AR finish prior to gun kote

[Nats]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience finishing AR15 receivers (lower ad upper) with gunkote but without bead blasting first?

The surface seems rough enough to take the koat but is it? Will it need to be bead blasted prior to GK application?

 

[hicaliber]

I have done a few GC jobs with very good results but they have all been blasted.
It reccomends on the can to beadblast so why go against the manufactureres directions.
Fortunately for you we live in the same city and I have a blast cabinet you are welcome to use if you would like.

 

[agit-prop]

If its a commercial receiver, it will be hard anodized. Blasting will remove the anodizing, and make the receiver much more prone to scratching.

 

[Skullboy]

You don't bead blast for Gun-Kote.

Bead blasting smooths the surface.

They recomend 600 grit Aluminum Oxide for surface prep.

You want a rough surface for the Gun-Kote to bond to.

If the factory finish is in good condition and still has the "rough" texture, just degrease it and spray it with Gun-Kote K-Phos pre-treatment, then after that dries spray the Gun-Kote.

SKBY.

 

[canucklehead]

I've done a few guns with GunKote, and it always works well. I refinished my Norinco AR after stripping it down to the bare aluminum - didn't sand blast or anything, and it turned out great.

The biggest thing is to make sure the surface is PERFECTLY clean (acetone works well), and you coat it evenly and bake it correctly.

 

[Striker]

Actually SkullBoy..it's 120 grit aluminum oxide..
it says on the can if the gun is parked it should be good enough to coat. I blast all the ones I do with 120 grit.
Skullboy..how is the air cured gun kote holding up? I have the furniture for my m4gery sitting in the garage ready to do with the tan sample they sent me.

 

[Nats]

Thanks guys.

Yes. Alum Oxide And LOTS and LOTS of acetone .

I use gunkote on some of my knives and love it. The only difference being that I hand sand them then either parkerize or K-Phos before GK. Works great.

I will AO blast when the time comes (especially since hicaliber is my new best friend with a cabinet )

I'm looking to do a copy of this. Looks sharp IMHO.