Gunkote and Bead Blasting Question?

[MrLogan]

I want to Gunkote one of my stripped lowers and upper receiver Flat Dark Earth. For those who have experience with Gunkote, what kind of prep work is necessary? Is bead blasting necessary? What's the alternative?

And as far as baking the parts in the oven after the Gunkote has dried, do the parts need to be suspended somehow, or can it be laid flat?

[drawn]

Strip all of the oils off and mask any tolerance holes and the buffer tube threads. I fill the lower with cloth to avoid any OS inside. It should be suspended.

Hang from (below) single oven rack in highest position with bailing wire.

[MrLogan]

Strip all of the oils off and mask any tolerance holes and the buffer tube threads. I fill the lower with cloth to avoid any OS inside. It should be suspended.

Hang from (below) single oven rack in highest position with bailing wire.

Ah, interesting. Man, my oven isn't very large, but I think i should be able to manage hanging my lower and upper from the highest position. How am I going to do a barrel??

[drawn]

Take the barrel to
Pizza Hut
Friends oven.
Over a floor heater for 24 hours suspended from your camera tripod.

[Prc329]

I want to Gunkote one of my stripped lowers and upper receiver Flat Dark Earth. For those who have experience with Gunkote, what kind of prep work is necessary? Is bead blasting necessary? What's the alternative?

And as far as baking the parts in the oven after the Gunkote has dried, do the parts need to be suspended somehow, or can it be laid flat?

Use a carb cleaner that doesn't leave residue and dries quick. I didn't have anything in my oven and it turned out fine. I used a large cookie sheet covered in foil.

I've down two uppers and lowers. One if tan and one in OD green.

[MrLogan]

Use a carb cleaner that doesn't leave residue and dries quick. I didn't have anything in my oven and it turned out fine. I used a large cookie sheet covered in foil.

I've down two uppers and lowers. One if tan and one in OD green.

Thanks for all the great advice. When you say carb cleaner, I assume you mean carburetor cleaner? Any recommendation for a good cleaner that won't leave residue?

[Prc329]

I used the auto zone brand. It seemed to work pretty well. The lower turned a weird gray color because it sucked all the oil from the metal. The gunkote held up very well. One thing I did learn is paint in very light coats and use a heat gun in between each coat. I used two light coats (almost a light dusting), a cover coat and a touch up coat. If you are doing a barrel and the upper/lower you may want to get two cans.

Use aluma-hyde if you are going to paint furniture.

[Prc329]

I made the mistake of selling the bottom one. Notice the brass stain

[MrLogan]

Wow, yours came out really good. Skill. I'll give it a try, hopefully it comes out well.

I'm going to be doing this to a Mega lower. I wonder if the teflon coating will pose any special challenges. I don't know if a barrel will fit in my oven; any other suggestions on how to cure that sucker?

Thanks for all the great info, everyone! I'll have to document my project and post the pictures.

[radioactivelego]

80 grit glass beads should work just fine, correct?

[goose]

I don't know if a barrel will fit in my oven; any other suggestions on how to cure that sucker?

This one isn't mine but I built one just like it. Cut hole in top of used toaster oven. Tin snips for the ducting,flare it out and pop rivet them on. Wrap with insulation, drill rod through the top to suspend a barreled action and I suspend an oven thermometer to monitor temp.

[IMG][/IMG]

[MrLogan]

80 grit glass beads should work just fine, correct?

I don't have a bead blasting machine. So I was looking for alternatives to bead blasting. Thanks, though.

This one isn't mine but I built one just like it. Cut hole in top of used toaster oven. Tin snips for the ducting,flare it out and pop rivet them on. Wrap with insulation, drill rod through the top to suspend a barreled action and I suspend an oven thermometer to monitor temp.

[IMG][/IMG]

Wow, that is very creative solution. Interesting. Hmmm.

[Cazach]

Harbor freight has some cheap blast cabinets (if you have a compressor to power it). I bought a cheap blast gun from them for around $20 and used and old aquarium as a cabinet to limit the mess.

As others mentioned, degreasing is critical. I bought everything direct from KG and used their degreaser as well. Results were very durable.

The process I followed:

1. Degrease
2. Blast
3. Degrease
4. Warm parts (it was cold outside)
5. Paint
6. Allow paint to set
7. Bake (hang all items from rack in oven)

Another good tip I learned was to not touch any of the parts with bare hands. The oil from your fingers is enough to mess up the part.