O.K., You've Completed The Build...What Do You Use To Refinish Your New AK?

AK-47 » AK Discussions

AK Sponsor:

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - O.K., You've Completed The Build...What Do You Use To Refinish Your New AK?

Posted: 1/16/2006 9:20:22 PM EDT

I really don't want to go through the expense of getting my build parkerized when I'm finished, but I want something that's going to prevent rust, hold up to solvents, and look/last better than a $3 can of Krylon spray paint.

Any suggestions?

Posted: 1/16/2006 10:19:43 PM EDT

[#1]

Man, get some Aluma-Hyde II from Brownells. It's the best shit I've ever tried. No blasting, no baking, nothing. And it looks like it's parkerized. You just have to have patience and not touch your parts for a few days or you will get fingerprints on them. It takes forever to cure, but it's damn well worth the result!!!

Posted: 1/16/2006 10:35:30 PM EDT

[#2]

gunkote, 1 hour at 325 in the oven and its coated for ever

Posted: 1/16/2006 11:50:22 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Man, get some Aluma-Hyde II from Brownells. It's the best shit I've ever tried. No blasting, no baking, nothing. And it looks like it's parkerized. You just have to have patience and not touch your parts for a few days or you will get fingerprints on them. It takes forever to cure, but it's damn well worth the result!!!

Ditto. Let it set for two weeks and it is good to go. I have cleaned my AK multiple times after refinishing it and have had no problems with the finish. I use klean bore 3in1 and foam bore cleaner. You can get it for about $10 in about any color you want.

Posted: 1/17/2006 5:33:53 AM EDT

[#4]

I've used Aluma Hyde II and its a weak finish. But its very easy to apply!

Posted: 1/17/2006 7:42:00 AM EDT

[#5]

I just ordered the Semi-Gloss black.

I have some real beat up mis-matching C&R's that I'd like to try this on. Guess I'll try on some mags or something first.

-mark

Posted: 1/17/2006 1:18:21 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
gunkote, 1 hour at 325 in the oven and its coated for ever

+1. Gunkote is the shit.

Posted: 1/17/2006 2:16:32 PM EDT

[#7]

GunKote after blasting.

Great stuff and so far has proven quite durable on my rifles.

You can even gett fancy and use a cheap airbrush to do a multi-color camo job.

Have fun.

TheOtherChris

Posted: 1/17/2006 3:06:28 PM EDT

[#8]

Yup - GunKote - and if you prespray with KPHOS, you don't even need to blast. That stuff actually WORKS, and very well... KPHOS also comes from KG Coatings, and it's dirt cheap.

Posted: 1/17/2006 3:10:28 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Yup - GunKote - and if you prespray with KPHOS, you don't even need to blast. That stuff actually WORKS, and very well... KPHOS also comes from KG Coatings, and it's dirt cheap.

$115/Gallon is pretty pricy for me....I am working on an alternative :)

Posted: 1/17/2006 3:13:24 PM EDT

[#10]

tag

Posted: 1/17/2006 3:21:48 PM EDT

[#11]

Say you go over park, it doesn't need to be blasted does it.

Posted: 1/18/2006 3:23:11 PM EDT

[#12]

Oh Lord... unless you are in production? You don't need a GALLON of KPHOS... I used 1/2 pint to work on about six rifles :) It's surface prep - not paint :)

Posted: 1/18/2006 8:37:40 PM EDT

[#13]

My Dad is in the metal finishing business...Most of these products are so ridiculously overpriced.

K-phos and similar products are referred to as conversion coatings....Its a huge business....average price is about 8-15$ a gallon for the concentrates.

I am cheap though....

BTW you can buy enough manganese and phophoric acid to make 150 gals of park solution for about $15 too.

Posted: 1/19/2006 9:34:41 AM EDT

[#14]

I just tried cold bluing on mine. I coarse buffed it then used Brownell's Oxpho. The finish came out wayyy better than I thought it would. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it because the Oxpho refused to take to the top cover or selector at all

Posted: 1/19/2006 9:55:51 AM EDT

[#15]

MolyResin and Jasco Prep & Primer for park.

Posted: 1/19/2006 10:05:05 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Oh Lord... unless you are in production? You don't need a GALLON of KPHOS... I used 1/2 pint to work on about six rifles :) It's surface prep - not paint :)

true, but naval jelly works extremely well for a fraction of the price

Posted: 1/19/2006 10:05:12 AM EDT

[#17]

has anyone tried powdercoating? I have a powdercoating rig and have been thinking about giving it a go. It holds up well to solvents I use brake clean etc on other powdercoated parts without a problem and it holds up to heat pretty well up to 200-300 degrees F so i dont see why it would be a problem.

Posted: 1/19/2006 10:07:23 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
has anyone tried powdercoating? I have a powdercoating rig and have been thinking about giving it a go. It holds up well to solvents I use brake clean etc on other powdercoated parts without a problem and it holds up to heat pretty well up to 200-300 degrees F so i dont see why it would be a problem.

the problem with powder coating is that it is awfully thick and cant be used inside the receiver

Posted: 1/19/2006 10:10:22 AM EDT

[#19]

yea i could see that being a problem

Posted: 1/19/2006 10:43:20 AM EDT

[#20]

i park all my builds and then duracoat them.

i think i've spent a grand total of *MAYBE* $200 on airbrush/compressor, duracoat, and parkerizing solution. so far i've finished 15 different firearms, and will have to spend another 40 bucks or so on duracoat.

given the price, i'd say i'm doing well.

Posted: 1/19/2006 1:13:09 PM EDT

[#21]

Here's a vote for Moly Resin. I did 2 AK's a few years ago and they are holding up great.

Echap

Posted: 1/19/2006 2:47:47 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
has anyone tried powdercoating? I have a powdercoating rig and have been thinking about giving it a go. It holds up well to solvents I use brake clean etc on other powdercoated parts without a problem and it holds up to heat pretty well up to 200-300 degrees F so i dont see why it would be a problem.

my barrel gets way hotter than 300 degrees when I shoot.

I use gunkote over park.

Posted: 1/19/2006 3:00:23 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Quoted:
has anyone tried powdercoating? I have a powdercoating rig and have been thinking about giving it a go. It holds up well to solvents I use brake clean etc on other powdercoated parts without a problem and it holds up to heat pretty well up to 200-300 degrees F so i dont see why it would be a problem.

my barrel gets way hotter than 300 degrees when I shoot.

I use gunkote over park.

Yep, I think I've seen our Barrels glow and smoke...

Posted: 3/18/2006 9:47:01 PM EDT

[#24]

bump...

Posted: 3/18/2006 10:43:29 PM EDT

[#25]

which finish most closely matches Bulgarian/Russian black paint (think SLR-105)?

Posted: 4/14/2006 2:08:04 AM EDT

[#26]

bump...again...

19 days and counting...

Posted: 4/14/2006 3:52:30 AM EDT

[#27]

How about some pics? Would like to see Alumihyde semi-gloss black!

Posted: 4/14/2006 5:47:34 PM EDT

[#28]

Duplicolor High Heat 500 or 1200 degree, with ceramic. Pretty durable and oil resistant.
$4.99 a can.

Posted: 4/14/2006 7:43:20 PM EDT

[#29]

GunKote! I used the arosol can from Brownells and didn't blast before. Tough stuff and looks great.

Posted: 4/14/2006 7:46:16 PM EDT

[#30]

I powder coated an AK, and it was the worst thing I ever did. I made the mistake of getting it inside the receiver. I still need to keep cycling the action to get it all out. I now use duracoat exclusively. Easy to apply, and you don't have to bake it. I have thought about trying gunkoat though.

Kris