AK Sponsor
Posted: 12/16/2012 8:39:11 AM EDT
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Getting ready to send of my first AK-74 kit. Will be a Bulgy blond kit with a folder. My question is this. Several of the builders out there do a couple of different finish options. Are you better to get the rifle parked and then do the Gunkote or is the gunkote good enough? I didn't know if the extra finish is beneficial as most of the ammo will be corrosive.
Thoughts? |
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The best AK finish is to parkerize then apply a coat of one of the paint type gun finishes like Guncoat.
The parkerized finish provides a rough primer surface that gives the paint a "tooth" to bond into and that greatly increases the adherence of the paint. Also, before the metal can rust the paint has to wear or be damaged, and then the parkerizing has to be worn through. Park and paint is the best of both and the most durable. |
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park is not absolutely necessary prior to applying a bake-on coating. It does make aid in adhesion, but a good surface prep doesn't need it for adhesion.
But any spray coating will not cover areas that cannot be reached by spray. Such as inside a gas tube or magazine body. So the Phosphate gives protection for areas difficult to reach with the spray. should there be a delay between parking and painting, the metal is protected more than bare metal would be. I park everything, including aluminum and stainless parts that I know won't "Take" park. I do this because it is a final immersion in hot water for any grease I missed. The pre-rinse in alcohol sheds any blasting dust electrostatically clinging, and the acid gives a a slight "pickling" to the surface which enhances adhesion further. So there are no downsides and there are some upsides. |
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