My first attempt at cerakote

[n10sivern]

Well I took the plunge and cerakoted two ar15's over the last couple days. I think it turned out ok so far. I have to blast down and recoat my barrels because I messed them up. I'll post updated pics once they are fully put together. It's a lot of work but I really like the cerakote.

 

[VaniB]

Looks good. If you took the time to prep everything thouroughly (ie; clean off the parts first) there's no reason why it shouldn't stay good looking and remain durable. I'm a duracoat user myself, but know that cerakote is even stronger and better stuff. Congrats.

 

[n10sivern]

That's where I messed up my barrels. I cut a corner on prep and they suffered. They look ok, just a little blotchy and I'm not happy so they'll get blasted and cerakoted again.

 

[Judd]

Looks good! Did you use the heat or air cure and what did you spray it with?

Nicely done.

 

[n10sivern]

baked in oven. I used an airbrush to apply it

 

[Cigarcop]

If your gonna spray bigger parts go to Harbor frieght and get a small HVLP gun with the .8 tip you'll need.... There only like $35 bucks.. Spray at around a constant 15 psi... I can post a pic later of the gun I'm talking about if you want. I sprayed alot of guns and parts with it that turn out beautiful.
As you found out Prep is everything

Heres the link to it
http://m.harborfreight.com/hvlp-detail-spray-gun-46719.html?utm_source=direct%2Fnot%20provided&utm_medium=mobile_redirect#.UyMRgim9Kc0

 

[n10sivern]

I actually already have that spray gun. I had all of the small AR parts that I did so I chose to use an airbrush. Figured less waste and easier to control for my first time.

 

[Judd]

Thanks guys. I traded into a NF 12-42 BR scope that someone cerakoted and should have their donkey kicked for the colors they did it. It's more of a tacticool camo with a netting look...it is horrible. Anyway, I'm going to turn it black again and my options where to cerakote over it or krylon and I had about decided to krylon it black and now y'all are starting to make me think I should cerakote it.

Y'all did a great job!

Edit -- I obviously will not bake the scope so I was wondering about the air dry is why I asked.

 

[Cigarcop]

Judd,
Def air coat for the scope!

 

[lrgoodger]

A gun a biohazard? What a concept! LOL

 

[1shot]

I just had a guy cerakote a chrome moly bbl. for me, simply to keep it safe from rust. It had some small "bumps" on it for lack of a better description. When I ask him about it, he said it wasn't anything to worry about, then handed me his knife and told me to go ahead and try and scratch it. Putting the point to the finish, I promptly put a 3"+ scratch in the finish! WTF! In his defense, he offered to re-do it. But I figured once bitten, twice shy. Has anyone had a similar experience?
Lloyd

 

[n10sivern]

Sounds like maybe he sprayed too thin. I dunno. It's not a perfect coating and will still scratch, but it is more durable than anodizing, park, duracoat, ect

 

[jwink]

I also cerakote. I have noticed over time that the prep is the most important single thing, if you don't use garnet to blast with (like the company recommends) .... you will have issues and it will be easier to scratch off. Glassbeading is not rough enough to hold the finish well. I searched for quite awhile to find the right stuff, I ended up using 150 grit garnet @ 80 psi, any coarser leaves marks in alum.

 

[n10sivern]

I'm using 120 grit aluminum oxide for blasting media

 

[1shot]

The guy that did mine replied to me that if I didn't like it, he would do it over again. Having read the last several posts, I think I made the right call and took the bbl. as is, and assembled the rifle. After a some rattle-can camouflage, it looks pretty good for it's intended usage.
Lloyd