ALUMA-HYDE® II Reviews & Ratings
Reviews Summary
Aluma-Hyde® II garners mixed feedback, with many users appreciating its cost-effectiveness and ease of application, while others encounter issues with nozzle clogging and inconsistent color matching, particularly with the FDE variants. Durability after curing is generally praised, though some users report chipping and flaking over time. Overall, users recommend proper prep and caution for the best results.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Application Process
70%
Many reviewers emphasize the importance of following the application instructions precisely, including thorough cleaning and allowing adequate cure time. Users highlight that successful application often requires shaking the can extensively and avoiding excessive heat when curing.
Durability
65%
The durability of Aluma-Hyde® II is frequently mentioned, with many users noting it holds up well under regular use. However, some express disappointment when experiencing chipping or wear, especially in high-friction areas.
Color Match
60%
Color consistency is a significant concern. Several users report discrepancies between the color on the cap and the actual paint, particularly with variants like Coyote and FDE. Aluma-Hyde II is described as closer to Sage or light tan rather than the expected hues.
Nozzle and Clogging Issues
55%
Numerous reviews highlight issues with the spray nozzles clogging shortly after use, leading to spattering or inconsistent application. Users recommend purchasing extra nozzles as a precaution.
Value for Money
75%
Despite the mixed feedback, many users find Aluma-Hyde® II to be a cost-effective alternative to professional coatings like Cerakote. The majority feel that it delivers adequate performance for the price, especially for DIY projects.
I will continue to use this product
Excellent product
10 years and going
I used this product on my SGW upper and lower 10 years ago!!!! And im just now ordering another can just to do minor touch ups around the take down pins and the brass deflector. 2000rds+ fired
Good product, hides scratches well,
Good product it hides scratches well, deeper scratches can be hid good with primer applyed first. I have only used the semi-gloss
Good Stuff
I've only used the semi-gloss but it works well & hides light scratches well
Works like a charm!
Incredibly useful product! Make sure to degrease part thoroughly, and after painting, let the item cure for at least overnight if not 3-4 days. You will continue to feel the Aluma-Hyde get harder even over a week. Using an oven to warm the part after painting helps immensely. I usually cook at 170oF for a 1/2 hour or so. I even did some dashboard parts in my old Mercedes 190E with Aluma-Hyde matt black, and they look absolutely like new now!
Easy to work with, tough once it's dry
I used this on an abused Remington 725 I bought as a project gun that had a badly scraped and scuffed trigger guard/floor plate, a part that's made from aluminum. I sanded off the old remaining finish taking it down to bare metal and polished with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. One word of warning: Let it cure fully before you recoat once it's set for a while and I mean fully, as 2-3 weeks. Otherwise, the new coat begins to dissolve the old coat and the old coat may wrinkle. My fault that I had to redo. I got in a little too much hurry. But a little rework took care of that, and it hid a small ding in the aluminum.
Brownells Aluma Hyde II Matte Clear
I went looking for a product that would protect the camo-sprayed finish on my hunting rifle. I wanted something that would protect the finish from hard cleaners. After an extensive search I found out from other gun owners that Brownells products were the best, so I decided to try Brownells Aluma Hyde II Matte Clear. To sum it up this product does what the company says it does. My rifle is now protected and the finish looks great! [...] I highly recommend Brownells products. I will use Brownells again on my next gun project.
Awesome!
Clean, degrease and spray!. Works like a charm! Even has an instruction video on Youtube. Most of all, the stuff looks great!
Great Gun Spray on Paint
Used on a Saiga 12 - I followed Instruction very closely, and cleaned gun 5 times used break cleaner and acetone.It was a very easy application and went on as promised. I used a heat gun to heat gun prior to application and tween coats. My S12 came out looking fantastic. I let it fully cure for 2 weeks. It has held up great with much use for the past 6 mos.
Good stuff
I have used this stuff in semi-gloss black, and in matte black. The semi-gloss is my favorite by far, it seems to be more resistant to showing surface scratches, and it's holding up well on a Saiga-12 conversion that I use in 3-gun, and even rolling around in the back of my truck the only finish damage I see is on the plastic handguard and pistol grip. I used the matte black on a carry gun that was suffering from the slide rusting from IWB summer carry, it's holding up well also but the matte finish surface wear much more than the semi gloss. The only down side to the finish is the cure time, I tried to wait atleast one week before I put my pistol back into the carry circle, I ended up waiting two weeks, and it still did not have a full cure. Seems the magic number for a full 100% cure is almost a month, but once it cures it's tough! make sure you get the surface prep stuff when you order, if you don't get a good clean surface it won't stick for long. Brake cleaner did not work well for me on some test pieces, but MAF cleaner was a good substitute if all else fails.


