blackening Noveske gas tube (for switchblock)

sendit223

sendit223

Well-known member
Let's say you have your calling rig all set up and you just can't stand the glare off of the gas tube....which is used in a Noveske SwitchBlock....which is "special", so no I can't substitute a blackened tube.

Do you:

(1) paint it

(2) Cerakote it

(3) Duracote it

(4) blacken it with Caswell's kit:
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/black.htm#stainless

I am leaning toward Duracote because I want to "graduate" from Krylon anyway.

Your thoughts???
 
Sure...
IMG_1236.jpg

and....

IMG_1234.jpg
 
The only problem I see with any of your choices is that the tube is gonna get blazin hot if you put very many shots downrange. I don't know if any will stand up to that heat, especially right at the gas block.

Nice looking stick!

Is that an AAC 762 SD on the end of that?
 
Thanks. I had to custom gouge/dremel the thing to get the SB on there.

Re the can, you're close, it's an SPR/M4.

Regarding heat, this is a calling rifle, not a 3 gun or anything. Shouldn't be too much rapid fire. I don't see why the tube would get much more hot than a hot barrel. Or am I wrong on that? And everybody seems to use Cerakote on their barrels.
 
The tube will get a lot hotter than the barrel. Less mass to dissipate the heat so it will heat up more, faster. But cool off faster too. I've seen full-auto gas tubes glow red, but the barrel just gets really hot to touch. Mine has blackened a bit on it's own right at the gas block where it gets the hottest, that's after about 300 rounds through it.
 
That is slightly on the sexy side. From looking at it, I wouldn't worry about coloring it. Otherwise barbeque paint should do the trick. I am trying to decide on a handguard for a SBR build so thanks for the pic...
 
I'm not worrying about it...it just bugs me. Well I guess I am worrying about it. My buddy I hunt with has a watch....a Rolex look alike...and when any part of that d...ang thing shows he lights up the hillside.

I've seen a blued barrel throw a glare from over a 1/4 mile away on a sunny day too (bird hunting). That makes me paranoid about shiny stuff. So even though the odds are low that my almost-hidden-but-barely-visible gas tube will ever spook a coyotes....it bugs me.

I'm probably going with Cerakote and will coat the tube.

Thanks for the input all.
 
I have used high heat engine paint on a gas block before and it has seemed to hold up fairly well. I had to grind the edges down on this gas block to get it to fit under the handguards and it didn't look very good when I got done. I put a few coats of engine paint on it and it has worked out fine. I think if you got some in flat black it would work just fine on that tube. My .02 cents
 
Originally Posted By: dzlfarmboyI'd just hit it with some flat black Grill paint, it's rated pretty high in temp.

That should work. I painted air-cooled 2-stroke motorcycle cylinder heads and mufflers with black stovepipe paint before and they held up fine. They get hot enough to burn blisters on your hand on contact.

I know that part for a fact.
scared.gif


Just make sure it's totally de-greased before painting (brake cleaner or acetone scrub down).
 
Last edited:
they sell a product at alot of auto stores called VHT exhaust paint, have it on a few of my four wheeler pipes and it hasn't burned off or shown any signs from that heat
 
Back
Top