Gunsmithing Hydrodipping/cerakoting a laminate stock

[Patton63]

I'm considering grabbing a Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger for a dangerous game gun. I dislike the look of laminate stocks, however. How much more difficult is it (if at all) to apply a hydrodip or a painted finish to a laminate stock than a fiberglass one? If I get the rifle, I'd like to refinish the stock rather than restock it outright.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lash]

A laminate stock is an easy paint. You just have to sand the surface for adhesion, wipe it down with laqeur thinner or denatured alcohol and have at it.

 

[Patton63]

Excellent. Thanks a lot.

 

[Tunnuh]

I'll second what Lash told you. I painted this one and it was pretty easy. It's a Boyds laminate.

 

[Mr.Kirk]

If you use cerakote H-series, cure at a low temp as if were a shitty plastic glock.

 

[Wannashootit]

Done quite a few walnut and birch laminate- and learned a lesson on one last week.
Always looking for a better mousetrap, I discussed the possibility of using a high-build primer over the wood first with NIC, as I wanted to see if I could fill the woodgrain before Cerakoting...
They didn't see an issue with it, so I went with it.
It was a four color, stencil pattern "H" series job (some "wet on wet" because you can only do one partial cure with H series).
Looked beautiful as I opened the oven door- then I sh** my pants as I removed it from the oven.

The entire coating system had "bubbled", or separated from the wood in many areas. There was great bond of the Cerakote to the primer- but the primer itself had separated.

The only theory I have is that, despite the gas-out I did (to make sure all moisture had been driven out) with the metal parts, that the high-build primer had so effectively sealed/encapsulated the wood that as the air within the wood expanded in the oven (it was all low-temp, 160 degrees) it literally separated the coating system from the wood to escape.

Whether that theory's right or wrong...won't be doing that again. Now I have the fun of sanding the remainder off and re-doing the job. Oh well...chalk it up to a learning experience.

 

[Patton63]

I figured I would follow up on this thread, since I finally picked up the rifle and decided to refinish the stock. As recommended, a good sanding, Some Bondo over the checkering areas that had been sanded down, priming and painting, and I am much happier with it. After finishing it, I decided that I wanted to add back some texture to the forearm and grip, so I remanded those areas, added some Marine-Tex, and repainted. Overall, a pretty easy job. Here are the before and after pics:

 

[FCrifles]

Looks great Patton63