Posted: 8/25/2008 10:42:12 AM EDT
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Hello all, I am torn between refinishing my Kimber Ultra Carry II and need opinions... First I use this gun and beat it up, mars on the anodizing and a small gouge on the trigger guard, worn slide and banged up sights to prove it! I was thinking of leaving it be since it has what I call character and the wife calls other names! ... but I found this DuraCoat and all it's great reviews. Should I? Shouldn't I? If I do does anyone have experience? Should I detail strip the Ultra Carry? Attempt to do it myself? (pretty mechanical, kids call me "fixer of stuff" built 2 AR's so far... but detail strip for a Savage Model 755 went sideways hinking.gif [still tryin to put her all back together]) Or just fork over the cabbage to Kimber for total refinishing? Any advice would help keep the voices out of my head! |
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My honest opinion for a hard use refinish, I'd forgo the kimber, the finish didn't last the first time, why pay them to put the same thing on again. Kimber doesn't use the toughest finishes to begin with. If you want a really hard use finish I'd suggest EGW's e treat or coal creek armory can send it in for melonite. Same finish, different companies. That's JMHO, but I'd pick something other than the kimber re-finish. |
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For general info on the subject, don't forget about the refinishing forum: www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=6&f=19 |
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yeah the factory kimber finish sucks, imo. after having dealt with mine i wouldnt suggest spending the money to get them to put the same finish back on. i got mine refinished at the local gunshop here in tenn. its some type of ceramic coating that seems to be tougher duracoat from what ive seen. its nice, i dont have to worry about rust or scratches, for the most part. i do a lot of camping and hiking and its about impossible to keep water from getting on your pistol when camping in my neck of the woods. mine cost me about $150. i did not want to try the duracoat mainly because i figured i'd end up screwing it up and having to pay someone to fix it anyway. im not very good with that kind of stuff. seems like it'd be a fun project if though. whatever you decide, good luck and post pics |
So Cerakote would fall into that hard paint catagory? Btw, my new Kimber, just from putting it down and picking it up from the nightstand has already shown wear on the rear sight where my thumb hits it. So I was think of putting a tougher ceramic finish on it. |
Good to hear... What shop out in Tenn. may I ask? Yeah DuraCoat makes me a bit nervous, My other option was to remove the anodizing on the lower and have the aluminum brushed and the top black, but when I contacted Kimber they said that the anodizing protects the aluminum and that they wouldn't do it. So much for "Custom Shop"... still on the fence tho... but pretty much decided on the refinishing since I will have the gun set with new sights and mainspring housing... might as well git 'er dun then. |
And they were correct as anodizing actually affects the metal by oxidation (controlled) which when removed leaves the metal open to uncontrolled oxidation that may not look too good on your brushed aluminum. |
I researched it yesterday and found out that it does that and actually hardens the surface, I did it on my motorcycle so I figured...... there goes that plan! Melonite seems like the way to go on the slide. Mabe I'll DuraCoat the frame... choices choices... |
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Melonite and DLC are not the same process, melonite can only be applied to steel, carbon or stainless, whereas DLC can be applied to aluminium as well, making it ideal if you want an all black Kimber. All coatings, duracoat, kimpro, amour tuff, armoury kote are all recipe variations on poly/ceramic/teflon blends and they will all wear and chip on a gun that sees any kind of reasonable use. Melonite or DLC cost only a bit more (drakes gunworks does melonite on a 1911 for around $180) and are far better suited to firearms. my stainless DW CBOB done by Drakes: 
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