Duracoat questions

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Ernest II

New member
Is duracoat just a spray paint? How well does it hold up to field use and also cleaning the firearm? I have a gun that the barrel is going to need a finish to make it look decent.If I clean the barrel good and duracoat it will just look like a barrel thats been spray painted? I hate to send it off for any type of finish but dont want the spray paint look. ANy help appreciated.
Daryl P.
 
Dura coat is an epoxy based paint that is applied with an air brush. It goes on super thin. if the the weapon is preped right and the coating is applied right you will never have to worry about rust again..... my hunting rifles are duracoated and I think its great......
 
You can apply the dura coat till it is glossy, medium, flat or matte, but this takes practice, its a technique that you aquire and learn based on how much hardner to add, how far away to apply the paint etc....
 
I second the ceracoat. Hard as nails and wont chip off. If you want to remove it you will need to use an abrasive blast. My buddy does it at his shop and it looks top notch.
 
Originally Posted By: varminter05Dura coat is an epoxy based paint that is applied with an air brush. It goes on super thin. if the the weapon is preped right and the coating is applied right you will never have to worry about rust again..... my hunting rifles are duracoated and I think its great...... Originally Posted By: varminter05You can apply the dura coat till it is glossy, medium, flat or matte, but this takes practice, its a technique that you aquire and learn based on how much hardner to add, how far away to apply the paint etc....

Good points. Lauer also offers their training class where you learn all these techniques and firearm dis-assembly.

We use duracoat as a base for hydrographics. I use a detail HVLP detail gun for spraying the initial coat. Lauer also sells a flattening agent and Dura Seal which you can then clear coat with that comes out flat.

I've left parts to dry for weeks with no clear coat that cure very hard. With the clear coat, the finish is flat and requires vigorous sanding to remove.

I've yet to use CeraKote but hear it is extremely durable.
 
Listen to Varminter and Heretic, they're spot on. IMHO Ceracoat is a bit tougher and seems to come out more even, but is a bit more of a P I A to apply. The need to bake coated items is the issue, since most of us don't have an oven big enough for a barreled action (I had to use a pottery kiln). They have a new "air dry" Ceracoat that doesn't need to be baked that sounds like the way to go (saw it at Brownells). I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard that the abrasion resistance falls somewhere between the origional Ceracoat and Duracoat. The most important thing for either coating is BY FAR prep work, the first AR I coated with Duracoat looked great but chipped off and scratched easily. I used the same stuff on a Remmy, but did a much better job of prepping it, and it's holding up very well.
 
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I use duracoat and am extremely happy with it, that being said there is a huge call for cerakote... I will be diving into that pool also later this year but duracoat if prepped right is wonderful.
 
EII_

Spray paint: Metal firearms finishes are either spray painted (Duracoat, Cerakote,others), or mechanical/chemical etch (Parkerized, others).

Durability: Properly applied, Duracoat is very durable and resists gun cleaning chemicals.

If your preference isn't black matte or painted, consider Parkerizing or similar treatment.

Duracoat vs. Cerakote: I own multiple examples of both. Same concept, same surface appearance (painted look). The difference is in degree of quality - Cerakote material quality and durability are greater. When Duracoat is applied ideally, the differences are superficial at best - Can't tell them apart and Duracoat cost is considerably less.
 
To add:

Though Duracoat or Cerakote are spray paints, don't compare to a common can spray paint application.

Duracoat intructions encourage using pro-grade spray equipment or a $6 PreVal sprayer. In either case, the paint is designed to be applied as a very fine vapor.
 
Duracoat is tough, but it will chip, as any paint will. By the time you buy the paint, sand paper, thinner and such, you can send the stock or whole firearm off, to have it done.
 
I purchased one 4 oz kit -- dura coat finish, hardner and thinner for about $30.00 including shipping ; with that I did 4 rifles. I think that is pretty cheap.
 


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