Refinished by AJames (500 round update) - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Captain Ray · 08-03-2005, 04:13 PM

I bet you didn't know that AJames is trying his hand at refinishing the XD!?

James contacted me a short while ago regarding refinishing my XD after I had butchered it by trying to do it myself.. here is the "before" picture:

It was kind of pretty, but I just don't have the know how or the equipment to do it right.. I was very dissapointed...

AJames to the rescue!!!

Here is what she looks like now...

It is not perfect. Because I sanded off the bluing the matted stainless coat had a hard time adhering to the metal due to the unique kind of steel that is used in manufacturing the XD. (Ask Don, he's the guy who knows his metal.) But it sure looks better than what I did to it!!!

If you look closely, the metal at the end of the barell is exposed because the finish would not bake onto it properly. Other than that.. she looks pretty darn good!!! The internal parts look fabulous! I even had James do the trigger bar.. (It wasn't necessary, but it's kind of like chrome plating your air cleaner cover in your car in the hopes that if you open up the hood, the fellas will say: "COOL!")

All in all, I am very happy. AJames asked me to put a couple of thousand rounds through her, abuse it in the loving way that only a gun owner can know, and see how the finish holds up.. (A task that I am looking forward to.) Then I will send it back so that he can see how well the system he is using holds up.

By the way.. turnaround was less than a week, and it only took that long because he did it, and re-did it four times trying to get the coating to stick. He says normally he will be able to get it back in your hands within two days.

Raymond

mattsnuked · 08-03-2005, 04:17 PM

Looks good.

jbknight · 08-03-2005, 04:31 PM

$Cost$???

Captain Ray · 08-03-2005, 05:22 PM

For re-bluing, he said something in the neighborood of $25.00 or so for just rust-proofing.. I don't think he is really sure at this point because he's just getting started. He really needs to pipe in on this, because I don't know the particulars.

I got a very good deal, and I don't feel like I am at liberty to say exactly because I am his first customer. I imagine he will be competitive with Tripp, and Canyon Creek.. and certainly the turnaround will be much quicker. (No offense to Tripp and Canyon Creek.. those guys are great too!)

PM him, and see what he is willing to do for you.

Raymond

TrickyVic · 08-03-2005, 05:28 PM

Looks real good, hopefully it holds up well.

GarySTL · 08-03-2005, 06:14 PM

I just received my XD40SC slide back from James. I was sending it in to have Truglo sights installed and he asked if I wanted to Duracoat the slide. I said "Sure, matte black". It's not a true matte finish, more like a low gloss. Looks very nice and the turn around time was pretty good, just over a week door to door.

Now it's off to the range!

ajamesp51 · 08-03-2005, 06:44 PM

Captain Ray, thank you for the kind words.

Here is the page I am working on, more information to be added.
http://www.xd-hs2000.com/duracoat.html

NiK · 08-03-2005, 06:51 PM

Alright! Get down James! I'm definitely going to do this one. I may even have you throw on some sights too. Gimme a couple weeks, I'm still blowing $$ on my new AR. Also, I have to figure out what color might look good with an OD frame that no one's tried yet.... Gray, maybe?

ajamesp51 · 08-03-2005, 07:04 PM

Oh there will be a discount if you also buy sights.....I cant offer free installation since I already do that any way, so something like free return shipping plus the standard free install. So an all at one time stop.

WaltherP99 · 08-03-2005, 07:29 PM

Very nice! I may look into this sometime soon (trying to finance an AR right now so money is kinda slim!!).

What are some of the colors you are offering? I have been considering going to stainless rather than black. What's involved in that and is there a price difference?

Nice job AJames!

08-03-2005, 04:13 PM	#1
Captain Ray XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,693	Refinished by AJames (500 round update) I bet you didn't know that AJames is trying his hand at refinishing the XD!? James contacted me a short while ago regarding refinishing my XD after I had butchered it by trying to do it myself.. here is the "before" picture: It was kind of pretty, but I just don't have the know how or the equipment to do it right.. I was very dissapointed... AJames to the rescue!!! Here is what she looks like now... It is not perfect. Because I sanded off the bluing the matted stainless coat had a hard time adhering to the metal due to the unique kind of steel that is used in manufacturing the XD. (Ask Don, he's the guy who knows his metal.) But it sure looks better than what I did to it!!! If you look closely, the metal at the end of the barell is exposed because the finish would not bake onto it properly. Other than that.. she looks pretty darn good!!! The internal parts look fabulous! I even had James do the trigger bar.. (It wasn't necessary, but it's kind of like chrome plating your air cleaner cover in your car in the hopes that if you open up the hood, the fellas will say: "COOL!") All in all, I am very happy. AJames asked me to put a couple of thousand rounds through her, abuse it in the loving way that only a gun owner can know, and see how the finish holds up.. (A task that I am looking forward to.) Then I will send it back so that he can see how well the system he is using holds up. By the way.. turnaround was less than a week, and it only took that long because he did it, and re-did it four times trying to get the coating to stick. He says normally he will be able to get it back in your hands within two days. Raymond __________________ \"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.\" ~Abraham Lincoln~

08-03-2005, 05:22 PM	#4
Captain Ray XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,693	For re-bluing, he said something in the neighborood of $25.00 or so for just rust-proofing.. I don't think he is really sure at this point because he's just getting started. He really needs to pipe in on this, because I don't know the particulars. I got a very good deal, and I don't feel like I am at liberty to say exactly because I am his first customer. I imagine he will be competitive with Tripp, and Canyon Creek.. and certainly the turnaround will be much quicker. (No offense to Tripp and Canyon Creek.. those guys are great too!) PM him, and see what he is willing to do for you. Raymond __________________ \"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.\" ~Abraham Lincoln~

08-03-2005, 06:44 PM	#7
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,026	Captain Ray, thank you for the kind words. Here is the page I am working on, more information to be added. http://www.xd-hs2000.com/duracoat.html __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

08-03-2005, 07:04 PM	#9
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,026	Oh there will be a discount if you also buy sights.....I cant offer free installation since I already do that any way, so something like free return shipping plus the standard free install. So an all at one time stop. __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

08-03-2005, 07:29 PM	#10
WaltherP99 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Berks County, Pennsylvania Posts: 347	Very nice! I may look into this sometime soon (trying to finance an AR right now so money is kinda slim!!). What are some of the colors you are offering? I have been considering going to stainless rather than black. What's involved in that and is there a price difference? Nice job AJames! __________________ GLOCK M30 .45 ACP WWW.GLOCKERS.COM "My own idea of a $5,500 .45 auto is a used Volkswagon with a Glock 30 in the glove box..." - Massad Ayoob

08-03-2005, 04:17 PM	#2
mattsnuked XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix Posts: 233	Looks good.

08-03-2005, 04:31 PM	#3
jbknight XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 30	$Cost$???

08-03-2005, 05:28 PM	#5
TrickyVic XDTalk Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 94	Looks real good, hopefully it holds up well.

08-03-2005, 06:14 PM	#6
GarySTL XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern Missouri Posts: 90	I just received my XD40SC slide back from James. I was sending it in to have Truglo sights installed and he asked if I wanted to Duracoat the slide. I said "Sure, matte black". It's not a true matte finish, more like a low gloss. Looks very nice and the turn around time was pretty good, just over a week door to door. Now it's off to the range!

08-03-2005, 06:51 PM	#8
NiK XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ft Benning, GA Posts: 1,344	Alright! Get down James! I'm definitely going to do this one. I may even have you throw on some sights too. Gimme a couple weeks, I'm still blowing $$ on my new AR. Also, I have to figure out what color might look good with an OD frame that no one's tried yet.... Gray, maybe?

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