Top 5 Benefits of Cerakote Finish on Pistols and Rifles
Cerakote provides a heightened level of durability that protects against abrasions, corrosion and chemicals. The coating also adds a unique look to firearms and accessories. Here at Lone Star Gunsmithing & Cerakote in Princeton, Texas we can handleall your Cerakote needs.
Before applying any color, Sigouin lightly bead blasts all the gun parts that are getting coated. This roughens up the surfaces and ensures that the coating will adhere properly.
1. Durability
Cerakote is a polymer-ceramic composite coating (the exact formulation is proprietary, but it’s similar to a lacquer infused with ceramic
powder) that can be baked or air-dried and applied to metals, plastics, or wood. It provides increased abrasion and wear resistance, as well as corrosion and chemical protection.
Piet disassembles all the gun parts to be coated and carefully inspects them, checking for any scratches, unevenness or other defects that could cause problems when assembled. He then sprays the pieces and places them in an oven to cure.
He sets the temperature at 180 degrees so he can bake the metal and the Cerakote without it getting too hot and warping the polymers or darkening light colors. After a couple of hours the gun parts are ready to be reassembled.
2. Unique Appearance
Cerakote comes in a variety of earth-tone colors, making it easy for owners to customize their firearms. It’s often used as a paint job, but it can also be applied to internal moving parts for corrosion protection.
Most guns see a lot of wear and tear in everyday use. Getting the weapon in a complementary color can help it blend into your clothing and daily environment, or even camouflage.
Before a gun can be coated, the pieces must be disassembled, degreased and sandblasted for a clean surface. This step prevents the firearm from loading with oils, which could ruin the finished product. According to Sigouin, the prep process takes up to five days, and he recommends using H-series, which is air cured. It can withstand temperatures up to 1200 degrees F and is UV stable.
3. Resistance to Corrosion
Cerakote is an extremely durable ceramic-based finish that can be applied to any gun surface. It has excellent corrosion, chemical and abrasion resistance. It has been proven to outperform metal finishes such as bluing, Parkerizing, and Melonite in laboratory tests.
The exact formula of cerakote is proprietary, but it can be described as a polymer-ceramic composite coating that is baked or air-cured. This allows the coating to bond with steel, aluminum and polymer-based materials used in firearm production.
In a lab test, nine different firearm components were placed in a salt chamber to see how long it would take for them to show the first signs of corrosion. The results showed that Cerakote took twice as long as Blueing and stainless steel to show the first sign of corrosion.
4. Easy Maintenance
Cerakote provides a layer of protection that can help reduce the amount of wear and tear on gun parts over time. This is because the coating reduces the amount of interaction between firearm components and the oils and liquids they come into contact with.
The ceramic coating also helps to protect the gun from chemicals like cleaning solvents, which can damage plastic or spring components. The coating can be applied to almost any type of part that can be baked, although a few pieces such as rubber grip panels or some types of illuminated sights cannot be baked.
Many gunsmiths offer Cerakote applications as a service, but you can also do it at home using an airbrush and the right paint mix. For the best results, make sure that the parts you are attempting to coat are stripped down before applying the Cerakote.
5. Customization
With Cerakote and other gun coatings like Duracoat, colors, patterns and texture are completely customizable. This can make a big difference in the look of a firearm. It also makes them a lot easier to clean, as they do not attract dust and dirt as easily.
Piet goes to great lengths to ensure that the quality of his work is high. During the blasting and prep stage of each gun, every hook and cranny is inspected. He then prepares the gun for painting by masking off parts. This process takes a lot of time. Each color is baked for a specific amount of time, and each piece is inspected to be sure it meets the desired specifications. Once everything is finished, the gun can be assembled.
