need bead blasting. The other has some type of black coating from the factory that isn't the best and has some areas that don't look that great. I would like to choose a color that I like, something like coyote in the Gun-Kote options.

 

Nickel plating isn't the look I'm going for even it if is a good quality finish, but thanks.

 

I know there are options to send the parts in to a company that does these types of things. I'm really looking to see if there is a local shop in NJ that offers this service. Or if there is a DIY person out there that I could work with that owns the equipment and enjoys these types of projects and wouldn't mind a few extra $$'s.

Unfortunately Im only set up for small parts (1911's). My oven and cabinet are to small for rifle work. Even skimping along the cost to get setup or pay others to do parts of the process are likely going to exceed just having it done by someone. I use Norrells, not guncote but Im betting the procedure is reasonably close which means the SS will still need to be blasted. So my best recomendation on the DIY side of the fence would be to get someone with a sizable cabinet to blast it and then go with an air dry version of guncote. Just make sure you let it dry a long time. Air dry takes a while to cure from what I understand.

When i did the spanish mauser i used semi gloss high heat paint to do the barrel and reciever..This worked real well lasted over 20 years and i just did it again last winter..

 

I did not glass bead it either i just wiped it down with laquer thinner...I sprayed the parts outside and brung them in and hung them up..

 

Thanks for the feedback all.

 

I may go with a air-dry duracoat option. It uses a hardening agent that you mix at the time of application in lieu of the baking process of the shaker can gun-kote. I would have to invest in a media blaster, compressor (properly sized), and airbrush setup. I'm looking at a ~$450 setup here. Seems most places that I have found are charging $200+ per rifle to finish. If I have two rifles, looks like it may make sense to to the DIY route and make the investment.

 

I've decided to wait until spring, so I'll re-evaluate at that time.

I think your estimate is low. You need a pretty good sized air compressor to run a blast cabinet.