Gunsmithing Question about refinishing a CZ w/ polycoat

[trob]

Hey guys- I just bought a CZ Shadow 2 in urban grey. I was hesitant to get the grey frame, because I saw a few heavily used guns that had some flaking towards the muzzle from going in and out of a kydex holster, which showed the black finish underneath. Black polycoat guns wouldnt show as much if it flaked. But all factors considered, grey was the better choice for me.

So, if I want to refinish the frame in the future, would it be possible to remove the grey and go with black? I wouldnt want to just cerakote it black over the grey, because it would show up as soon as it wore through.

 

[GH41]

Sounds to me like the polycoat (glorified paint) is over a nitrided steel frame. If that is the case just take the grey coating off with aircraft stripper.

 

[trob]

Sounds to me like the polycoat (glorified paint) is over a nitrided steel frame. If that is the case just take the grey coating off with aircraft stripper.

It is. The whole finish is nitride, then just the frame is polycoat on top. Ideally, there would be a way to remove the grey without damaging the nitride, then cerakote it black over the nitride. Is that what you’re saying?
Thanks for the reply, I’ve never messed with getting anything refinished, nor do I understand the strength of different finishes.

 

[GH41]

No. Just remove the grey paint. The nitride underneath will be black just like your slide. Nitride isn't a finnish. It is a metal treatment. It transforms the surface of the metal. Think Glock and many others. From what I have researched polycoat looks like an industrial strength polyurethane. Aircraft stripper should eat it up.

 

[hermosabeach]

If you want to refinish the gun once stripped, you might consider taking a look at Norrell's Moly Resin. I think it holds up better to holster wear than cerakote. It's similar to the factory coating on S&W revolvers

 

[Ledzep]

Nitride is a case hardening process for the steel. The black color is a byproduct. If you're happy with the color/finish then stripping the grey would work.

If you intend to cerakote it (properly), it will be abrasive blasted first prior to applying Ckote. Doing so will remove the black from Nitride but will not remove the heat treat. The hard surface layer from nitride is typically .005-.010" thick. So when the Ckote wears through it will show bare metal but that bare metal will still retain all of the properties of a fresh nitride finish.

 

[trob]

Thank you so much, I think that answers it.
Sounds like, when the time comes, stripping the grey and ending up with the all black nitride might be the way to go

 

[D1ngus]

Thank you so much, I think that answers it.
Sounds like, when the time comes, stripping the grey and ending up with the all black nitride might be the way to go

Did you end up removing the grey polycoat from your Shadow 2? Were you happy with the results?

 

[trob]

Did you end up removing the grey polycoat from your Shadow 2? Were you happy with the results?

No, i decided not to mess with the factory finish. I ended up selling the pistol and getting the optics ready Shadow 2, which comes all black.