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3/13/2025 1:30:48 PM EDT
What firearm finish chips / flakes?

I bought a flat-top AR upper off the EE a few years ago, that has a pseudo BFPU look, but in reality, the black finish is chipped / flaked off in a few spots. It's not regular paint, because paint stripper has no effect.

Was this possibly a raw receiver that was ceracoated or similar?

Thanks for looking.
3/13/2025 7:53:43 PM EDT
[#1]
Pics?  Sure it's not wear through the anodizing?
3/13/2025 11:30:11 PM EDT
[#2]
Some iPhone pics.

Not worn anodizing.

Chipped especially around takedown pin lugs and on rail and other miscellaneous areas.

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3/14/2025 11:14:46 PM EDT
[#3]
Blast the old finish off and be done with it. Paint stripper ain't what it once was. What are you planning to refinish it with? That can determine what you need to do to remove the old finish. Your current finish looks like it came from a spray can anyway.
3/15/2025 5:10:39 PM EDT
[#4]
OP here.

I initially bought it to build an upper, but lucked up on another in much better shape. So it's been sitting in my AR "junk" box for a few years, but I have enough parts now to build it with a heavy carbine barrel.

There is a sandblaster cabinet at work that I can use to strip it. The media is okay for aluminum. I thought about a cerakoat refinish if I can find someone locally that is reasonable in cost.

If not, then it may get a spray finish that I'll bake in a toaster oven that I use for just such things.
3/15/2025 7:35:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Glynn863:
OP here.

I initially bought it to build an upper, but lucked up on another in much better shape. So it's been sitting in my AR "junk" box for a few years, but I have enough parts now to build it with a heavy carbine barrel.

There is a sandblaster cabinet at work that I can use to strip it. The media is okay for aluminum. I thought about a cerakoat refinish if I can find someone locally that is reasonable in cost.

If not, then it may get a spray finish that I'll bake in a toaster oven that I use for just such things.
View Quote


If you're looking at having someone else Cerakote it I'd just let them strip it. Cerakote demands a specific blast profile and it would be best to let the coater be responsible for all of the prep for warranty purposes. If you're going to do it yourself then by all means have at it. My air-cure choice has always been Duracoat.
3/16/2025 10:19:54 AM EDT
[#6]
I can’t tell you what that finish is, but I can tell you it’s definitely not Cerakote at least.

I’ve got a personal batch of salty AR  handguards I’m going to be refinishing here either end of this week or early next week. I’ll be doing them in a black mix that’s pretty similar in appearance to type III hardcoat anodizing. If that’s what you want you can send it my way and I’ll work it in with those for cheap.
3/17/2025 2:10:37 PM EDT
[#7]
@Thor

Would you strip it down to bare metal, or would I need to do that? PM me an estimated cost if you don't mind. Thanks.

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