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Krylon or Duracoat?

StoBtruppenStoBtruppen Member Posts: 278
edited October 2010 in Ask the Experts
I was wanting to use spray enamel such as Krylon on some AK bolt carriers and almost seems what Arsenal uses on their AK rifles...
However I wasn't sure if I should use Krylon or use Duracoat instead, although I don't think that Duracoat comes in a spray can, so how well would Krylon work on an AK bolt carrier?

Comments

  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've used Krylon to refinish several surplus rifles. Krylon will resist handling fairly well but will scratch and show wear quickly where surfaces contact. Just my opinion, but Duracoat doesn't resist contact wear all that well either. I'm using a single instance in which the pistol I had Duracoated showed wear spots from shipping in a loose fitting box. Other applicators might get better results.
  • StoBtruppenStoBtruppen Member Posts: 278
    edited November -1
    Mobuck,
    Have you used Krylon on any bolts or bolt carriers, in particular for semi auto firearms such as an AK for instance?

    Would engine paint work better perhaps or maybe a different spray, I was hoping to find one that worked well and that comes in a spray can?
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    StoBtruppen,

    If it was that easy, don't you think that we would all be spraying store bought paint instead of paying $250 - $350 for a complete Ceracoat finish?

    Common sense should tell you that any store bought can of spray paint will NOT hold to the constant scraping contact that a bolt or carrier undergoes all the time. Krylon, no matter which type, or engine spray paint which has some resistance to heat, will not be of any value for very long. Duracoat will stand up to a few more cycles but not substantially longer.

    Ceracoat will achieve some length of life against scratching but it too will eventually give up to the surface contact. Ceracoat is not recommended for the average DIY refinisher of firearms.

    You might try powder coating but be aware of material thickness and fit. This process is not for amateurs either.

    If you really feel that you have to do this project yourself, begin by prepping the metal parts perfectly and give them a coat of whatever you choose. Bake this at a very low, low temperature for a couple of hours. Let cool and test it out. Just be prepared to do this with some frequency in order to keep the surfaces coated with color.

    Best.
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Like I said, paint will wear from metal to metal contact quickly. On an AK bolt/carrier, it would be peeled all over in a few shots. Krylon is OK for the outside to provide a cheap and easy protective coating and improve the looks.
  • StoBtruppenStoBtruppen Member Posts: 278
    edited November -1
    And that's why I specifically asked about bolts and such since it wasn't mentioned, but however is what I thought as well.
    Very well then which coating would you recommend...
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For what its worth, Duracoat is just an epoxy-based paint.

    Supposedly Sherwin-Williams has a product that is substantially similar (though maybe not available in all the various gun-centric tints that Duracoat makes).

    On a bolt carrier of an AK? I don't think any paint-based coating is going to last all that long where metal rubs metal all the time.

    I'll tell you from experience that engine paint is nicely heat resistant. . .its not very wear-resistant.

    Duracoat should be OK on the part of the carrier that does NOT rub. Ceracoat is probably better, but its more work and cost. Are you after a particular color? How about just parkerizing it?

    If you want to do it yourself at home from a spray can, you could try Brownell's Gun Kote, which you prep, spray, then bake on in a oven.
  • StoBtruppenStoBtruppen Member Posts: 278
    edited November -1
    I was considering a flat black color, the Gunkote and Ceracoat and maybe Durabake sound like good possible options then in a spray-can. Parkerizing apparently isn't available from a spray-can so I would need a gunsmith for that.
    People seem to like the Gunkote pretty well and I haven't seen too many negatives on it, so that might be the way to go and they all seem to be epoxy based utilizing the oven.
    Was considering some build projects after the paint projects so should be some fun.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by StoBtruppen
    I was considering a flat black color, the Ceracoat, Gunkote and maybe Durabake sound like good possible options then in a spray-can. Parkerizing apparently isn't available from a spray-can so I would need a gunsmith for that.


    Parkerizing is applied by immersing the part(s) in question into a heated chemical bath involving (I believe) phosphoric acid and iron.

    But parkerizing *IS* one of the finishes/coatings that its possible to do at home relatively easily and get good results. There are a number of home parkerizing kits that you can use, and the manganese ones should give you a pretty durable dark-colored finish.
  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with n-n. I have a couple of rifles refinished w/ cerakote and am impressed enough that I have started to use it on some of my equipment at work.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
  • JuggernautJuggernaut Member Posts: 719 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like Gunkote which is inexpensive and have had good results with it and it is easy to use and does a good job without the hassle or poor results of some of the other products and comes in an aerosol spray can which is a plus.
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