Looking at getting a Cerakote setup

[heavydoc]

I've purchased some rather beat up looking pistols and rifles lately and am looking into getting a Cerakote system in place. The one in particular the got me thinking about this is an xd40 subcompact. It was black that someone tried to repair very poorly. The whatever coating they used was flaking off. And with little effort I was able to get the rest of it off. Then put it on a brass wire wheel and it looks great. Thinking of going a nickel color to kinda match a gold xd40 sub I picked up a few months ago. What do yall think, is it worth it or is there a better setup to try and get or different coatings I am unaware about?

 

[J R Green]

Watching this thread. I am thinking about a finish for some of my knives to keep rust at bay.

 

[heavydoc]

Well I figured someone who has done it would have chimed in, guess I'll start with a media blaster. Maybe soda ash, thinkin about glass bead on some for a hammered look. Getting the parts clean is the first step so gotta find one at the right price now

 

[2ASteve]

Do you have a Media Cabinet and large enough compressor in CFM to run it ?

 

[heavydoc]

No cabinet yet, looking at an allin one kind of thing. My service truck has a 60cfm screw compressor.

 

[Scsmith42]

No cabinet yet, looking at an allin one kind of thing. My service truck has a 60cfm screw compressor.

60 cfm ought to do it…

My Trinco cabinet requires around 24cfm minimum if I’m running it continuously.
Glass beads leave a fine, consistent finish depending upon the grit. Steel shot leaves a more “peened“ look.

 

[2ASteve]

60 cfm ought to do it…

My Trinco cabinet requires around 24cfm minimum if I’m running it continuously.
Glass beads leave a fine, consistent finish depending upon the grit. Steel shot leaves a more “peened“ look.

I have used fine glass bead and walnut shell, for a satin style finish before on Stainless.

 

[Burt Gummer]

@Tarowah

 

[Scsmith42]

I have used fine glass bead and walnut shell, for a satin style finish before on Stainless.

Walnut shell does not seem to change the surface coarseness on metal; whereas glass bead, sand, black diamond, sheel shot all will.

 

[2ASteve]

I used the bead first, then the walnut, I was happy with it.

 

[Hellquest]

We do it at the shop. We managed to buy a walk in oven from a local bakery and that was the best money we spent. We can do several items in one go. But a home hobbyist most likely won't so that.

 

[heavydoc]

I was thinkin about pulling the stove outta my 5th wheel and using it or 1 of my grills

 

[LeeMajors]

Habitat for humanity has wall mount ovens. Usually cheap.

 

[Gunbelt]

We do it at the shop. We managed to buy a walk in oven from a local bakery and that was the best money we spent. We can do several items in one go. But a home hobbyist most likely won't so that.

A walk-in oven… nope not me no way in hell!

 

[Jerbear]

I've been considering the same since I was given several through an inheritance. They're beat up and in need of some TLC. I've seen a few different setups in my searches where old steel cabinets were used along with an electric coal starter for the heating element and a little elbow grease. It seems to be the best route for the home hobby shop between cost of equipment and volume of work. Now I I have to get the garage sorted to make it work!

 

[heavydoc]

Well I got a blast cabinet, thanks @LeeMajors . I left it in the back of the truck during the last rounds of rain storms, oops. Got the cabinet dried out now in the process of drying the sand. This I my 3rd method and is working better than I hoped it would, quicker too.put 3 scoops in the pan and place over the fire for about 30 minutes. Dump in the cabinet and repeat till all the sand is dry. Then maybe time for some fun.

 

[2ASteve]

Let the fun start, @#e$# Nossle , linked hose, clogged intake. Drain the compressor tank.
These things always get ya, ask me how I know.

 

[heavydoc]

Let the fun start, @#e$# Nossle , linked hose, clogged intake. Drain the compressor tank.
These things always get ya, ask me how I know.

Ya they can be aggravating, but this is for small parts.....well for now anyways. Hopefully I won't have many issues, but am expecting a few. This is a Learning curve for me. Trying to get ot figured out on my own stuff first.

 

[LeeMajors]

Well I got a blast cabinet, thanks @LeeMajors . I left it in the back of the truck during the last rounds of rain storms, oops. Got the cabinet dried out now in the process of drying the sand. This I my 3rd method and is working better than I hoped it would, quicker too.View attachment 390471put 3 scoops in the pan and place over the fire for about 30 minutes. Dump in the cabinet and repeat till all the sand is dry. Then maybe time for some fun.

If that's the same that was in it when you got it. It isn't sand.

Iirc it's coal slag, if it matters

 

[heavydoc]

If that's the same that was in it when you got it. It isn't sand.

Iirc it's coal slag, if it matters

It is the same stuff. And it all clumps together until it is dry anyways.

 

[LeeMajors]

It is the same stuff. And it all clumps together until it is dry anyways.

That particular stuff is pretty aggressive in my opinion

 

[heavydoc]

That particular stuff is pretty aggressive in my opinion

I am gonna put some tester pieces in first and see what happens. If I gotta get finer stuff then atleast this stuff is dried out for something I will find a use for

 

[LeeMajors]

I am gonna put some tester pieces in first and see what happens. If I gotta get finer stuff then atleast this stuff is dried out for something I will find a use for

It'll be fine for rusty parts but too aggressive for cerakote

 

[2ASteve]

When you flip from testing add a new nozzle with the size match beading.

 

[2ASteve]

@LeeMajors So that how you skin possums so fast. Lol Coal Slang voted#1

 

[LeeMajors]

Not so good on the possums, but wicked on. The tree rats.

 

[Sneakymedic]

Not so good on the possums, but wicked on. The tree rats.

THAT is why the coal slag is sticky

 

[Tarowah]

You need to use a blast media such as garnet sand or aluminum oxide around 100-120 grit, using other media will not properly prep the surface of what you’re trying to coat.

Cerakote has a bunch of good info on what works and what doesn’t on the website.

I have only used garnet sand because I don’t have a blast cabinet and it’s cheap enough to not worry about losing it as it’s being consumed.


Here are a couple of rifles I’ve Cerakote, the best advice is can offer is do your homework and once you think you have everything prepped for
coating, do it again, it’s not as difficult to prep something new, but if you’re doing something that’s been well used and well oiled, you’ll be surprised how difficult it is to get every drop of oil out of the nooks and crannies.

 

[Tarowah]