I'm finishing up a Romy G kit and am planning on refinishing the whole gun with duracoat.

What prep work needs to be done to the parts that already have a finish (barrel, dust cover, etc).  Does everything need to be stripped to the bare metal?

If so, does anyone have recomendations or suggestions on how to strip the original finish off?

I've been looking through all the stikies and tutorials and can't find anything on this.

Thanks.

Do you have access to a sandblaster?

A sandblaster with aluminum oxide is probably the best way to go.

Possibly...

There's a shop in town I've taken some auto body parts to for sand blasting, but I don't know how they'd feel about a gun, much less an "assault rifle".

If I can't get to one, are there any good solvents that would do the job?  Anyone have experience with this stuff: LINK

Well, you can get a sandblaster for around $30.  Do you have a good sized aircompressor or one you can borrow?

I didn't realize they were so cheap.

Yeah, my old man has a good air compressor, so I'll probably just look into that.

So essentially, you need to get everything down to the bare metal before you coat it for the best results, right?

Quoted: I didn't realize they were so cheap. Yeah, my old man has a good air compressor, so I'll probably just look into that. So essentially, you need to get everything down to the bare metal before you coat it for the best results, right?

Yes. You need a compressor with a decent amount of capacity (20 gal or greater), and blast at 80-90psi. Some have had decent results with a smaller cap and at lower psi, but the time factor greatly increases. After blasting, handle the receiver with gloves, depending upon the humidity level in TN ( I would plan on painting soon after completing the blasting. If not you will have to lightly re-blast prior to Duracoat.  

Great, thanks for the help guys.

According to Lauer's FAQ's blasting is not required. Has anyone used it w/o doing so?

I just wiped my weapon down with acetone, let it dry and fired up the air brush.  A year later all is well with the coating.

Blasting can give a better adhesion but I've done many rifles both AR and AK with no blasting.

Although with AR's it adheres really well to the anodized and park'd parts.

But I've never ever blasted an AK with either Moly-Resin or Duracoat.  Degrease the hell out of it is the most important thing.  I'll normally brake cleaner, scrub, brake cleaner, scrub, etc... until none of the brake cleaner seems to be rooting out any oil.  Then wipe the whole thing down with acetone and a lint free rag just to make sure I can't find any more grease or dirt.

Blow it off with the air compressor, heat it in the oven to warm the parts, Duracoat, bake.