How to cerakote

[Nick]

Just wondering if anyone here would be interested in sharing some info on doing their own cerakote or airbrushing in general. Basically would like to hear how to get started, what equipment you need, what to avoid, tips and pics. Any and all info would be alot of help.
Thanks
Nick

[montana]

[quote=Nick]Just wondering if anyone here would be interested in sharing some info on doing their own cerakote or airbrushing in general. Basically would like to hear how to get started, what equipment you need, what to avoid, tips and pics. Any and all info would be alot of help.
Thanks
Nick[http://www.65grendel.com/forum/attachmen...703/QUOTE]

It is a learning process that will take some time and investment. The Cerakote web site will give you the necessary equipment and instructions you will need. If you use the heat method you will need a baking oven. A kitchen oven will work if you have an understanding wife and use great care. If you only have one or two firearms it would be easier to have an applicator do it for you. Like any project the better the equipment the easier it is. Sneaky did the air dry method with good results with minimal investment.

[rabiddawg]

I would be interested in knowing the degree of disassembly required. I'm guessing it has to be completely torn down and each little piece masked, cleaned, blasted, cleaned, masked, cleaned, sprayed, cured, reassembled?

[montana]

To do it right you need to to disassemble the firearm completely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zCjfqE8XME
There are different temperatures when curing Cerakote on steel or plastic, and different air pressures used during the sand blasting process for steel or plastic. You will receive all the instructions when you purchase Cerakote. I have done hand guns, rifles, mags, knives and even kydex holsters. You have to get all the oils off or it wont stick. I soak every part in acetone as directed. https://www.cerakotehightemp.com/resourc...Manual.pdf
It becomes an art trying different methods of layering coats and choosing the right colors, stencils designs and using an air gun or air brush. BE WARNED, Cerakote is not cheap and your canvas, "AKA firearms" are not cheap to practice on.

[rabiddawg]

, Cerakote is not cheap and your canvas, "AKA firearms" are not cheap to practice on.

Lol, I still vividly remember the first car I repaired and painted in my own shop. The "what if I _ up this mans car".

[LRRPF52]

You need good PPE as well, or else you will be inhaling and absorbing microscopic ceramic particles bonded to toxic epoxy hardeners into your lungs, eyes, hair, and skin.

You need a way to distribute the air around/from the spray cabinet.

A great DIY spray cabinet can be made from a wardrobe moving box. Just cut one side down, build a table from that fold, drill holes in the rack, and build your hangar hooks to insert through the holes.

The airbrush need to be immediately and thoroughly cleaned after spraying, or else it's done. Cheap Chinese airbrushes are worthless. Avoid them like the plague. Chinese air compressors will last maybe a year, and have several inherent problems. They should be sunk with the ships that bring them near our waters with nuclear torpedoes.

German brushes and quality compressors are the way to go. You will find new colorful expletives in your vocabulary you never knew you had if you buy Chinese brushes and compressors, hoses, plastic valve connectors, and other garbage parts.

[Drift]

I creracoated a couple of old Mausers 3-4 years ago. They came out ..."OK".
But I think I'll get a profesional to work on my ARs costing upwards of $2500.

[montana]

Lol, I still vividly remember the first car I repaired and painted in my own shop. The "what if I _ up this mans car".

Yup,I don't think I would have been able to learn on some other person's expensive firearm. I have a full shop with an air compressor, blasting cabinet and curing oven. Trying to use heat cure Cerakote in my basement would not be fun.