Converting my Saiga...

Juhosaphat · July 14, 2008, 09:47 PM

And wanted to know some options I have when I go to recoat it? Was thinking of the Duracoat paint http://www.lauerweaponry.com/index.cfm?Category=218. Anybody have experience with it? Or would anybody recommend any other way of refinishing my Saiga 20? Heard from a buddy today that patio paint with a 3 step bake on process also works well?

I'm just looking for any kind of suggestions and information seeing as how I've never refinished a firearm before. So anything at all is greatly appreciated

Dfariswheel · July 14, 2008, 10:17 PM

Duracoat is one of the very top do-it-yourself gun coatings, and many commercial builders use it.
They offer about any color you could want, and even sell an inexpensive airbrush kit to apply it.
Once applied and allowed to fully cure and harden, it's pretty much a matter of bead blasting to get it off.

Other good coatings are Brownell's Alum-Hyde and Aluma-Hyde II.
The II needs no baking.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/sto...?c=752&p=4798a

In a non gun-specific coating, automotive engine paint is very good, although like many paints, the Flat Black is TOO flat, and the Gloss Black is way too shiny.
You can get Duracoat in just the degree of flatness that looks best on guns.

Juhosaphat · July 15, 2008, 01:32 PM

The main reason I was thinking of going with the duracoat is because it comes with the stripper and air brush and everything I'd need. I don't want to have to buy 3 or 4 different products to do one job when I can get them all in the kit for 50$. That Aluma-Hyde II looks awesome, I'll have to read into it.

Thanks for the info

Anybody else able to offer any advice?

I'm thinking I may just buy a re-blacking pen for temporary coverage until I decide on which way I want to go for the final finish. Since I should be getting my parts tomorrow or thursday and I won't be able to refinish it for a while.

Yithian · July 15, 2008, 07:01 PM

Here's one I am going to try out on My Saiga223 I am converting...
Moly Resin

Juhosaphat · July 15, 2008, 09:10 PM

That Moly Resin doesn't look too bad either, but I'm not too hip on the heat curing part of it. I want something that I can just spray on and call it done. Or is any gun coating going to need to be heat cured to be fully effective?

EBRseeker · July 15, 2008, 10:58 PM

I did a home built 9mm AR in my kitchen oven, I was really impressed with how it turned out and the Norrell's was easy to use. The baking was much easier than I thought it would be. I also like the idea of getting sort of that COMBLOC quasi-glossy black finish....makes me want to do the Saiga

ETA: The Norrell's didn't stink up the oven and the house was tolerable

July 14, 2008, 09:47 PM	#1
Juhosaphat Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 174	Converting my Saiga... And wanted to know some options I have when I go to recoat it? Was thinking of the Duracoat paint http://www.lauerweaponry.com/index.cfm?Category=218. Anybody have experience with it? Or would anybody recommend any other way of refinishing my Saiga 20? Heard from a buddy today that patio paint with a 3 step bake on process also works well? I'm just looking for any kind of suggestions and information seeing as how I've never refinished a firearm before. So anything at all is greatly appreciated __________________ What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. Learn from your mistakes and you shall prevail equally.

July 15, 2008, 01:32 PM	#3
Juhosaphat Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 174	The main reason I was thinking of going with the duracoat is because it comes with the stripper and air brush and everything I'd need. I don't want to have to buy 3 or 4 different products to do one job when I can get them all in the kit for 50$. That Aluma-Hyde II looks awesome, I'll have to read into it. Thanks for the info Anybody else able to offer any advice? I'm thinking I may just buy a re-blacking pen for temporary coverage until I decide on which way I want to go for the final finish. Since I should be getting my parts tomorrow or thursday and I won't be able to refinish it for a while. __________________ What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. Learn from your mistakes and you shall prevail equally.

July 15, 2008, 07:01 PM	#4
Yithian Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 719	Here's one I am going to try out on My Saiga223 I am converting... Moly Resin __________________ Pondering the differences, terminally, between the V-Max and the A-Max.

July 15, 2008, 09:10 PM	#5
Juhosaphat Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 174	That Moly Resin doesn't look too bad either, but I'm not too hip on the heat curing part of it. I want something that I can just spray on and call it done. Or is any gun coating going to need to be heat cured to be fully effective? __________________ What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. Learn from your mistakes and you shall prevail equally.

July 14, 2008, 10:17 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Duracoat is one of the very top do-it-yourself gun coatings, and many commercial builders use it. They offer about any color you could want, and even sell an inexpensive airbrush kit to apply it. Once applied and allowed to fully cure and harden, it's pretty much a matter of bead blasting to get it off. Other good coatings are Brownell's Alum-Hyde and Aluma-Hyde II. The II needs no baking. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/sto...?c=752&p=4798a In a non gun-specific coating, automotive engine paint is very good, although like many paints, the Flat Black is TOO flat, and the Gloss Black is way too shiny. You can get Duracoat in just the degree of flatness that looks best on guns.

July 15, 2008, 10:58 PM	#6
EBRseeker Junior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: OH Posts: 2	I did a home built 9mm AR in my kitchen oven, I was really impressed with how it turned out and the Norrell's was easy to use. The baking was much easier than I thought it would be. I also like the idea of getting sort of that COMBLOC quasi-glossy black finish....makes me want to do the Saiga ETA: The Norrell's didn't stink up the oven and the house was tolerable