Don’t screw it up. That was what I was thinking the first time I did a DuraCoat refinishing project on a gun. Did I screw it up? Well, not entirely. However, there was definitely room for improvement. Keep in mind, I am not a professional painter or refinisher, I’m just a guy in my garage.

It has been about ten years since I attempted to DuraCoat a firearm myself, rather than shipping it off to the professionals in Wisconsin to complete. Over the last decade I have learned many lessons from my mistakes and I would like to share them with you. 

With practice, great things can be done with DuraCoat

Lesson 1: Don’t Shortcut the Prep

By “prep” I mean the preparation that goes into a refinishing job. The first step is to disassemble the firearm down as far as you feel that you can put it back together. As a matter of fact, you might want to disassemble the gun and put it back together once or twice before you DuraCoat it. Naturally, some firearms will be more intuitive than others when it comes to taking them apart. Thank goodness for Youtube in our modern age.

When the gun is apart, take the TruStrip, that you were smart enough to purchase from DuraCoat, and a blue or green 3M scratch pad and “spray and scrub”.  Be absolutely meticulous in this regard. If you have a gun that has some age to it, there will be years of Hoppes #9, RemOil, or whichever CLP you favor. Get that off of any surface you are going to DuraCoat.

Professionals with dedicated shops will have sandblasting boxes and dunk tanks to use. For the average guy in a garage or workshop, you can get away with TruStrip and a product that DuraCoat cans “No Sand”. The No Sand Prep Solution helps you to “rough up” the external surface where the DuraCoat will be applied. Remember, the prep process must be applied to anywhere you plan to coat, regardless of whether it is steel, aluminum, or some kind of polymer. Bottom line, the key to a great finish is a good start. 

If you are planning to DuraCoat polymer, particularly a shiny or glossy polymer, be sure that you focus on that with the No Sand Prep. Also, I would recommend that you purchase a can of Adhesion Promoter. Some plastic is inherently slick and hard to coat. (NOTE: Magpul polymer accessories and Glock frames are fantastic material and accept DuraCoat very well.)

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Lesson 2: Plan It Out

Before you spray one single ounce of DuraCoat, take the time to plan out in your head how you want the project to look. If you are doing a single color for the entire gun, this is a simple process you just need to tape over anywhere that you don’t want DuraCoat. (*NOTE: for firearms, you want to keep coating out of the barrel/chamber, off of action rails and bars, and off of any small moving parts.) 

For a multi-color or camouflaged pattern, you will need to consider your initial template placement and which colors you want the most of on your project. Remember, when using templates, as opposed to spray-through stencils, you have the reverse effect. 

Also, when you are planning, give yourself time. When doing a multi-color finish, you must allot time for each color to dry before applying the next one. Professional shops have industrial drying ovens, you have wire hangers and air. DuraCoat does not require heated baking, only air drying. Depending on the humidity and temperature in your area this time will vary. When I am doing a multi-color project, I plan to leave each color coat overnight and pick up the next morning. 

Lesson 3: Patience

When it comes time to apply the DuraCoat color, the keep word is “patience”.  Begin with the spray nozzle off project and quickly spray side to side or top to bottom, keeping the nozzle 3-4 inches off of the surface. If the DuraCoat is beading or dripping, you are either too close to the surface or you are not moving the nozzle quickly enough.

Apply the DuraCoat in light coatings with quick passes. Take a moment to look at your project and judge whether or not you are coating it evenly. Remember, your gun is not an M&M, you don’t need to put a thick candy shell over it.

If you did mess it up and not a drip or bead of coating, all is not lost.  Go grab your can of TruStrip, spray it on, wipe it off, let it dry and start again. Trust me, it is better to strip off the mistake and start again than to leave the mistake on the project. No, a thick drip or bead will not just “flatten out when it dries”.  Yes, I was that guy and made that mistake.   

Our proudest DuraCoating achievement: The Fire Extinguisher Gun

Lesson 4: Start Simple

My advice for you first DuraCoat job would be to start simple and do a single color on a gun that is not necessarily your favorite or the most expensive one in the safe. If you are completely unsure of your skills, DuraCoat a very simple gun, such as a single barreled shotgun or even a steel ammo can. Give yourself the opportunity to make mistakes without the worry that you will be ruining your favorite gun.

Although it should go without saying, I will say it anyway. Take the time to read the instructions that DuraCoat provides with all of their products. If you screw it up because you were too smart to read directions, that is your fault. Seriously, read the directions.

Parting Thoughts

Just like sex, you are not going to be perfect the first time you do it. However, if you are diligent, you will get better each time. Eventually, if you follow the simple advice I have offered, your gun refinishing jobs will bring you pride and be the envy of the dudes at your range. 

Heck, maybe you will enjoy the process so much that you want to enroll in DuraCoat University and learn how to do it like a professional. If you are a gunsmith or have an FFL, DuraCoat Refinishing is a great product to offer your customers as well as a way to put some Republic Credits into your account.  

Wanna REALLY learn how to DuraCoat? You can join DuraCoat University! Tell them SOTG sent you.

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Professor Paul Markel

Founder & CEO at Student of the Gun

Paul G. Markel has worn many hats during his lifetime. He has been a U.S. Marine, Police Officer, Professional Bodyguard, and Small Arms and Tactics Instructor. Mr. Markel has been writing professionally for law enforcement and firearms periodicals for nearly twenty years with hundreds and hundreds of articles in print. Paul is a regular guest on nationally syndicated radio talk shows and subject matter expert in firearms training and use of force. Mr. Markel has been teaching safe and effective firearms handling to students young and old for decades and has worked actively with the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Paul holds numerous instructor certifications in multiple disciplines and a Bachelor’s degree in conflict resolution; nonetheless, he is and will remain a dedicated Student of the Gun.

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