Refinishing. First time, some questions

[trun]

Hello there, looking to refinish my P64 using the Brownel's Aluma-Hyde II.

How hard is this type of thing? What needs to be done to prep the gun? Is it possible to refinish without removing every single part from the gun?

[69murray]

My recommendation:

• -Take it all the way apart. It's not that hard and with the resources on the internet, totally do-able.
  -Don't spray it. Just my personal opinion. I don't like how 'painted' guns look and I like how they wear even less.
  -If you can do light sanding, boil water, and have a little paitience, do an internet search for 'rust bluing' (not cold bluing - this is crappy for a full refinish also). Rust bluing gives a deep, rich bluing that is as, if not more, durable than a hot salt blue. I've done a CZ-82,and a Swiss K-31 rifle with this method and I couldn't believe how good they came out. Also, I've taken to rust bluing small parts instead of cold bluing them, when it's practical. It takes longer, but the finish will actually last and look much more beautiful.

The P64 I got was in such good shape (it looked almost brand new), that I never even considered refinishing it.

If your desire is more to change the color to something other than black rather than to 'refurbish' a worn finish, I'd at least recommend you do a duracoat finish. However, I've had a couple firearms 'professionally' duracoated and the finish didn't hold up worth s%!t. If I was to try a 'coating' again, I'd probably have someone else Ceracoat or Hard Chrome it.

[69murray]

Here's that CZ 82 I was talking about that I rust blued:


CZ_82-01r by 69murray, on Flickr

[dfunk]

Damn that looks good! Well done!

[69murray]

Thanks! My point here, though, was that rust bluing is an easily achievable high quality finish for these guns.

Though it takes more patience than a sprayed on finish, it's much more 'forgiving' and, in my opinion, easier. Providing, of course, that the metal is carbon steel and you don't desire a color other than black.