DIY paint job durability?

[Full strut]

Anyone that has painted their own gun, please feel free to chime in. Plan on doing a tree bark paint scheme and finishing it off with two coats of matte clear to seal on my youth 870. How well does a DIY paint job hold up verses, let's say a camo dip or a cerakote treatment?

[wvmntnhick]

My honest opinion, paints and dips are pretty much worthless. They chip, flake and peel. Some people have had good luck with them in the past but for my money, if I want something durable, I'm going with ceracoat. The dips and paints will allow a gun to rust from the inside out. Moisture can penetrate it anywhere that it's been chipped. That's a given. Ceracoat doesn't do that. It's much more durable and seals the coated parts from the weather. Were it me, that's where my money would go just for the durability factor.

[zeke632]

I've painted a bunch of them, my own and for others.  Stripped and repainted them too. Paint will wear off where you carry them and it will chip a little. But it works just fine.  You still need to wipe them down from time to time with a little oil.  It obviously not as durable as other options. My son has a 20ga BPS that I painted when he was 12 or so (he's 29 now), I'd bet a paycheck its not rusted under the paint.

Years ago I painted a 1100 and used it for everything, turkeys, rabbits, ducks, even used once as a boat paddle.  When I sold it i figured it was wrecked under the paint.  They guy who bought it stripped the paint and the blue and stock were fine.   

[Tom Foolery]

I've painted several and they hold up great.  If they chip I just repaint

[Dr Juice]

Awesome job Tom Foolery 

[SCDieselDawg]

It's all about the prep work. I did a barrel last year. The bluing was worn heavily so I sanded it well and cleaned with denatured alcohol. Once it dried hit it with a good coat of primer.  Go slow and pay attention to what you're doing.

[Full strut]

My honest opinion, paints and dips are pretty much worthless. They chip, flake and peel. Some people have had good luck with them in the past but for my money, if I want something durable, I'm going with ceracoat. The dips and paints will allow a gun to rust from the inside out. Moisture can penetrate it anywhere that it's been chipped. That's a given. Ceracoat doesn't do that. It's much more durable and seals the coated parts from the weather. Were it me, that's where my money would go just for the durability factor.

It's also hard to justify a $200+ dollar cerakote job on a $280 gun...

[sierra6]

I painted these and probably 20 more rifles and shotguns.  The rattle can finish is great, and infinitely customizable.  It is however, not nearly as durable as cerakote.   The beauty of the rattle can finish is ease of touch up, and ease of removal. 

[Tom Foolery]

 

I painted these and probably 20 more rifles and shotguns.  The rattle can finish is great, and infinitely customizable.  It is however, not nearly as durable as cerakote.   The beauty of the rattle can finish is ease of touch up, and ease of removal.

Great work!