Gunsmithing "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

[PCR]

Anyone using OD Green in "C" Series?

I've been having challenges with coverage. It's very thin, pools up, and draws away from edges even with a radius.

I've used OD Green countless times before with no problems. This started occurring about 2 months ago and has been this way since.

 

[PCR]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Nobody?

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

I've never seen this or had a problem like you. I suspect you have a bad mixture I would be calling Cerakote and see what they say.

 

[PCR]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Randy,

We've had this problem with the last 3, 4oz containers of OD. Before that, no problem. I've been working on this with Matt at NIC and he says they cannot duplicate the problem with the OD I sent back. I've never had this problem with any other colors even though they can have different consistencies from one to the other.

The OD that I'm having this problem with is completely separated from the pigment before shaking which I haven't noticed with any of the other colors. Even if I try to use several very thin coats, it's splotchy and pools up and away from every corner and radius. I test sprayed OD yesterday on a piece of aluminum and it's still tacky today?? I can't understand why NIC doesn't get the same results as me.

I am self taught and surely don't know everything. If it's something I'm doing wrong, I'm out of ideas.

NIC suggested we'll get better results with "H" and we plan to as soon as I have time to build an oven.

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Well if NIC can't duplicate it then something is not right. The pigment will separate from the carrier in every color. It's not as noticeable in some colors as others. I have at times needed to shake the crap out of the bottle to get it thoroughly mixed. Might try this just to be sure you are mixing it thoroughly enough.

I would also inspect your air filter for oil or water contaminants. I use one filter on the compressor and another in line filter just before the gun.

 

[PCR]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

I do need to check the filters, and I have thought about the possibility that I'm not getting it mixed well enough.

I've thought about buying an electric paint mixer, wrap the paint in a hand towel and inside a piece of 4" PVC.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Filters would be suspect if the other colors weren't working. But every color is great except OD. It's so watery it's amazing. Nothing like how it was a month or two ago.
Again this is C series not H.
Do you use C very often Randy?

I'd be interested in another opinion on it. I think we'd be willing to ship it to you if you wanted to try it. We value your opinion greatly.


Keith

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

I use it all the time, have never seen what you describe other then when it's not mixed properly.

You can send it my way if you want and I can take a look and do a test spray.

The question I have is if NIC did a test and it was "fine" according to them then something is not right.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

I'd trust your opinion on it over the manufacturer.

Do you use a paint shaker?

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

PM returned.

 

[blkside]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Randy your PM box is full

 

[Cmonroe]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Funny we did a bunch of testing with Cerakote over the past few months including all proper prep work and baking and decided not to use it because it simply was not holding up. Now I am wondering if we also might have received some bad product. Simply put it did not even approach our expectations.

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cmonroe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny we did a bunch of testing with Cerakote over the past few months including all proper prep work and baking and decided not to use it because it simply was not holding up. Now I am wondering if we also might have received some bad product. Simply put it did not even approach our expectations. </div></div>

Cerakote is some strange stuff. If you don't prep correctly it won't work. Your air has to been super clean. H series is oven cured and a two part product that must be mixed correctly or it will not cure and will fail. C series is air cured and must be left alone for five days. If not it will fail. H series is much more durable then C series.

If you were having problems and this was your first experience with it I would say operator error was the main reason.

The issues that AZshooter is having, based on their description, sounds like the pigment is not thoroughly mixed and they are spraying just the carrier. I have seen this with other spray coatings but never with Cerakote. The funning thing is that NIC says they checked it after it was sent back and there wasn’t a problem.

I would be interested in seeing the product they are having the issue with and see what I come up with.

One other thing is if this stuff is exposed to high heat, very cold, like freezing, or is old, it will go bad.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

We have a bodyshop professional applying ours, so I can't say how he's mixing it. (H series)

But I will say that any paint that I need to use around here, I throw it into my Dillon Vibratory case cleaner for about a minute or so.

It comes out "well shooked". Just an idea.

 

[Cmonroe]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cmonroe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny we did a bunch of testing with Cerakote over the past few months including all proper prep work and baking and decided not to use it because it simply was not holding up. Now I am wondering if we also might have received some bad product. Simply put it did not even approach our expectations. </div></div>

Cerakote is some strange stuff. If you don't prep correctly it won't work. Your air has to been super clean. H series is oven cured and a two part product that must be mixed correctly or it will not cure and will fail. C series is air cured and must be left alone for five days. If not it will fail. H series is much more durable then C series.

If you were having problems and this was your first experience with it I would say operator error was the main reason.

The issues that AZshooter is having, based on their description, sounds like the pigment is not thoroughly mixed and they are spraying just the carrier. I have seen this with other spray coatings but never with Cerakote. The funning thing is that NIC says they checked it after it was sent back and there wasn’t a problem.

I would be interested in seeing the product they are having the issue with and see what I come up with.

One other thing is if this stuff is exposed to high heat, very cold, like freezing, or is old, it will go bad.




</div></div>

Prep was done right, and the H was baked in the same oven that everything else seems to work just fine in. If it wasn't bad product I will tell you that I'll never use it again. We have used Norell's moly resin on several weapons with zero issues. The finish looked fine, sprayed nicely but just doesn't seem to hold up under real field use.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Cerakote has been an amazing product for us. Absolutely great.

The ONLY color we've had trouble with is OD Green, and ONLY in the last month or two. Three months ago OD Green worked great, just like all the others.

Thats whats baffling me. It's only one color thats giving us trouble, and it worked fine before the last month or two.
Since we're not doing anything different, it seems likely it's this batch of OD Green.


We're going to send out batch of OD Green to a third party to be tested. If he has the same results, case closed. If he gets it to work, we will discuss what he's doing differently.

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cmonroe</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cmonroe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny we did a bunch of testing with Cerakote over the past few months including all proper prep work and baking and decided not to use it because it simply was not holding up. Now I am wondering if we also might have received some bad product. Simply put it did not even approach our expectations. </div></div>

Cerakote is some strange stuff. If you don't prep correctly it won't work. Your air has to been super clean. H series is oven cured and a two part product that must be mixed correctly or it will not cure and will fail. C series is air cured and must be left alone for five days. If not it will fail. H series is much more durable then C series.

If you were having problems and this was your first experience with it I would say operator error was the main reason.

The issues that AZshooter is having, based on their description, sounds like the pigment is not thoroughly mixed and they are spraying just the carrier. I have seen this with other spray coatings but never with Cerakote. The funning thing is that NIC says they checked it after it was sent back and there wasn’t a problem.

I would be interested in seeing the product they are having the issue with and see what I come up with.

One other thing is if this stuff is exposed to high heat, very cold, like freezing, or is old, it will go bad.




</div></div>

Prep was done right, and the H was baked in the same oven that everything else seems to work just fine in. If it wasn't bad product I will tell you that I'll never use it again. We have used Norell's moly resin on several weapons with zero issues. The finish looked fine, sprayed nicely but just doesn't seem to hold up under real field use. </div></div>

Well then I can't help you. But like I said Cerakote is not like other products and if you are not use to working with it you'll have issues. I don't know what your prep is and I don't know what your mix ratio was for the H series, or if your like one guy didn't know H series was a two part product and couldn't understand why it didn't work. But there are many gun and non gun industries that are using this stuff and it's very durable when done right.

Anything can have a bad batch. I even have a bad batch of Moly Resin sitting on the shelf, so it happens.

 

[The King]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Thanks for your response on this HateCA. We followed NIC's very detailed instructions and utilized a gun and mixing station provided by them for the mix.

The primary issue we saw was one of adhesion. We found this unusual and are working on resolving it.

Have you seen any issues like this in the past?

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Adhesion? What do you mean?

 

[Hateca]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr.M14</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for your response on this HateCA. We followed NIC's very detailed instructions and utilized a gun and mixing station provided by them for the mix.

The primary issue we saw was one of adhesion. We found this unusual and are working on resolving it.

Have you seen any issues like this in the past? </div></div>

No but if you don't blast you're pretty much spitting into the wind. You can get good results by applying over park or matt anodizing.

 

[The King]

Re: "C" Series Cerakote "OD Green"

Definately blasted the glock slide. Am going to try an airbrush with dedicated air as that is one difference there. NIC supplies a HVLP gun that we had to run off shop air.

That shop air is conditioned and dried and everything and it's used for powdercoating but who knows.