Best Firearm Finish for the money?

[callahan318]

I thought I would ask,what is the best firearms finish in your opinion?

I have tried gunkote, but do not like it at all, so I am looking for alternatives.

[cphilip]

I have great luck with Norrell's Molly resin. Good stuff. Hard as a rock.

[CU4X4N]

Robar NP3

http://members.cox.net/cu4x4n/NP3%20Spartan.jpg

NP3 is a surface treatment for steel and metal alloys that combines sub-micron particles of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), otherwise known as Teflon, with electroless nickel.
No lubrication is needed on opposing surfaces.
Cleaning is minimal, usually requiring only a soft cloth.
Permits firing for longer periods of time between cleaning, as dirt and powder residue has no wet or oily surface to cling to.
NP3 has a micro hardness of 48-51 Rockwell as plated (nickel matrix).
NP3 is very corrosion resistant, a 1 mil (.001) coating exceeding a 240 hour salt spray test.
NP3 has a high lubricity and low friction co-efficient; therefore, the life expectancy of a firearm will be greatly increased due to reduced friction wear.
The coating is strippable with no effect on the base metal, allowing other coatings to be applied or a new coating of NP3 to be applied, if necessary.
NP3 plated onto stainless steel guns will prevent galling, a problem common with stainless steel.
NP3 is a satin gray, non-reflective color ideal for all firearms.
NP3 can be plated to all internal parts giving a smoothness to the action not found with any other coating.
In cases where the NP3 has been perforated, the corrosion shows no tendency to spread or migrate under the coating.
NP3 is guaranteed against corrosion, peeling or flaking for the lifetime of the firearm.

[jdeere_man]

Robar NP3
[/b]

You should have included thier price list:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa17/jdeere_man/robar.jpg

That doesn't include chemical stripping if required.

[Glock2336]

Check out Ionbond DLC
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46597&hl=ion+bond

and Birdsong's Black-T
http://www.snipercentral.com/birdsong.htm

[TxCZshooter]

www.ccr-refinishing.com (http://www.ccr-refinishing.com) Cerahide is some nice stuff. I love the flat stainless like finish.

[SDGlock23]

My G23 is looking a bit rough, but for the money, I'm not sure one can beat CenTac 9H. I had my G23 coated by ccr-refinishing several times and while it's not bad, it seemed to have a slight tendency to chip around the firing pin and on the extractor. This is where I'm thinking about sending my G23 after Christmas.

http://cgwgun.com/centacglock.aspx

[mfetty77]

Got 2 Glock 19's done in Centac 9.http://www.sharpcast.com/redirect/desktop/1.0/user/mfetty/photos?album=22695_97474282790004&photo=22695_97474282790005&size=image

[grenadier]

To me, hard chrome is still the best. You get a nice matte-looking, non-shiny finish, that's resistant to pretty much any holster wear.

[old_ironsights]

I'd consider electroless-nickel the best firearm finish for the money. Below is a picture of my 54-1. We use it here in Oklahoma for plating oil field equipment to extend its useful life.

The amazing properties of electroless-nickel are explained at http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/MetalCoatings/Electroless.htm

For a dark finish? Well, I honestly haven't found one yet. I have a weapon that's on my person when I'm dressed. I prefer a flat black finish as it facilitates my method of concealed carry. I've yet to find a finish that will take the wear and tear of daily carry.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/martynoland/tokarev54-1003.jpg

[SolidGun]

You should have included thier price list:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa17/jdeere_man/robar.jpg

That doesn't include chemical stripping if required.


Robar has 20% off sale going on (expires 12-31-07)

[cowboywannabe]

chrome.

[Rinspeed]

Chrome is tops for abrasion resistance but not quite as good as NP3 for corrosion resistance. I like blued pistols the most but one of these days I'm going to get NP3 applied to one of mine.

[CU4X4N]

Robar has 20% off sale going on (expires 12-31-07)

That's what I did!

Took exactly 3 weeks for them to refinish my 1911.

[Glock2336]

Chrome is tops for abrasion resistance but not quite as good as NP3 for corrosion resistance. I like blued pistols the most but one of these days I'm going to get NP3 applied to one of mine.


Chrome WAS tops for abrasion resistance, Ionbond DLC has a rockwell Hardness of 70-90 and thickness is 3 to 6 microns.

[coverdog]

Hard chrome or melonite for black. Will out last any other finish, especially "painted" finishes.

[Glock2336]

Hard chrome or melonite for black. Will out last any other finish, especially "painted" finishes.


Those are strong words there... :whistling:

The most corrosion resistant in Black-T which are also used on Submarines but the black coating will wear over time and Ionbond DLC is definitely the hardest.

[Kablam]

Is this Ionbond DLC the same finish that Kahr uses on their DLC guns? If so, that's the way to go for a dark finish. My PM9 gets carried every day and doesn't have a bit of wear on the finish on the slide. The few times that I thought I had a scratch on it, it ended up wiping right off. Must have been material off of whatever it rubbed against. It seems really hard.

[Glock2336]

Is this Ionbond DLC the same finish that Kahr uses on their DLC guns? If so, that's the way to go for a dark finish. My PM9 gets carried every day and doesn't have a bit of wear on the finish on the slide. The few times that I thought I had a scratch on it, it ended up wiping right off. Must have been material off of whatever it rubbed against. It seems really hard.


I believe it is :wavey:

[remat]

Another vote for Robar NP3 or Tenifer/Melonite (Coal Creek Armory).

I like the look of chrome but what do they put underneath the chrome plating because it is somewhat permeable? Usually nickel...

Problem with baked on finishes is that they have the problem of wearing/rubbing off.

[omega48038]

Diamondkote

http://www.mrarms.com/index.html

[jonathon]

That Centac 9 looks good..

The key to painted on finishes is prep work.. most of them stick extremely well to parkerizing. Since they have to do blast them anyways, might as well do the extra, small, step to ensure a longer lasting finish..

[fwm]

To me, hard chrome is still the best. You get a nice matte-looking, non-shiny finish, that's resistant to pretty much any holster wear.

+1

Or shinny chrome

http://fredwaynemoore.homelinux.org/DSC03467.JPG

Looks exactly the same after about a year of daily carry.

11.5 oz, 10 round .40 SW

[Chui]

Go to www.pistolsmith.com and read up on the PVD finishes under "Finishes". I'll not repeat the information posted there, but...

Melonite is fantastic on carbon steel.
PVD coatings are also fantastic on ferritic and non-ferritic alloys.
Melonite will be better for corrosion.
Melonite will perform very well for wear; PVD coatings may be better here. I'll have to consult my textbooks.

The other coatings are what I call "pretty sh1tty" coatings. They don't come close to TiAlN, W DLC or Melonite surface tratment. Birdsong's Black T is interesting and I spoke with him at length - he once lived in my hometown; around the corner from where I grew up - and he divulged a lot of information without giving up everything.

The "Ultimate" would be Melonite followed up with W DLC. End of argument.

[9mm Lover]

This one is easy. CCR's cera hide BTM. Self lubricating and looks awesome. You notice the butter-like smooth functioning right after the pistol is refinished :cool: .

[MAX100]

The Dupli-Color ceramic 1200 degree High Heat Black engine paint is the the best finish for the money and more, about $6 from your auto parts store.

Here is the thread I posted on it.
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=802258


GC

[Fingolfin]

Well hard chrome can withstand the INSIDE of a machine gun barrel.

Think about it.

[ar-steve]

For the money? Parkerized.

[bgreed]

+1 on BLack T (or green if you so desire) Have guns in both as well as a few of my friends stuff works great and makes your gun run smoother.

[LA_357SIG]

For the money? Parkerized.

Exactly. Especially when you DIY. :tongueout:

That, and Brownells Alumahyde for those pesky aluminum receivers.

[bimmerboy]

I've read that Ion Bond DLC is the same as SIG's Nitron.

Isn't Black-T the same as Melonite which is identical to Tennifer?

[Glock2336]

I've read that Ion Bond DLC is the same as SIG's Nitron.

Isn't Black-T the same as Melonite which is identical to Tennifer?


Ionbond DLC is the finish used by Sig on it's black stainless steel slides and stainless steel frames, Black-T is a propietary teflon like coating similar to Bearcoat which is nothing like Tenifer/Melonite.

[remat]

Well hard chrome can withstand the INSIDE of a machine gun barrel.

Think about it.

Most chrome platers first put down a layer of nickel and then chrome for corrosion resistance. They don't do that with barrels.

Completely different application.