Duracoat

[slickest]

After I purchase my new rifle (700 vsf .308 lh) I want to re-paint the stock because it is totally ugly. I have been looking at dura-coat finishes and patterns. Do you need a airbrush to apply this paint? or can it be done by brush? IF i need a airbrush whats a cheap descent one i could buy? this is the only gun i plan on painting so the airbrush only needs to last for one job if needed.

[Gdbyrd]

For stocks I can't say.  Usually when I think Duracoat i think metals.  But I think they sell a kit that comes with compressed air that's enough to finish off one gun.  I wanted to say I read it was around 50 or so dollars, but i have a horribly memory.  Otherwise, you can buy hobby airbrushes from Michales, or Hobby Lobby starting aound 50$...although they never sprayed well for me.  They sell compressed air in cans there as well as very small compressors that'll more than get the job done.

[slickest]

hmm i found one site that you could order layouts for tigerstripe pattern and digital camo pattern. They had the stocks painted also. http://www.duracoat-firearm-finishes.com/

i was going to go with a green/black tiger stripe but i think im just going to go with a flat black over the whole stock for it doesnt look so flashy.

[the bear]

midway usa sells an airbrush for pretty cheap. i have the same one and as long as you treat it right and keep it clean it will last for quite a while. (I have done about 3 Guns with mine and a few scopes). but remember, always use the degreaser on any surface you are duracoating, otherwise the finish will not bond perfectly and will wear off.

have fun with it

[Sourdough]

My buddy and I ordered Duracoat to do several of our guns.  We really went to great lengths to follow their instructions to the letter.  We each did six guns, and we still have some left.  Finished product looked great, but does not wear well.  All guns now have chipped and scratched to the point that we are both very unhappy.  We won't use Duracoat again.  In fact my buddy tried to get me to bring the rest home last week and use it for a new predator gun I bought.  You probably don't want to hear what I am now using, but it works well and I am happy with it.

 

[Mckie Hollow]

I've used the Gray Beard Method. Works for Me. Rustoleum Fine Textured Flat Black. Cured in a Truck Interior on a hot day. Seems to be lasting as well as Factory Piant on a MPI,  that I have, and many others that I've seen in shops.

[Sourdough]

Mckie Hollow:  You got it.  I use Rustoleum textured paint.  I prefer the one that feels like it has sand in the paint when it dries, makes for a good griping non slip surface.  That can be important when gutting a Moose, and a Grizzly decides he want some of it.  Bloody hands need all the help they can get.  So far the ones I have painted with this have held up good, no need for touch-ups.  But when needed I still have the partial can left.

[Mikey]

Fellas - something else you can try that has given me excellent results over the year is wheel rim paint.  This stuff is extremely durable and chip resistant - gotta be, it's meant for wheel rims.  It also comes in colors now and it is the same durable stuff.  Mikey.

[MGMorden]

Just to comment on the airbrush portion of your question (since I do a lot of scale modeling and hence work with a lot of airbrushes): in general, you'll want to get the cheapest name-brand airbrush you can find.  I specify name-brand because sometimes the generic ones simply don't work.  Cheap though, because from my experience applying Duracoat, you'll only get to use the thing once before it cakes up inside and you'll not get it clean for a second use. 

Badger is a good name-brand company that you can trust to work ok.  Probably want to look for a cheapo single action, though if you want double action is available too (single action allows you to control airflow only by how much you press the trigger, but double action does this plus allows varying paint flow as well by pulling back the trigger after it's pressed). 

Most craft stores will have some form of Badger airbrush for around $20-25. 

As to Duracoat: from my experience, the stuff sucks. It ends up looking like spray paint on a rifle (not sure about a stock), and it wore very badly on my gun.  A year after I'd applied it every little nick had bright silver shining through (I applied it to a barrel that was in the white).  About a year and a half after the Duracoat I just bit the bullet and sent it to a gunsmith to have it stripped clean and blued.  Rifle looks 100% better.

[torpedoman]

cheap air brush= harbor freight and they do clean up if you clean before the paint sets just spray the laquer thinner thru it for dura coat.

[jcn59]

I've used Brownell's bake on finish with reasonable success, but if used hard, it chips.  So sayeth my eldest son.   Myself:  no chips yet.

Wheeler Eng. Ceramacoat (Midway) is a bake-on finish for metal that is very durable but not available in colors.  I did a Ruger Blackhawk grip frame almost a year ago.  No chips yet.