Gunsmithing Cerakote Elite

[parshal]

I picked up a commercial cook cabinet for $100 the other day. I saw a youtube video of a guy testing the toughness of the Elite series so I decided to try it. I bought Midnight, Earth, Jungle and Smoke. I used Smoke on my Pierce titanium action with a Proof carbon barrel. All I can say is that this stuff is tough. Smoke is a nice color, too. I'll be doing a Ray-Vin tripod in Earth and will add that to the thread when it's done.

I haven't seen much about the Elite series Cerakote and figured others may be curious as well. Post anything here if you've got it.

 

[Wannashootit]

Cost difference is negligible, practically nil in the scheme of things. This isn't Honda Accord vs an Acura...other than a finer mesh screen application and curing is identical.
The 18:1 mix ratio is fixed- so I wonder how precise that really needs to be; and this would preclude the ability to adjust the hardener ratio for desired gloss.
My guess is this lack of flexibility may be the reason they just don't replace the H Series with it...otherwise, why have both?

 

[parshal]

They said they're working on some other colors but I'm not sure how long down the road it is. The Smoke color is a pretty nice matte finish. Certainly less shiny than semi gloss. I'm not sure how accurate I was on my mixing ratio. It took a solid 15 minutes to flash cure so I could sand the high points on the bolt flutes. I may have needed a touch different amount of hardener.

 

[Wannashootit]

NIC seems to have all their stuff geared for big Ckote shops that mix 50-100 mils or more of a color at a time.
If I'm doing just a barreled action, mount, etc and 20-25 mils will get it done, I use industrial syringes off Amazon, accurate down to .1 mil to get the mix correct.
I use an HVLP if a stock is involved, but for small parts and actions, it's an Iwata airbrush. Better control, and I'm not spraying the majority of the paint out the exhaust.

 

[parshal]

I've been using a Paasche airbrush but just ordered an HVLP sprayer. The Paasche is a siphon feed so I end up with waste in the bottle.

Thanks for the heads up on the syringes. I just ordered some. I can't believe I didn't think of it!

 

[hino895]

VSyringes work great for hardener and I buy centrifuge tubes to measure the Cerakote.
Cut the paper filter down, tuck it into the tube and pour.
add the hardener cap and shake....done.
I use the 50 CC tubes you buy on eBay, I bought 10 for 5-6 bucks a couple years ago and still have half of them left.