DURACOAT REMOVAL HELP???

[Marvin Hunter]

I bought an AK47 for a good deal yesterday (hopefully). The problem is, the reason it's such a "good deal" is that it's got a botched Duracoat finish on it.

HELP What's the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to strip that crap off?

I'm chancing it on the hope that someone's actually done it and can share their success.

[RifleGuy]

Media blast it off; glass bead, or aluminum oxide (fine mesh at 40 psi).

Actually, Todd at Customized Creations is probably your best bet; fellow MGO'er and experienced with Duracoat, and does beautiful work to boot.

[Marvin Hunter]

Sounds expensive.

I was hoping more of leaning towards a cheaper method. It looks like it's just one coat lightly applied.

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq108/Marvin_Hunter/duracoatak001.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq108/Marvin_Hunter/duracoatak004.jpg

Maybe a good rub-down with some secret sauce would strip it?

[RifleGuy]

Try one of the chemical paint strippers and see what happens?

[Joeywhat]

What are you going to put on it afterwards? Doesn't make much sense to just strip the DC and leave it as is...

Send Todd an email and ask how much it'll be. He can do a variety of finishes for you as well.

[RifleGuy]

I would offer to glass-bead it for you, but I don't think we can get the barreled action into my cabinet. Maybe one of the guys on here has a larger cabinet they can offer to let you use on the cheap?

Guys?

[RifleGuy]

Send Todd an email and ask how much it'll be. He can do a variety of finishes for you as well.
Todd's prices really are quite reasonable...

[who dat]

Bump-fire a few thousand rounds through it. Some of it will go away and it'll be fun.:bfg:

[Marvin Hunter]

You mind if I borrow a few thousand to do it? Sounds fun.

I hit Todd up with an email. I'm waiting for a reply back.

I don't know, maybe I'll just clean up the furniture and hit it with a black or green duracoat over the top. It is an AK after all.

What do you all think-- double up on the green or go back to black, if I go that route?

[Joeywhat]

Black. That green looks awful. Like a one of those green plastic soldiers should be holding it.

[Marvin Hunter]

Ahhh come on, that's the gun that'll kill the Hulk.:togo: :sniper2:

[RifleGuy]

Ya know, it's Duracoat; I think you can apply a different color right over the top. The green would act as a primer coat, or use it as a base for an awesome camo scheme.

[Mike in Michigan]

You will have to media blast it anyway if you want the new stuff to stick to the old DK.

[RifleGuy]

You will have to media blast it anyway if you want the new stuff to stick to the old DK.
Drat, I'm wrong again.

Thanks Mike; listen carefully... hear that? That's the sound of my pride dying! :togo:

Ha!

[Marvin Hunter]

How do they do the layers over the Duracoat then?

[Mike in Michigan]

New will stick to old only before it is cured or baked so you have a finite time window. Once it kicks over nothing sticks to it....just like it was designed to do.

[Marvin Hunter]

I used elbow grease and a gelatin type paint stripper. To my surprise it came off pretty well -- good enough for an AK anyway.

Here's a pic. My son now thinks he's a video game zombie.


http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq108/Marvin_Hunter/2akpic.jpg

[who dat]

Looks like an AK...nice!

[Mike in Michigan]

Looks like the boy paid attention during gun safety training...Notice his finger is NOT on the trigger.

[Marvin Hunter]

Ya, it can be hard to re-enforce -- especially with small hands and a long trigger well. But overall I think it's pretty ingrained in him now.

[TimberwolfFXDL]

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to bump it up rather than start a new one. Picked up an AK74 with a bad silver duracoat.

Aircraft Stripper (available at Autozone and just about everywhere else) takes it off in seconds. I sprayed the receiver cover, waited 2 minutes and washed the duracoat off like it was mud.