PPS Finishes: experience and opinions please!

SpinDoctor15 · 03-19-2008, 07:40 PM

Hello all,

I'm starting on another money-hog custom project, and I would like to input from the community. Since those of you browsing the PPS forum likely own many markers with these various finishes, I'd like your inputs. Here what I am considering, and my understanding of the pros/cons.

FYI: I'm trending towards having a dark or black colored marker, and I'm going to do a dark-cherry stain on the stock, so it will be relatively dark also. [Yes, it's going in wood...]:

1) Black Zinc finish

pros: looks great, won't chip, relatively cheap

cons: rubs off, not as durable as powdercoat

2) Wrinkle-black powdercoat

pros: looks great, very unique, pretty strong finish: here's a closeup (http://www.mcarterbrown.com/gallery/.../Tempest03.jpg)

cons: slightly more expensive, can chip, slightly 'light' in color (light black?), I already have a Hurc in this color (http://www.mcarterbrown.com/gallery/.../Tempest04.jpg, do I want a matching marker or something new?)

3) Gloss-black powdercoat

pros: looks great, fairly strong finish

cons: slightly more expensive, can chip, blemishes will stick out like a sore thumb

4) Nickel, standard matte PPS finish

pros: included in price, very durable

cons: could chip, I personally don't prefer the look...

5) Custom powdercoat with some custom engraving, like Ken's Samantha: (Samantha F/S)

pros: super-unique (nothing like it), fairly durable

cons: could chip, could look silly on a wood-stocked marker, looks kinda 'light' in color

Right now, the Black Zinc and Gloss-black powdercoat are tied for 1st place in my mind. Thanks in advance for your inputs!

Frink · 03-19-2008, 07:50 PM

They're able to do a matte black powder coat as well, can't they?

If I ever build a Hurc it will be Black Zinc, its just so clean looking.

Latoolman · 03-19-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

1) Black Zinc finish

pros: looks great, won't chip, relatively cheap

cons: rubs off, not as durable as powdercoat

I've had 3 guns with this.... NEVER EVER seen it rub off.... 1000x tougher than Powder Coat....

I've sneezed and scratched the powdercoated Hurc.... NO LIE...

Pyscho's old Hurc H2106... Black Zinc... Had that gun apart and assembled several times... NOT A SCRATCH....

Just had a Painter done.... Black Zinc is dead sexy... and bullet proof....

You see where I'm going with this.......

I'll even give you a Guarantee.... If you don't like I'll buy it off you ..

That's my No Hassle Gun Whore Guarantee

Mar · 03-19-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latoolman

I've had 3 guns with this.... NEVER EVER seen it rub off.... 1000x tougher than Powder Coat....

Although I haven't had a powder coated marker, my two Zinc markers have worn under the Pump.... Latoolman: To be able to judge this acurately you would have to have less than 100000 markers to spread your love amongst...

Latoolman · 03-19-2008, 08:21 PM

Touche'

You know what... I never had the Black Zinc with a pump .... Well the one above is only a pump for now... soon to be something better...
I don't think Jason's going with a pump though....

I could see it wearing under the handle.... but if that's his plan then powder coating is absolutely not an option...
If doing a pump .... Duracoat is also a contender.... but if your have PPS build it then your getting some sort of plating as a base... never Duracoated on top of anything other than bare brass...

PsychoBaller · 03-19-2008, 08:34 PM

I concur with Jimbo. Black Zinc is my favorite black finish.

My current Hurc is Black Zinc'd and gorgeous. But my KP2 just came back with Matte Black PowderCoating from PPS, and I'm not as big a fan of it. Also, not a fan of either the Wrinkle-Coat look, or da shiny Nickle or Chrome.

SpinDoctor15 · 03-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Thanks so far guys. It won't be a pump, so no wear problems due to that. I even spoke with Craig P about it today, and to confirm: they recommend nickel...

Sounds like the Black Zinc will look sweet and work well for my app. Plus, if it does wear off, I'll have nickel underneath!

Captain Paintball · 03-19-2008, 08:46 PM

I have 2 PPS guns in nickel, and I am VERY happy with their durability. I used the Hurricane about 75 times, and the stroker about 150 times. It is not like the "chrome" nickel you would find on other guns, it is flat, and tough. (I am assuming you have never owned a Palmer in Nickel before, so forgive me if I am telling you something you already know, or something that differs from your own experience.)

The stroker PGP has been through some real killer battles, and a lot of abuse, and the only wear has been where the ball detent clip rubs (I have since put heat shrink wrap over it) and the extra centimeter or two in the barrel, to presumably avoid flaking, etc.

Frink · 03-19-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latoolman

http://www.mcarterbrown.com/gallery/data/768/KP3sc.jpg

I had this picture as my background for a while

Probably my favorite paintball marker ever.

If you ever decided to sell, please PM me. (Not holding my breath

)

relief · 03-19-2008, 09:42 PM

I know you stated that you want a darker finish/look But one finish I love is their hand polished nickel finish. Looks REALLY classy. About as durable as the matte nickel. WAY more expensive but you won't see many polished nickel Hurrc's so its sure to stand out.

View Poll Results: Which finished, based on pros/cons and experience?
Black Zinc	9	33.33%
Wrinkle-black powdercoat	3	11.11%
Gloss-black powdercoat	0	0%
PPS matte nickel	10	37.04%
KPCS Custom powdercoating	5	18.52%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

03-19-2008, 07:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
SpinDoctor15 Spellcheck your post! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 983	PPS Finishes: experience and opinions please! Hello all, I'm starting on another money-hog custom project, and I would like to input from the community. Since those of you browsing the PPS forum likely own many markers with these various finishes, I'd like your inputs. Here what I am considering, and my understanding of the pros/cons. FYI: I'm trending towards having a dark or black colored marker, and I'm going to do a dark-cherry stain on the stock, so it will be relatively dark also. [Yes, it's going in wood...]: 1) Black Zinc finish pros: looks great, won't chip, relatively cheap cons: rubs off, not as durable as powdercoat 2) Wrinkle-black powdercoat pros: looks great, very unique, pretty strong finish: here's a closeup (http://www.mcarterbrown.com/gallery/.../Tempest03.jpg) cons: slightly more expensive, can chip, slightly 'light' in color (light black?), I already have a Hurc in this color (http://www.mcarterbrown.com/gallery/.../Tempest04.jpg, do I want a matching marker or something new?) 3) Gloss-black powdercoat pros: looks great, fairly strong finish cons: slightly more expensive, can chip, blemishes will stick out like a sore thumb 4) Nickel, standard matte PPS finish pros: included in price, very durable cons: could chip, I personally don't prefer the look... 5) Custom powdercoat with some custom engraving, like Ken's Samantha: (Samantha F/S) pros: super-unique (nothing like it), fairly durable cons: could chip, could look silly on a wood-stocked marker, looks kinda 'light' in color Right now, the Black Zinc and Gloss-black powdercoat are tied for 1st place in my mind. Thanks in advance for your inputs! __________________ Jason Spin Doc Spin Doctor's Paintball Page - Lots of cool stuff!!! Feedback on MCB - read here Gun Whore, n. Pronunciation Key (gn), (hôr, hr): A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain of weapons consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory. russc: "PBN is a business, and that's why they prefer thousands of morons to hundreds of intelligent posters" Last edited by SpinDoctor15; 03-19-2008 at 07:49 PM.

03-19-2008, 08:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
PsychoBaller p8ntd dawurld, an thensum Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 923	I concur with Jimbo. Black Zinc is my favorite black finish. My current Hurc is Black Zinc'd and gorgeous. But my KP2 just came back with Matte Black PowderCoating from PPS, and I'm not as big a fan of it. Also, not a fan of either the Wrinkle-Coat look, or da shiny Nickle or Chrome. __________________ SFL E-Mag - DC Viking - Hurricane - Sheridan KP2 DC Viking Project in the werkz Last edited by PsychoBaller; 03-19-2008 at 08:38 PM.

03-19-2008, 08:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
SpinDoctor15 Spellcheck your post! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 983	Thanks so far guys. It won't be a pump, so no wear problems due to that. I even spoke with Craig P about it today, and to confirm: they recommend nickel... Sounds like the Black Zinc will look sweet and work well for my app. Plus, if it does wear off, I'll have nickel underneath! __________________ Jason Spin Doc Spin Doctor's Paintball Page - Lots of cool stuff!!! Feedback on MCB - read here Gun Whore, n. Pronunciation Key (gn), (hôr, hr): A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain of weapons consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory. russc: "PBN is a business, and that's why they prefer thousands of morons to hundreds of intelligent posters"

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03-19-2008, 08:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Captain Paintball Active Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 113	I have 2 PPS guns in nickel, and I am VERY happy with their durability. I used the Hurricane about 75 times, and the stroker about 150 times. It is not like the "chrome" nickel you would find on other guns, it is flat, and tough. (I am assuming you have never owned a Palmer in Nickel before, so forgive me if I am telling you something you already know, or something that differs from your own experience.) The stroker PGP has been through some real killer battles, and a lot of abuse, and the only wear has been where the ball detent clip rubs (I have since put heat shrink wrap over it) and the extra centimeter or two in the barrel, to presumably avoid flaking, etc.

03-19-2008, 09:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
relief MCB Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 233	I know you stated that you want a darker finish/look But one finish I love is their hand polished nickel finish. Looks REALLY classy. About as durable as the matte nickel. WAY more expensive but you won't see many polished nickel Hurrc's so its sure to stand out.