First time Duracoating - DIY

So I had this rifle that was kindly made up by various parts and services from current forum and F&H members (brief story to come), problem was that the Shilen barrel I got was Chrome-Moly. It needed coating so I did a search and it seemed DED sells Duracoat over the counter so I ordered some Matt Black.

Prep'ed action of my 257
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat001.jpg

End result on the 257
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat012.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat011.jpg

End Result on 6mm Rem.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat008.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat006.jpg

I did the work with a cheap airbrush and the first one came out just fine. The second action I did was a bit off, the brush was leaving spots or blotches on the first coat which I almost covered on the later coats but are still somewhat visible. Does anyone know what could be going on? I struggled to get the airbrush to spray so once I got the paint coming out I left it as is.

Now all I need to do is leave it for a few weeks and see if all my metal prep actually allowed the coating to stay stuck!

the 6mm looks great in that boyd stock! Hows the balance?

Looks good mate ,,,,looking at "de light sabering" the the tikka soon was looking at the duracoat as a cheap option, i know there are conflicting reports on coatings but hey nothing is forever

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Walker

the 6mm looks great in that boyd stock! Hows the balance?

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Yep great Walker thanks. Really happy with how it came out. If the Duracoat stays on better than powder coating (which I have on another rifle) then I will be over the moon.

BR: Its quite easy to do if you can figure out how to use a bloody airbrush!

Nice job be interested to know how it lasts keep us posted:thumbsup:

Looks great. Do my .223AI TYIA

Come have a closer look when you're in town. Those photos are pretty poor.

Tuesday, I get in.


Does your camera have a "macro" mode? Try that?

Now you made me get the tripod out. Crap light is the problem. I have put the stock back on the 257 now but you get an idea. Most of it isn't too bad, just a few blotches in places.
You can see the worst on the extractor, the rest is okay.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat020.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat022.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat023.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat024.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat034.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat032.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat030.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat028.jpg




Should be round till Thursday

I'll call. Have to go to Oamaru on Wednesday maybe.

Good Job Wildman, the 6mm together with the stock looks really classy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wildman

Prep'ed action of my 257
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...uracoat001.jpg

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What was prep done with?

100 grit sandpaper and Brake Kleen.... A wire brush in a drill too..

Looks pretty good, shame I don't have anything that needs coating! For the spots and blotches, was the air brush completely clean? No dried paint inside the nozzle from the first use that may have affected the paint flow, this can be an issue with spray painting

Yeah not sure. You used them before?

Not an airbrush, but I've used spray guns and cans a bit and have had that problem with dirty nozzles

Thanks, will try to clean it better next time:=B:

yup got to be clean, more preasure or thiner paint if that doesn't work. Air brushes can be fussy and have fine nossels so clean is the mostlikley problem.

Have given it a good clean out. Just waiting on gimp to bring round something else for me to paint!

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

I'm going to get my doublestack 1911 done with Gun Kote in the new year.

Got to decide on colours

Thinking...........

Attachment 303
Attachment 304
Attachment 305

Quite like black slide with a brownie coloured frame

Going to get a AR upper and lower done - maybe OD or brown

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gimp

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

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You round?

Yeah, at the flat.

Wow, you don't muck around - nice going :pacman:
I would have been scared to try 100 grit. Is that necessary for adhesion or would it be worth finishing off with something finer?
What's the rough cost for all the components to give this a go?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meathunta

Wow, you don't muck around - nice going :pacman:
I would have been scared to try 100 grit. Is that necessary for adhesion or would it be worth finishing off with something finer?
What's the rough cost for all the components to give this a go?

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As long as its got enough body in the paint 100 grit is fine, the LIC paints I use is painted over 100grit as well and sticks better to the coarser scratches, It seams to chip easier when using finer paper ...

Wildman is that a 2 pot paint?

Yeah I tried a wire brush in a drill which was pretty rough but yes the 100grit wasnt actually too bad. I tried 220 and it just seemed to polish it. I was using the Garnet stuff... You need it for the Duracoat to stick too. They reccomend you actually bead blast it for best results...

$60 odd for the Duracoat from DeadEyeDicks and ~$25 for the airbrush from Trade Me! That could explaine a bit right there!!

Will get a chance to shoot it over Xmas then I can get round writing a full story... The barrel has come up well I think.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leathel

As long as its got enough body in the paint 100 grit is fine, the LIC paints I use is painted over 100grit as well and sticks better to the coarser scratches, It seams to chip easier when using finer paper ...

Wildman is that a 2 pot paint?

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Yep Duracoat has the paint and a Hardner. Does that LIC air brush well?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wildman

Yep Duracoat has the paint and a Hardner. Does that LIC air brush well?

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Thined a bit it would be fine, I run it through my gravity feed gun (can get cheap ones for as little as $30)

Its an etch paint but must be no rust under it as it doesn't kill it but is protected from it when painted.

Whats the Duracoat worth?

Leathel, please decode - what is LIC paint?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meathunta

Leathel, please decode - what is LIC paint?

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LIC40 and LIC43 are the name of some 2 pot Polyurethane paint, the 40 is gloss and 43 is matt, You can request 10-15% 40 added to the 43 to give a not quite matt finish. It is made by Valspar paints and you can paint direct to steel and is available in most colours. I get mine from Linkup Paints Akl 09 2622249 but others must stock it.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/IMG_4534.jpg

Deadeye Dick's Link.

I've done one full barreled action w/ bolt, and one action and bolt and used maybe 40mls with the associated hardner. I think my airbrush sprays it thick so I have only done it in about 2-3 coats which seems thick, almost as thick as the powder coated rifle I have. I could thin it I guess but I'm really not confident moving away from the factory instructions.

Leathal is a gravity fed one better than one with a bottle on the bottom? I guess you're talking about a gravity fed air brush?

That LIC looks pretty neat, how does it compare for price?

I use an Iwata W400 ($600 + ) similar to the base model below

NEW IWATA SPRAYGUN | Trade Me

But as long as its around a 1.4mm nosel it doesn't need to be that flash.. something like this

AIR TOOLS HP Gravity Spray Gun~*BUYNOW$27.95*~ | Trade Me

or

* NEW * K-3A Gravity Air Spray Gun (fan spray) | Trade Me

I pay around $25 a litre for the paint and $53 a litre for the hardners but I am sure most shops will sell it in 500 mils and pour of the required hardners (4:1 mix so 500ml requires 125 ml of hardner) Strait LIC43 is very matt like your paint, I think I guessed 15% gloss added to the 43 for that rifle, very hardy but the extractor lost some of its paint as it rubbs hard against the action, My RUM Rem700 has a painted bolt as well and has put a few hundred rounds through it and is still black (Gloss though so might be harder)

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...003800x600.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...002800x600.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...004800x600.jpg

Did my brother's 30-30. It was a bloody mess but has come up alright. Still struggling to get an even finish on larger surfaces with the air brush. It is very economical on paint though. Will be a good test on how durable the stuff is.

That looks nice Wildman.

Well done.

what airbrush did you use?

A gravity one from Super Cheap the second time. The cheapest I could find the first. Gravity one are much easier to get to work IMHO. They cost more though. They are a bit small for things like the sides of the 30-30 receiver, I struggled to get an even finish due to the small nozzle sive taking a while. Bolts and little bits like that are a piece of cake now.

problem is I don't have a compressor either.

You will struggle then. You can buy a thing call a Preval spray gun which is an areosole can ontop of a jar... Have not read good reviews..