Painting AR 15 lowers

[ravencrofte]

What kind of paint or coating should I put on an AR 15 unfinished lower ?

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[rick benjamin]

Do it yourself
Anodize process
Cerakote Brownells
Rattle-can satin black Home Depot

Have it done Portland area
Anodizing APEX
Cerakote JBRC Sur-Tac Gear, Buster-Beaver

 

[bolus]

If you want to do it yourself:

regular types of spray paint wont work well and will scratch off very easily

Aluma-hyde is ok. applied just like spray paint and better scratch resistant. I did one receiver with this and its holding up ok
ALUMA-HYDE® II | Brownells (http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/paint-finishes/air-cure-aerosol-paints/aluma-hyde-ii-prod1117.aspx)

Duracoat - another easy to apply home coating. a little more expensive and the can has an activator in it so once it is started you only have I think a few days to use it up. Tried this a few times and not terribly happy with it. Plus you end up wasting the whole can unless you are planning to do several receivers at the same time.
DuraCoat® Firearm Finishes & Coatings | Lauer Custom Weaponry (https://www.lauerweaponry.com/)

Moly/teflon oven cure. I really liked using this on the one receiver I tried it on. dries to touch within a few minutes, does not need tight temperature control when applying and once it cooks in the oven it is ready to go. Does smell up the house a bit, not too bad, like a plastic smell
TEFLON/MOLY OVEN CURE, GUN FINISH | Brownells (http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/paint-finishes/bake-on-aerosol-paints/teflon-moly-oven-cure-gun-finish-prod1145.aspx)

Anodizing at home is not going to be simple. You need harsh chemicals like sulfuric acid and a power source. So given the risk of electrocuting yourself with acid burns, I'd leave this to a professional. Plus you have to buy all the stuff for one receiver. Not worth it.

 

[Stomper]

Wuss!

 

[Kid@Heart]

Pink Rustoleum

 

[Stomper]

Rustoleum will turn into Crustoleum on an AR receiver.... LOL

 

[rdb241]

I have been painting for over 30 years. Duracoat all the way. I have used it before and I am very happy to see my 8 year old paint job still holding up!

 

[joken]

DIY= Duracoat if you are paying for the job get Cerakote. I've done lots of both

 

[NWCustomFirearms]

If you want to do it yourself I would use Duracote. I've done the Alumahyde in the past and it was ok. If you are going to pay to have it done, get Cerakote. Personally I would get it cerakoted anyway, do it right the first time or you will end up doing it again. I have Cerakoted many many lowers, parts and guns that someone's "ninja mechanic gunsmith buddy" sprayed in their backyard for a case of coors light lol
In my shop we hot blue and Cerakote is the only spray finish we use simply because it is the best one out there.
We do unfinished lowers all the time, did several just this last week.

 

[bbbass]

If you have the money, I'd go with a Cerakote pro. I've used Duracoat and it came to a really hard finish after a week... so ya gotta not damage it before then. Unfortunately for me, I had some runs in the paint.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

Wuss!

Do you mean to tell us that you are willing to risk that, allegedly, big, pretty face to acid burns?
Must not be all that pretty!

 

[Stomper]

Do you mean to tell us that you are willing to risk that, allegedly, big, pretty face to acid burns?
Must not be all that pretty!

WRONG... there's just SO MUCH "pretty face" that I have plenty to spare.