The Bottom Line
Although application was frustrating at times and I had to learn how important it is to shake the jar for at least two full minutes before each coat, the end result was good, and the entire project was very satisfying.
Perma Fin has shown itself to be tough and durable, and with proper surface preparation and attention to detail it can produce very good results for a do-it-yourselfer who wants to refinish a gun at home.
Pros
- Cures quickly, looks good, and is durable.
- Kit includes more than enough liquid finish for two guns.
- Cures at "room temperature," so no baking required.
- No mixing required; cleans up with water when uncured. (When cured, requires abrasives/scraping.)
- Will not fill engraving or stampings/markings on the gun.
Cons
- Application can be tricky.
- You will need more gloves and abrasive than the kit contains.
- The airbrush included in the kit is an "el cheapo."
- Gaskets for jar lids should be made of better material. Cardboard disintegrates with use.
Description
- One-part liquid finish designed to be sprayed or brushed (spraying is preferred) onto a gun.
- Kit contains two 3-ounce bottles of finish, airbrush with accessories, one pair of vinyl gloves, and one abrasive pad.
- The provided airbrush is very cheap. It worked, but it's not the greatest.
- I refinished an entire rifle with about half a jar of Perma Fin.
- You will likely need more gloves and abrasives than the kit provides.
- For the best value, buy items separately. The airbrush is $7.99 from Harbor Freight Tools. You can buy Perma Fin by the jar.
- This is not a blue. Bluing is a form of rust produced by chemicals; Perma Fin is a paint-like coating.
- Perma Fin will not fill engraving or stampings. Likewise, it won't fill or hide surface flaws (such as rust pits).
- Surface preparation is crucial! Take your time with this step - it's the most important part of any refinishing process.
- Initial coats are thin and almost colorless; don't be discouraged. Four or five coats will do the job (if thoroughly shaken).
Guide Review - Birchwood-Casey Perma Fin Air Cure Gun Finish - Satin Black
Blowing a Gasket
As usual, Birchwood-Casey (B-C) has turned out a good product. Also as usual, the packaging could be better. I have long had trouble with the cardboard gaskets in their jar lids - they always seem to disintegrate. Without gaskets, the lids don't seal well, which can lead to spills and spoiled product.
After completing my refinishing project, I left a half-full jar of Perma Fin on a small cluttered work table. Some time later, I noticed that it had been knocked over onto its side. It had fallen onto a nearby paper towel.
Some of the liquid had leaked out of the jar and been absorbed by the paper towel. I had the lid tightly secured, but it needed a gasket (which had long since fallen apart) to properly seal the jar.
Application
Application is best done via airbrush. I already had an air compressor - you'll want one. Brushing is also an option, but is not recommended for the best finish. I did use a tiny brush to touch up a small scratch, and that worked well.
I was instructed not to strain it, so I didn't, but the small solid chunks in the liquid caused me some airbrush-clogging woes. This may have been accentuated by the cheap airbrush included in the kit, but I don't have enough airbrush experience to say for sure.
Conclusion
In the end, Perma Fin provided a lot more good than bad, and it's a fine product for do-it-yourself home gun refinishing. Take your time and pay strict attention to surface preparation and applying thin, even coats, and you should end up with a nice-looking gun in the end.
- Russ Chastain
