AlumaHyde 2 Experiment

[Ronin22]

Blasted stainless Benchmark barrel MTU.
Degreased with Gunscrubber
Earth Brown color
3 coats with heat gun in between
Will hang for a few weeks

I shook the can for 5-7 minutes prior to each coat. Turned can upside down to clear pickup tube each time. Spun on an A2 flash hider to hang by 550 cord.

So far everything looks good. The Earth Brown on steel is lighter than expected, but on par with what I wanted.

Used ChatGtp to dial in times and temps for heat gun based on garage environmentals. Temp & humidity. Hope that robot didn’t trick fuck me! Lol

 

[Redlion]

Very nice. Looks good. I am curious to find out how durable it will be for you?

 

[Ronin22]

Very nice. Looks good. I am curious to find out how durable it will be for you?

That ‘‘tis the goal. Not too impressed with Cerakote done by about 5 different companies so far.

 

[TACC]

Looks good, how long roughly did you run the heat gun, and did you get 3 coats out of one can?

 

[Ronin22]

First coat just a light flash coat, then went a little heavier each time. 30 min between coats based on 60-70% humidity. Heated the coats to 125F each time.

By weight, a new can is 16 oz. I used 4.5oz on this barrel. Probably could’ve done a half an ounce less but oh well. So I’d say 4 barrels a can.

 

[Ronin22]

Earth brown is just about an exact match with Magpul FDE.

 

[Ronin22]

Some afterthoughts on my application.

I'm told the specs/spray lint will rub off by hand, finger nail or 0000 steel wool. I wonder if I were to use a new nozzle every coat if that would lesson the specs.

I think two coats of the thickness I sprayed would be enough. 3 coats is probably the recommendation of a lighter application per coat. I'm thinking 3 oz for total application would suffice, maybe be more flat finish. I can always knock down any shine I don't like with 0000 wool.

I sprayed based on the Brownells videos, but I think it would do better with lighter coats like one would do Cerakote. I think if the last coat were to completely cover the remaining exposed surfaces it would be best. I accomplished that with the second coat on this run.

Now I have about 25 Pmags to spray....I'm just going to lightly wipe with acetone and spray. Hang by wires on a piece of metal mesh supported by a couple ladders or some shit. I want to do about 10-15 at a time with all the waiting periods between applications. I definitely will only do 2 coats on the mags.

 

[mark5pt56]

In the past I've done a shit ton of AH II on various guns. It wears fairly well, obvious patterns on pump guns slides, etc. Pretty much a no go with wear on pistols, no go on rifle bolts of course. Nice thing is it's cheap and you can touch it up as needed with virtually no prep. Good for a camo pattern on hunting guns, AR's etc. I always noticed the dark parkerized gray or whatever it's called was always thick. I was in coastal Va. paint then outside in the summer, hang in the attic, very hot and cured well. Cerakote will and can scratch easily, it's paint, again, cheap to touch up if needed with AH.

 

[KYAggie]

I used that color on two barrels, both from PVA. It turned out great. I baked them in the oven at 200 degrees to cure for the recommended time; no fumes……..wife had no idea when she came home . Brownells was out of other colors I needed, so I rattle canned Rustoleum on top.

 

[Ronin22]

I used that color on two barrels, both from PVA. It turned out great. I baked them in the oven at 200 degrees to cure for the recommended time; no fumes……..wife had no idea when she came home . Brownells was out of other colors I needed, so I rattle canned Rustoleum on top.

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I'd planned to heat gun the barrel daily for a week and then let sit a couple/few weeks, but if there is no smell the oven cure...Bro, I'm all in for that! Seriously, no smell? I suppose the oven must be clean with no food stains?

 

[KYAggie]

I'd planned to heat gun the barrel daily for a week and then let sit a couple/few weeks, but if there is no smell the oven cure...Bro, I'm all in for that! Seriously, no smell? I suppose the oven must be clean with no food stains?

Seriously, no odor. I think it’s because it’s a coating that either doesn’t have VOC’s or doesn’t have much; that’s why it takes heat or a long time to cure. Literally did it in the morning, baked it for 2-3 hours, and no odor.

 

[mark5pt56]

If hanging, make a knot with a tail, run through the barrel, loop and hang. Receivers, roll up heavy paper, tightly coiled, insert into receiver and let it uncoil.Cut it to length in order to get the tang, etc. For barrels short enough to fit into the oven, cut a wooden block for balance, post a rod into that and insert into barrel ends, allows you to hang for painting but transfer to the blocks. If you have a week, this time of year it is plenty hot in the attic or make a small box or piece of flu pipe, etc. to act as an oven in the sun. If painting anything with joints, clean, degrease, heat, degrease and wipe down with 90% alcohol or acetone as lubes will weep from them. Remember, certain rubber, plastics, etc that may need to flex do not play well with AH II.

DO NOT use in an area that you do not want it on as it sucks on garage floors, worse yet your wife's car!

 

[Ronin22]

If hanging, make a knot with a tail, run through the barrel, loop and hang. Receivers, roll up heavy paper, tightly coiled, insert into receiver and let it uncoil.Cut it to length in order to get the tang, etc. For barrels short enough to fit into the oven, cut a wooden block for balance, post a rod into that and insert into barrel ends, allows you to hang for painting but transfer to the blocks. If you have a week, this time of year it is plenty hot in the attic or make a small box or piece of flu pipe, etc. to act as an oven in the sun. If painting anything with joints, clean, degrease, heat, degrease and wipe down with 90% alcohol or acetone as lubes will weep from them. Remember, certain rubber, plastics, etc that may need to flex do not play well with AH II.

DO NOT use in an area that you do not want it on as it sucks on garage floors, worse yet your wife's car!

Do you oven cure Pmags?

 

[mark5pt56]

Do you oven cure Pmags?

I'm referring to things like rubber butt pads, etc. Is your "statement" saying that I said pmags couldn't be painted and cured in the oven or simply asking if I have? Cerakote makes an air cure product as you may know or if the temp is low, 160 or so, I doubt it will hurt them. You don't need to bake AH II, it just speeds the cure time. Clean, coat, hang and forget for a few days or more.

If doing mags, unless you already have the AH II, just use Rustoleum.

 

[vanrichten]

I used some AH II on a suppressor. Looks great, wears fairly well. It even held up to the heat, just discolors after awhile. I did not oven cure it or anything though. Just let it air dry for a few days.

 

[kli3309]

Remember to keep your Alumahyde-painted parts away from acetone (even acetone fumes). No matter how long you've had it cured for, acetone will strip it right down to bare metal.

 

[Ronin22]

I'm referring to things like rubber butt pads, etc. Is your "statement" saying that I said pmags couldn't be painted and cured in the oven or simply asking if I have? Cerakote makes an air cure product as you may know or if the temp is low, 160 or so, I doubt it will hurt them. You don't need to bake AH II, it just speeds the cure time. Clean, coat, hang and forget for a few days or more.

If doing mags, unless you already have the AH II, just use Rustoleum.

Hoo-wee, just asking if you have. I’ve got enough AH2 for a bunch of Pmags. Figured try it before Krylon.

 

[Ronin22]

Remember to keep your Alumahyde-painted parts away from acetone (even acetone fumes). No matter how long you've had it cured for, acetone will strip it right down to bare metal.

Good to know in case I want to change colors! Lol

 

[ggmanning]

I've had good luck with it and pretty much every long gun I own has been base coated with it and patterns done over it with more AH II or Krylon. Wears good and easy to touch up down the road when necessary. I use the shit out of my stuff and it works well for my use. There is nothing I won't scar up on corners and wear areas and I like the combination of decent wear resistance and simple to touch up.

 

[Ronin22]

I've had good luck with it and pretty much every long gun I own has been base coated with it and patterns done over it with more AH II or Krylon. Wears good and easy to touch up down the road when necessary. I use the shit out of my stuff and it works well for my use. There is nothing I won't scar up on corners and wear areas and I like the combination of decent wear resistance and simple to touch up.

I mean, don't want to show up somewhere looking like a cherry with all pristine unused kit, right!? LOL

 

[ggmanning]

I mean, don't want to show up somewhere looking like a cherry with all pristine unused kit, right!? LOL

I use AHII, it works good for me, it wears in all the usual places like every other coating, it touches up easy. What has any of that got to do with how my gear looks? Either I have poor writing skills, you misunderstood my post/point, or both. Probably both, never discount my ability to fuck up a thought to the written word.

 

[Ronin22]

I use AHII, it works good for me, it wears in all the usual places like every other coating, it touches up easy. What has any of that got to do with how my gear looks? Either I have poor writing skills, you misunderstood my post/point, or both. Probably both, never discount my ability to fuck up a thought to the written word.

No man, I get all your points. It was just a joke. If it wears a little it shows you use your shit. That's all.