Duracoat or Cerakote?

[StraightPipes]

I have a notion to paint something. Maybe some of you cammo shooters can help with this.

Duracoat has a "air-dry" kit for around $40 or so. I dont know if Cerakote has "any" kit that air dries.

So, which brand is the "harder wearing" of the two? Flexable, chip resistant, chemical resistant etc............

Which brand is easier to apply? Anybody have any good or bad with this stuff?

 

[284driver]

Curious myself

 

[Larryh128]

Dura cote is probably easier to use if you've never done any of it. Cera cote is definitely a better finish overall. Both require a GOOD respirator & proper ventilation. There is Benzene in the Cera Cote & it is nasty. You need proper ventilation, if you don't have it, stay away from it or farm it out to someone with the proper equipment. Cera cote is easier to get into corners & other hard to reach spots. Either way, you need a mini touch up gun, gravity feed. Harbor Freight has one that's under $20 & actually works pretty good. I've used an airbrush but it's too slow for my liking. Cera cote has an air dry also but it isn't as durable as the oven baked kind. It's a high temp coating that can be used on headers etc, also scopes.

 

[eric32]

I have cerakote on my stock and rifle and its some awesome stuff i have heated up a piece of steel painted it cerakote with a blow torch and the paint was only the slightest evidence was left that it took that much heat .

 

[DaveWhite]

You don't mention what it is that you wish to coat! for my money and convenience, you can go a long way with Krylon. I have one rifle stock which has help up well for several years of field use and if needed can be touched up in minutes.

I have a friend that does the same thing with his hunting shotgun (which is where I got the idea.) I believe that the Spec Ops guys have been doing that for years for use in Sandland...

 

[StraightPipes]

DaveWhite, Ive been using Rustoleum for many years, you mean that I wont be stepping up.........LOL

Aluminum, is what Im going to coat.


Pipes

 

[orion2000]

My gunsmith has been doing DuraCoat (polane) for a while. He just started doing CeraCoat. I went over to his shop last week to look at the first couple receivers he did in CeraCoat Graphite color. After seeing the receivers, I told him I would like for him to do my custom build in the CeraCoat graphite when he gets the metal work completed.

My gunsmith also indicated that DuraCoat will continue to set up over time, without baking. However, he said the CeraCoat (at least the version he was using) required being baked to either 200 or 250*F to take a proper set.

Having said that, as the previous posters mentioned, I am not above a Krylon rattle can camo job. I have 3 pieces with such treatment.

 

[chevytruck_83]

benzene....!!! I've never done cerakote. I'm a steamfitter by trade and can tell you that benzene is the last thing you want to be playing with. pretty much attacks your bone marrow. not sure how much is in the cerakote but hearing this makes me want to leave it to the professionals.