Gun Kote & Brownell's coat spray?

RDT

RDT

Joined
Dec 17, 1999
Messages
4,117
I've asked this before but I just did all that I think was required in successfully applying this stuff and also the Brownell's version of Gun Kote. Still it chips and cracks! I blasted the steel, cleaned it, heated it, sprayed it from a sufficient distance and got a nice even coat. Then let dry and sprayed again and again and even heated again. On and on and though the three knives I did look AWESOME! the coating SUCKS! At first few cuts with the blade the coat starts to crack and flake. Anyone out there with some particular tricks at maintaining and even and strong coat? Thanks....Rich
 
what are you baking it on at? Maybe you're coating it too thick?
 
I cannot remember as I'm not at home what the temp is, I think it's 325 required temp if memory serves me correctly. But I stuck the dircetions exactly. I goess I could be laying it on too thick? How woudl I know? What is the prefered and lasting thickness? Thanks...Rich
 
hmmm.. That is just weird -- try just coating so that it is coated, and stop at that. See if that helps.

Also, are you using beads or AO for your blasting medium?
 
You mean by limiting the layers? Just a single or double pass? I was thinking maybe if I baked them again with another goat that might work but you may be right. So I'll have to blast them again and try over...Thanks!
 
Really to me it sounds like it might be one or two things....maybe both.

First...the thickness...you have to adjust the airbrush so it just barely spits out any finish....if you make one pass and it covers...then it is too thick.

Second....make sure your part stays hot enough....alot of the specs for GunKote are based on the idea that the part to be sprayed is like pistol frame, slide, etc.....thick parts. If you heat a knife blade to 125f or so, and then start spraying it.....by the time you cover all the angles of the blade, it will cool enough so the coating won't stick and dry like it is supposed to. So try going up to 200f and start there. Work fast too. You want the coating to dry when it hits.

I think it is very important to use an agressive blasting media too.....it gives the coating more to hang on to.
 
Base coat? what the??? What base coat? I was using the spray can of Gun Kote. I see Greg you're using an Air brush! That's a damn good idea. I was using it straight from the can as diercted. As well, no mention of a coating. I've had this stuff for quite a while now, is it possible it's gone bad? Thanks for the help fellas! :D
 
Hmmm...I never heard of a base coat other than the phosphate etch some people recommend.

Airbrush is the way to go....I have never gotten good results with a spray can....

Keep the heat up on the blade...don't forget that.
 
RDT said:
Base coat? what the??? What base coat? I was using the spray can of Gun Kote. I see Greg you're using an Air brush! That's a damn good idea. I was using it straight from the can as diercted. As well, no mention of a coating. I've had this stuff for quite a while now, is it possible it's gone bad? Thanks for the help fellas! :D
Click to expand...
I was just talking about the K-Phos pre treatment. As it happens I got a note from a soldier in Afghanistan who's been using my first knife treated with Gun Kote, he told me that he'd cut some brush with it and "it scuffs up a little", so sounds like it might not be as tough as I'd hoped.
 
Don't heat your parts before you spray them with Gunkote. If they're too hot the Gunkote won't will dry before it relly coats the part.

Clean, bead blast and then spray a tack coat, let that dry and then give the parts 3 coats with an airbrush or small spray gun letting the coats dry in between. Let it dry then an hour and make darn sure your oven really reaches the temp you dial up.

Also make sure the parts are really clean and oil free. DO NOT handle the parts with your hands after final degreasing, use clean gloves.

I've never had any problems with Gunkote if I follow these steps. It will scuff under hard usage and it doesnt wear as well as DLC coating.
 
I think .0004 is the thickness recomended.
I'd look it up but I'm in another city right now :( :)
 
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