To powder coat or blue??

To blue or not to blue, that is but the question

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sigpig

sigpig

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Good day all you smithing guru's, I have a dilemma, I have a sks bolt carrier and bayonet that stick out like sore thumbs with their shine, so rather than spray bomb them i would rather do it right and have it last, so now my question, do i get them powder coated or a hot/cold blue?
I dont want to increase the dimensions of the bolt carrier too much so maybe someone knows how thick powder coat is and what its durability is. Thank you in advance for your help.

John
 
Powder coating is great but the overspray can take up tolerances and needs to be cleaned off before baking. It is a bear to grind off if it's baked on.
 
Never powdercoat gun parts that fit into other gun parts. Its way too thick. You could bead blast for a sheen or sand blast for a duller look and keep it oiled. The only other option if you want the best product available is to Cerakote it. Its probably the same cost as the more inferior products so why not use the best. Blueing is also an option but could easily rust if that's an issue. Try 44-40 cold blue and see how you like it.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! Im thinking i will try the cold blue, as it is something i am able to do at home to get it exactly how I want it. I've heard that cold blueing can produce lackluster results without a lot of coats, just wondering what people's experiences were using cold blue??
 
sigpig said:
Is lyle a member here??
Click to expand...

I don't believe so, I've had him do work for me and was happy with it, before I contacted him I googled and only found positive feedback, he accurized this setup for me, changed the bolt handle and timed it, bushed the firing pin, chambered and head spaced it, then bead blasted and cerakoted the barrel and action for me

 
Cold blue can be quite good if you do it right.

Degrease it really well, then use Brownells Oxy Blue. I like to have the metal really warm and it seemsd to work better. Cold blue works on carbon steel, not so much on nickel steel. If it doesn't work you can pay to get it coated.

But try not to get carried away. It's a $200 SKS, and bluing or coating the bolt will make it into a $150 SKS. The shiny bolt is actually more highly valued by SKS aficionados than the rifles with blued bolt.
 
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