[bear71]

A buddy of mine asked a question that I couldn't answer and hope someone here can.

He wants to do a camo paint job on an AR and is concerned with a hot barrel damaging his artwork.

Engine block or exhaust paint would certainly work but to my knoweledge those paints aren't available in desert tans and browns.

Would standard Krylon hold up to a hot barrel?

Thoughts?

[TheWarhammer]

No, Krylon will not hold up. Neither are engine, exhaust or BBQ paint appropriate. There are are several spray on finishes that are designed specifically for guns. Go to www.Brownells.com and look at Gun-Kote and Alumna-Hyde II. I've used the Alumna-Hyde II several times. It is easy to use and produces a good, tough finish. It's available in 9 different colors, including OD, dark earth, coyote, and desert tan.

[bear71]

Many thanks, hammer! You're awesome.

[TheWarhammer]

Glad to help!:D

[AK103K]

I've used Testors since the 60's, and never had any troubles with heat. I have a couple that were painted with Krylon that have been holding up OK too.

I've also use Brownells Aluma Hyde II with very good results, but its a more permanent finish, and really isnt coming off short of a bead blast, so you may want to keep that in mind. I have used it successfully as a base coat on a couple of guns, and it stayed in place when the paints above it were removed and replaced.

The advantage to Testors is, you can remove it if you want later. It takes some effort, but it will come off. Krylon seems to too, but I havent used it enough to say for sure.

[DRYHUMOR]

I've used model paint. Lots of colors to chose from, and more than enough in the small bottles.

[jerkface11]

There isn't that much barrel exposed on an AR anyway leaving it black would save a lot of money over buying some rebadged spraypaint called a "gun coating".

[AK103K]

Brownells gun paints are just that, gun specific paints, and meant to be a gun finish.

I've re-done a couple of guns using Brownells Aluma Hyde II with real good success. One was my HK MP5, and other a SAR1 AK.

This is how the MP5 turned out.....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7d700b3127ccec27eaaeb39f000000010O00CYuWbdo5bsQe3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The stock is the original HK finish in this one

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7d700b3127ccec27fde23194e00000010O00CYuWbdo5bsQe3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

This is the AK (on the right) in between paint jobs. You can still see some of the old paint that remains in a couple of places. I was repainting it at the time, and wasnt concerned about getting it all completely off at the time. The paint you see on the receiver and barrel is Aluma Hyde II, that was painted over and then had that paint removed. The Aluma Hyde II was not at all affected by the solvents that removed the other paints.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7d700b3127ccec27fa8fa19ac00000010O00CYuWbdo5bsQe3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Same gun as its painted now. The paint used is Krylon and Testors.....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d624b3127ccec49fb25824e800000040O00CYuWbdo5bsQe3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Omaney]

Testors works great! I don't know how hot the AR barrel gets, but the Vanguard usually doesn't get fired more than one round at a time.:neener:
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/omaney83/simplyrugged006.jpg
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/omaney83/simplyrugged008.jpg

[Robert]

No, Krylon will not hold up.
I picked up some camo spray paint, admittedly not Krylon, from Sports Man's Warehouse and did a job on my FAL. It has held up fine to the heat. Though I try and not over heat my barrel that much as it tends to string vertically. I have never seen the point in paying a couple hundred dollars for a pint job that I know I am going to want to change due to a different environment or just because I want to.

[Acera]

Duracoat has a wide selection of patterns and finishes.

It is made for this type of application.

http://www.duracoat-firearm-finishes.com/


I understand if it is a monetary limitation type of thing, but why go cheap on a fine rifle if you don't have to?

[Zak Smith]

I've used Aluma-Hyde II, DuraCoat, and CeraKote.

CeraKote is the most durable and most heat resistant of those by far.

DuraCoat is easier to apply but will burn somewhere in the 600-800 F temp range.

Aluma-Hyde II is the easiest to apply (but you have to fight the spray nozzle to keep it from spattering sometimes) but it is less durable than the others in my opinion.

[LRaccuracy]

Brownells Aluma Hyde II definitely good stuff...

[R.W.Dale]

No, Krylon will not hold up. Neither are engine, exhaust or BBQ paint appropriate. There are are several spray on finishes that are designed specifically for guns. Go to www.Brownells.com and look at Gun-Kote and Alumna-Hyde II. I've used the Alumna-Hyde II several times. It is easy to use and produces a good, tough finish. It's available in 9 different colors, including OD, dark earth, coyote, and desert tan.

LOL don't get me started on folks buying into "gun coatings" AKA PAINT:rolleyes:

krylon will work just fine my favorite is Krylon Wheel paint in satin black as a base coat, it's tough and chemical resistant. Then just go over that with your other colors. For plastic or metal parts krylon fusion now comes in camo colors and also works astoundingly well. When properly applied spray paints are just as tough as any other spray on "coating":rolleyes: I've done several rifles and these paints even stay stuck on the rifling crown, if they'll stay there they'll stay anywhere

The downside.....It doesn't come from brownells and cost $20 a can:confused:

[mr.scott]

LOL don't get me started on folks buying into "gun coatings" AKA PAINT

krylon will work just fine my favorite is Krylon Wheel paint in satin black as a base coat, it's tough and chemical resistant. Then just go over that with your other colors. For plastic or metal parts krylon fusion now comes in camo colors and also works astoundingly well. When properly applied spray paints are just as tough as any other spray on "coating" I've done several rifles and these paints even stay stuck on the rifling crown, if they'll stay there they'll stay anywhere

The downside.....It doesn't come from brownells and cost $20 a can

Basically some people just think every product out there is tailor made for a specific application. A lot of paints are cross branded.
Having worked in an industry that made pigments and solvents, there isn't a lot of difference in most paints. The main differences are going to be solvents used and that will affect drying times, and if it doesn't dry or cure properly then you'll have a problem, but if you let it dry/cure correctly, whatever you pick will work.

I've painted 2 rifles with exhaust paint and I let them dry in the hot garage for a week and they turn out fine.

[jerkface11]

Krochus I think that's Duplicolor wheel paint not krylon.

[R.W.Dale]

Krochus I think that's Duplicolor wheel paint not krylon.

I do believe your correct