Starting Down The Cerakote Trail...Ideas?

Smokin250

Smokin250

New member
I have been kicking around the idea of getting into duracote or cerakote, for quite sometime...Basically ive some what stettled on cerakote...I want to try and buy some sort of "kit" (if you will) to get myself started out. I have read alot on it and handled rifles that have been cerakoted, and id really like to take a stab at it myself. Does anyone have any kind of info that might be able to help me? Or maybe steer me in different direction. Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks
Brian
 
Have you looked at their website? They offer some idea of what it takes to get set up; they also offer training for commercial users. Are you looking at the oven-cure or air-cure type? The oven-cure is supposed to be significantly more durable than the air-cure.
 
I haven't yet decided there. I have read that the oven cure type is significantly better too though.

I just went through their website and looked atb the kits, Doesn't seem too awful to get started. I just was wondering if anyone did their own and had any opinions on what to get or not.
 
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Don't know much about it but I'd like to learn. I've got a few old rifles with some freckling and rubbed off blue that would be awesome with a more durable coating. I have never understood why such a delicate and unprotective finish like bluing has become the industry standard. Is it tougher than epoxy paint or polyurethane paint?
 
Originally Posted By: Smokin250Thats where i am at. Id like to learn and just tinker with some older guns and see how it turns out.

That's exactly what you should do. As with anything, practice makes all the differnce. I started doing one peice at a time on some bike parts and a crappy old Hi Point pistol. It was a good way to learn how much is too much, etc. Ceracoat isn't too tough to deal with, but the devil is in the prep work (if you're coating a long barrel/action, make sure the oven your curing it in is big enough first... don't ask me how I know this). The more time you take prepping, the better the results. I have to admit that even the stuff I'm not the happiest with, is still holding up like a champ. The kits they sell are pretty handy, but I've found a tiny little touch-up spray gun works a little better, more control over spray pattern and volume.

Just get all your poop in a group first, and then dive on in. You'll be glad you did.
 
Thanks! Ive been looking up videos on youtube as well. Looks like guys thsoe little air brush sprayers from craft stores. Ill have to look at oven at home to see if it will do rifle barrels. Do you just hang them from the racks some how or what?
 
I've seen a couple Win 94's that have been refinished in Creokote and Durakote. Dang they looked nice! One was in a Boomtown/Reno, Cabela's and another in a small gun shop in Sacramento. I'm going that route myself for my next project gun refinish. Looked at a few videos on You Tube on how to...doesn't look too difficult, mostly good prep work.
 
Originally Posted By: Smokin250Thanks! Ive been looking up videos on youtube as well. Looks like guys thsoe little air brush sprayers from craft stores. Ill have to look at oven at home to see if it will do rifle barrels. Do you just hang them from the racks some how or what?

I hang em off the rack with wires, or use framing nails (or whatever is handy) to kinda prop up stuff that doesn't hang well. If you've got a barrel that won't fit in the oven, call Powder Coating shops, they'll usually put a barrel in with whatever else they've got to bake (or just give em some $$$ and they'll bake just your barrel). Also those little artists air brushes are nice for camo jobs and small parts. Sendits vid is a great one, well worth your time to watch it. I've heard really good things about Ceracoats classes, they can teach some really fancy techniques, I've seen a cool snakeskin pattern done just in the barrel flutes and stock on a comp rig. mind=blown. The guy had taken a couple of Ceracoats classes, he said they were top notch.
 
You know, not trying to be the stick in the mud here, but you should look at some Molyresin from John Norrell Arms. I've done both and the Moly resin is easier.....waaaayy less mess, and I find it every bit as durable with a thinner coating thickness. Doesn't tend to chip off like Cerakote will with a sharp strike to an edge or corner. Oh...and about 1/2 the price and a one part mixture that flashes off enough to handle PRIOR to heat cure (Cerakote...think unset epoxy...yucky and sticky). Just my 2¢...YMMV

Rob
 
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