Duracoat Thoughts

[Kendall6.8]

I am new here so if I am in the wrong area please direct to the right one.
I am thinking about duracoating my Springfield XD frame along with the stock and pump section of my Mossberg 500. Any thoughts and or pros and cons from the forum?

Thanks for your time.

[misterjake]

If you want, go for it!

However, I've learned that the more stock looking your weapon is the better it'll look in the future.

What's cool now will be silly in 20 years.

[h0use]

The new spray kits make it really easy to do it! Give it a shot! If your not comfortable doing it your self, there are a few members on here that do it for a small fee.

[mopeddog]

If you go the airbrush way then use an air compressor. The canned air use useless. Also if you get an airbrush from harbor freight get the quick change model, it comes with a better hose and bottles that have a decent seal.

[ethik226]

I'm pretty sure Cerakote is better.

[Kendall6.8]

I have thought that as well, but duracoat is cheaper. But you get what you pay for.

I'm pretty sure Cerakote is better.

[dmcmillenfv]

I love the product. Just an example of how durable it is, I refinished a ak, but the customer did not like the color he chose, so I re coated it. My small sandblasted would not even scratch the surface, I had to bring it to work where I have a huge walk in industrial sand blaster, and that took some doing. Remember it's all about the prep. The website says you can spray right over parkarizing, but I have the best luck on bare metal. I've done a few leos duty pistols and show no signs of wear and it's been a few years.

[IEShooter]

Duracoat

I love the product. Just an example of how durable it is, I refinished a ak, but the customer did not like the color he chose, so I re coated it. My small sandblasted would not even scratch the surface, I had to bring it to work where I have a huge walk in industrial sand blaster, and that took some doing. Remember it's all about the prep. The website says you can spray right over parkarizing, but I have the best luck on bare metal. I've done a few leos duty pistols and show no signs of wear and it's been a few years.

+1 on this. Always listen to people who have actually done it, versus people who "have a friend who knew someone".

I bought a $29 Duracot shake and spray kit for my M1A. It had a synthetic black stock that I always wished was OD Green.

Long story short, the prep is key. Just make sure you degrease it thoroughly as well as surface sand and scuff it.

None of these finishes will cover surface scratches or imperfections. They will still show, so make sure you prep well. If you can see it prior to the finish, you'll see it afterwards. Wear nitrile gloves during final stages of prep and spraying. All of this is in the directions, which are your friend.

Just as important is the cure period. I let mine hang in a warm garage for about 3 weeks. I think they recommend at least two. It'll feel dry to the touch in a few hours, but leave it alone for 2-3 weeks. Don't touch it.

It came out perfect and the finish wears like iron.

[dmcmillenfv]

And just to add to ieshooter... Duracoat also sells a product called durafill. It's a thick primer, that If you have minor surface scratches it will fill them in. Simply prep as normal, spray durafill, let dry, sand smooth to base metal, leaving the scratch filled with durafill. Reapeat as nessesary to fill scratches, or rust pits

[RuggedJay]

Why? Are u just bored?

[honeywalnutshrimp]

I've done it multiple times and very successfully.. duracoat is a very very good product but it relies heavily on the user...people use it either incorrectly or mess up a project and think its the products fault...be meticulous and patient that's the key first you clean clean clean then clean some more i mean strip it of all oils and dust then rough it up lightly with high grit sand paper and wipe down then hang with fishing line inside a box to protect from over spray place in well ventilated area like a garage and next step the most important is get a mid to high end air brush don't skimp on this..the air brush is most important don't do the spray thing they sell or a 2.99 ebay special get a good well made adjustable air brush...mix precisely and lay a very thin first coat on the hanging weapon then wait 30 minutes and repeat...very very thin coats repeat this atleast 5 times then let dry for a day..then spray one or two more times plus the sealant the next day and let sit for another day...now the next very important step you can touch the weapon grab it and place it or the parts ie slide frame stock etc. put it in a safe or box and store it for atleast 2 weeks...no shooting no assembling or touching no racking no nothing! after two weeks inspect and if to specs enjoy...

[stix213]

Looks good when you get someone skilled to do it. I've never tried to do it myself. Here's a pic of my G17C I've posted before that I sent off to have done, right after I got it back. I know they completely disassembled and bead blasted it before applying the duracoat. (April 2011)



Here is a pic I just took like 30 seconds ago, which is at least 1500 rounds and a bunch of holster use later. A little bit of wear next to the take down lever from the holster, and a few other places like a bit around the chamber and the slide porting, but still looking good.



The guy who did this is Nutnfancy's buddy. You can reach him over at missionspeccamo.com, and the "nutnfancy" discount code will probably still work. (Sorry if you've seen me post this before, I just have been so happy with the work they did that I have to give them props and show what can be done whenever anyone asks about duracoat - the whole pattern was to my specific spec, not something they suggested)