Spray-On Oven-Cure Finishes

by: Tim Dillon

Our Spray-On, Oven-Cure Finishes have become quite popular with gunsmiths because they are so easy to use and they provide a first-class looking finish in only a matter of minutes. Brownells Aerosol Baking Lacquer was the first that was developed. It was an outgrowth of the liquid Baking Lacquers because so many customers that had tried them requested an easier method of application. Brownells Teflon®/ Moly Oven Cure Gun Finish was a further refinement of the aerosol process that incorporates two, highly effective lubricants into a single application. The Teflon/Moly finish is the right choice when maintaining tolerances between close-fitting parts is important.

We’ve tested both finishes extensively and there are some common links that apply if you want to achieve good looking results. It is important to apply multiple light coats to the surface in order to achieve a smooth, even coating. Most importantly, both of these finishes are highly reactive to heat. Prewarming the part before applying the spray helps to dry the paint quickly so you can apply additional coats sooner. Heat the part until it is just warm to the touch, about 95° F. I also use a blow dryer at the same time as I’m spraying to dry the paint almost as soon as it hits the surface. This is especially critical if you are painting in less than 65° F. temperature. Aim the warm air from the blow dryer at the surface and spray the paint at the same area letting the paint mix with the warm air as it is applied to the surface. This allows the spray to dry very quickly onto the surface letting you avoid the “dreaded runs”. Do not get the blow dryer closer than 12” and do not get the part so hot that the paint begins to curl.

If a run does occur, let the paint dry and lightly sand the run from the surface with 400 grit wet-or-dry abrasive paper, then respray the affected area.

The spray-on/ oven-bake finishes tend to level themselves out when they are baked, so slight surface imperfections won’t show after baking.

Allow the finish to fully dry to the touch before baking. Here are two tips that will improve your results when baking small parts like pins. Use a pie tin that has ventilation holes punched in the bottom. You can lay the parts flat on the tin and you will not get baking marks on the side that is touching the pie tin. Or, attach small parts to a cast iron magnet and hang the magnet by a piece of wire from the upper oven rack.

Hopefully, these tech tips will make using our spray-on/oven-bake finishes easier. We are currently working on bringing out additional colors of the Oven Cure Gun Finish, and we’ll keep you posted as they become available. Here’s a listing of the colors and selections we have available.