Thread: duracoat experiences

Hey guys, I'm looking at painting my rifle myself with duracoat, has anyone had personal experiences with this? How it wears? Applying it?

Or is it better to pay the extra and get it cerakote?

im looking at doing it myself

Looks like its around $350 to have done so I'd be interested how much of that is labour and someone knowing what they are doing?

Ifnyou can paint yourself ,maybe 120 for 2 colors. Cerakoting is around 350 odd + depending on complexity.

I’ve used DuraCoat on two of my rifles and I am very happy with how it came out. Bought the DuraCoat from https://www.finlaysltd.co.nz and it was about $80 or so.

The first rifle (Howa 1500) I did with a Preval Spayer and the second rifle (JW15) I did with my spraygun. Both methods worked equally fine.

When you prep the rifle, make sure you use a good degreaser, preferably the degreaser that Finlays supplies as it leaves no residue. I applied the DuraCoat in multiple thin layers and used heat gun to flash off the solvents between coats.

Was straight forward to do, and once the stuff cured is tuff as!

Here is a short clip of how the Howa came out - this was matte black:
https://youtu.be/vxXjirG3JhQ


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Anyone know where to get cerakote in NZ for diy application? I'm not too keen on paying $350 to get a barreled action done.
I may end up using duracoat but would prefer cerakote.

I think @Wingman has used duracote as well

Yes I have used a lot of Duracoat and a bit of Ceracoat too.
Duracoat is an enamel base and Ceracoat is a ceramic base. While Ceracoat boast they have the best product it actually comes down more to the fact that they protect their product by using a strict franchise/representative network and give training and support to their selected applicators. There is quite a process of prep and baking to get the best out of Ceracoat.
Duracoat is a far easier product to work with and will reach its super hard state even without baking. As long as the parts are clean and the surface is keyed by bead blasting or similar I see no difference between the durability or wear between the two products.

I have uses the preval spray system but found it applied the duracoat too thick so have since got set up with a hobby type airbrush applying it in much thinner wet on wet coats then a low temp bake in a repurposed glass pie warmer oven.
I have several rifles done with both products that have had a lot of carrying and knocking around. Very impressed by both products durability.
Finlays in Timaru have and apply both products but dont sell the Ceracoat to the public.

I'm just keen to give it ago myself. Is bead blasting the surface needed for duracoat? Or just a scuff/scourer then wax and grease before application?

A good scuff works fine but media blasting is best. Break clean, thinners or acetone works well for the final clean

anyone know of a link or something for a decent colour chart

Originally Posted by northdude

anyone know of a link or something for a decent colour chart

Got my kit off T/M in the gun parts section, showed the colours available on the add.

Finlays website has a listing of all the colours they have available

another question whats best to apply it with i was thinking an airbrush if so what kind cheers

I only ever have one rifle done with Cerakote & then only parts, ie bolt & trigger guard-floor plate on my .458Win work rifle & it has been rubbish, a small patch came off the bolt straight away & the floor plate is worn as, the Bluing on the action has held up much better, Sad to me !