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Posted: 8/13/2009 3:47:22 AM EDT
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Is there a way to make a stainless barrel black that is so easy a cave man can do it?
Something durable and long lasting with a matte finish. |
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Norrels Moly resin. Super durable and It's fairly easy apply but requires baking for an hour at 350 if I remember correctly. The hardener is heat activated so this step is necessary. Like I said it's easy to apply but you need access to either an airbrush or touch up sprayer and a compressor. I use a touch up type sprayer I got for ~ $8 at Harbor Freight. I already had a compressor.
Heat parts and apply while their still warm. Don't get too close and apply very light coats. Use an oven thermometer since most oven's aren't very accurate. If you're using a flat finish and bake it to hot it could come out glossier than you want. In summer I just set items out in the sun for half an hour or so. If I'm doing it at night or in cooler weather I use my wifes hair drier to heat the parts. I also hang everything I can up using old wire clothes hangers. For plastic parts or parts that can't be baked at that temp I use duracoat. I apply it the same way but it takes several weeks to cure. If you don't plan on doing this very often I would send it out for refinishing instead of investing in the equipment. |
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Your options are blueing, Ion bond and other similar finishes, black chrome, and paint. Not many people out there blue stainless, but there are a few. Springer Precission does Ion Bonding for firearms. Don't know if there is anyone that currently does black chrome. Just about everyone does some sort of paint on finishes. |
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This has promise but I have been unable to find someone who sells the chemicals or does the process.
Heatbath Black Oxide For Stainless Steel |
| Google Birdsong Enterprises. I had their black-T finish applied to a stainless barrel. They do EXCELLENT work and it was only like $40 plus return shipping. The only drawback is that he is very busy. I waited 4 months!!! Walter Birdsong is extremely nice and upfront about how long it will take. They finish is very thin so it doesn't interfere with installation of the gas block and it is very durable and corrosion resistant. I am very picky about things like this and I highly recommend them. They can also do tan and OD green. |
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Beat me to it. If you look about 3/4 down on the following page they have a cold black oxide kit for SS: http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/black.htm I've been thinking about trying it on my SPR barrel and it's only $19.99. |
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Quoted:
Google Birdsong Enterprises. I had their black-T finish applied to a stainless barrel. They do EXCELLENT work and it was only like $40 plus return shipping. The only drawback is that he is very busy. I waited 4 months!!! Walter Birdsong is extremely nice and upfront about how long it will take. They finish is very thin so it doesn't interfere with installation of the gas block and it is very durable and corrosion resistant. I am very picky about things like this and I highly recommend them. They can also do tan and OD green. I think Walter Birdsong has passed away.... 
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