Duracoat

NorCalMtn2

NorCalMtn2

Joined
Jan 6, 2009
Messages
650
I decided the orange grip panels were just too bright and wanted something more subdued.
Replacement panels would have been my first choice, especially the Green Micarta panels from the RC-3 Special Edition Desert Tan, but a recent post indicated that was not an option. Duracoat seemed like a good solution on the hard plastic surface of the G10 panels so I gave it a try. The results were very good and the grip feels as secure as before.
http://www.duracoat-firearm-finishes.com/
3298851734_b02dc3ae2d_o.jpg
 
well done! It'll be interesting to see how/if it wears with use.
 
How do you think it will hold up?
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Time will tell but I'm sure it will hold up good enough. I don't care if a tiny bit of orange peeks through scratches.

What did you do for surface prep?
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Lightly roughed it with 440 and wiped it with alcohol to remove any oils.
 
Billbo66 said:
How did you strip that blade? I like the look.
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-Go to Home Depot, get yourself some rubber gloves, A plastic paint scraper, a chemical paint stripper and some various grits of sandpaper.

-Find a container thats solvent resistant that the knife fits in.

-Remove the handle scales and pour stripper all over blade in solvent resistant container. Make sure blade is completely covered with lots of stripper.

-Let sit for 10-15 minutes outside for good ventilation.

-Remove slime like blace goo that was once coating from the blade with plastic paint scraper. Plastic is best because a metal one will mark up the blade and you might like the just stripped, sandblasted like finish.

-If you desire, sand with decreasing grits of sandpaper until your happy with the finish.

-Reassemble handle and enjoy your new look.

NOTE- Meesa Jeff Randall does not reccommend stripping the coating off of his blades as this process subjects the tang under the handle scales to moisture that could cause rust and pitting in this unaccessable area.

Better to allow the coating to wear naturally and then sand off the remaining coating on the blade surface.:thumbup:
 
I stripped and blued mine. Just used a metal scraper and brightened it up with 1000-grit.
 
How did you strip that blade? I like the look.
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I used a brass wire wheel and then a polishing wheel with polishing compound, no paint stripper.

Rust was a concern to me and so far has not been an issue. When I put everything back together I coated the handle, the back side of the panels and the screws and barrels with a oil wax blend. I coated everything heavily enough that it squished out when the screws were tightened. When everything is back together wipe off the excess using most of it to lightly coat the entire blade. I use Burt's Bee's but Vaseline or any similar product would work.
I removed the coating on the RC-3 because I use it frequently around food and for more light duty applications and the bare blade was more appealing to me. The RC-4 will be lashed to a pack, see heavier use and will be in the elements so it's coating will protect it nicely.
I have not had any issues with the bare RC-3 even after deliberately getting it wet and leaving it wet several times. Disassembly of the handles has not revealed any problems there either. I have not had any problems with rust because I have taken steps to prevent it, a neglected bare 1095 blade would certainly not fare as well.
My two oldest knives, a Navy Ka-Bar and an Ontario pilots survival knife both lost their parkerized finishes years ago and are both doing just fine.

Great product for all that ails.
http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs...d=-82&catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1
105_xl_v1.jpg
 
DuraCoat
Cures by chemical process after mixing the DuraCoat and hardener.
Drys overnight so the item coated can be reassembled the next day, and then be used.

DuraBake
Is cured by baking the item coated in an oven for a period of time and uses heat to cure.

Here is a good video of Duracoat being applied:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIUpl4gpW-k&feature=related
 
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Thanks NorCal, I may use this on some knives I am working on. I was holding back, because I thought the baking might affect my temper.
 
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