Gunsmithing Cerakote vs. Duracoat

[xXlojackXx]

I'm getting my build back from my smith this weekend and am going to be sending it off to get coated. Have been reading and understand about the differences of each product, and I have applied duracoat before with good success. Would just like to hear some 'expert' opinions on which product is preferred and why. Or is it a matter of comparing apples to apples?

 

[ugsly]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote H series is much more durable then duracoat.

Kc

 

[sawman556]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ugsly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cerakote H series is much more durable then duracoat.

Kc </div></div>

^ this

 

[Jaytrigger]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I've only heard good things about Cerakote. Having mine done in Burnt Bronze color.

 

[Gray]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote all the way!

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I have 3 rifles and 2 scopes ceracoated. Absolutely no wear/scratches anywhere.

 

[jake6547]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Rookie-how did you do your scopes doesnt it have to be baked?

 

[red hawk]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I've heard good things a cerakote ! I just wonder if the air dry is good ?

 

[Night Hunter]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote is the way to go. My duracoat gun hasn't held up near as well.

check out www.ontargetcustoms.net <----This is ARPredatorHunter here on hide. He did my last cerakote job and it turned out great!

 

[Ed-G]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote is far tougher than Duracoat. Cerakote is much thinner on the part (think clearances).

If you haven't picked a finisher, Chad Dixon (Longriflesinc.com) did my AIAE barrelled action...outstanding job.

 

[Takashi]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote is awesome. A bit hard to work with if you lack an appropriate sized over but is insanely durable. It smells like butt when you are spraying it too.

The baked finished rifle does not smell like butt.

I sprayed all of an ar-15 upper and lower and did not gain any noticable thickness on any surface, and the reassembled rifle works just as well as the rifle did before painting.

 

[Creature]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jake6547</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Rookie-how did you do your scopes doesnt it have to be baked? </div></div>

Curious to know this too

 

[ugsly]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

You have to use air dry cerakote for scopes. Scuff the surface with a scotch bright pad. clean everything off and tape off what you don't want sprayed. Shoot the cerakote and let dry.

Air dry cerakote inst as tough as the H series but is still a very tough and impressive product. I believe they recommend 5-7 days for full cure (hardness) of the air dry cerakote.

Kc

 

[xXlojackXx]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Looks like a landslide vote for Cerakote. I'll look at the recommendations for people to spray it. Thanks for your opinions!

 

[red hawk]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

On the air dry, cerakote c, on preparation,could you get just sanding it with aluminun oxide in place of using a sand blaster??
I can get plenty of sand,but they say not to use sand. Where do get get the 120 aluminum media????

 

[ugsly]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

If you cant find it local from a blasting shop then Enco and MSC is a good place to start. They offer free shipping from time to time. Garnet is cheaper and can be used but wont last as long as AO, Ebay is good also.
Kc

 

[red hawk]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Thanks Ugsly....called hardware store, no luck. I plan on doing a new stainess steel barrell,since it has no paint on it, I thought I could sand it by hand with 120 aluminum oxide. Thank again for the information.

 

[nso123]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Glad to see this thread. I was about to decide on a finish for a new hunting rifle and this helped.

 

[holy cow]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Any opinions on the KG gunkote? I have had a pistol done in duracoat and nothing else. Seams fine but have not used it much. I do prefer cerakote as i have had lots done with it and would not use anything else again. But, i did get a rimfire listed here that was done in the KG gunkote in sniper gray that was put on by Accurate Ordanance. It is some super looking stuff and love the color. Thinking of having an AR done in the same stuff and color. Any experiances with this stuff anyone?

 

[geraldsd]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I got my ALO2 on Ebay. Ended up being about a buck a lb. delivered. Being a contractor I had an oven built and used a hotplate for the heat. Works pretty well. I plan on finding a stand alone element for it later, but I have less than a hundred bucks in it and am having a blast coating my guns...

 

[BookHound]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dan Tucker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any opinions on the KG gunkote? I have had a pistol done in duracoat and nothing else. Seams fine but have not used it much. I do prefer cerakote as i have had lots done with it and would not use anything else again. But, i did get a rimfire listed here that was done in the KG gunkote in sniper gray that was put on by Accurate Ordanance. It is some super looking stuff and love the color. Thinking of having an AR done in the same stuff and color. Any experiances with this stuff anyone? </div></div>

We rarely spray KG products. I can't remember the last time we did. Cerakote is a superior finish and is pretty much all we use. If you have something we sprayed in Sniper Grey, it is heat-cured Cerakote for sure.

Regards,

Mark

 

[holy cow]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

^^^^ thats nice to know. I guess when i bought the rifle i was not listing. That info makes it better as i will for sure have my AR done in the same stuff. You fellows do some awesome work.

 

[k9ghost]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Creakote +1000!

 

[BookHound]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Thanks, Dan. We try.

 

[sawman556]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I agree Cerakote is a better product than KG. However, I do still like their 1600 series flat black for bolts and other internals. It really sprays thin.


OP:If you have a Grainger locally they have 120 AO.

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

sawman 556,

Micro Slick goes on super thin also and is great to spray. Just FYI.

Regards, Paul

 

[Fate0n3]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Def go Cerakote I went with Duracoat on my carry gun and not happy with it. Duracoat also seems to have a shine and slickness to it that I HATE!! I have seen several pistols done in duracoat and all shine with a slick feeling which is not what you want on a slide. Now I have to find someone to redo both my pistols in Cerakote lol

Anyone know a person to does Cerakote to pistols? Alot that I have contacted from links through this forum only want to mess with barreled actions.

 

[LRI]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I've begun ceracoating pistols. Just finished up a pair of 1911's for a gent in San Diego. Ceracoat is all we use. I don't like the other products near as much.

I'll openly admit that I'm not really a "pistol guy". I know how to tear down/assemble, but I've never gotten "into them" the way most enthusiasts do.

What I do have is a great local resource though. Bar Sto Precision is next door to us and they specialize in all things pistol related. Were good friends and trade work often. When faced with a question/challenge I just box up the parts and walk across the street/field and beg for guidance.

The two we did over the weekend came out perty nice. Be glad to help.

C.

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've begun ceracoating pistols. Just finished up a pair of 1911's for a gent in San Diego. Ceracoat is all we use. I don't like the other products near as much.

I'll openly admit that I'm not really a "pistol guy". I know how to tear down/assemble, but I've never gotten "into them" the way most enthusiasts do.

What I do have is a great local resource though. Bar Sto Precision is next door to us and they specialize in all things pistol related. Were good friends and trade work often. When faced with a question/challenge I just box up the parts and walk across the street/field and beg for guidance.

The two we did over the weekend came out perty nice. Be glad to help.

C. </div></div>

And no pictures, what's up with that?

 

[sawman556]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bolt fluter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sawman 556,

Micro Slick goes on super thin also and is great to spray. Just FYI.

Regards, Paul

</div></div>

Is the cure time 5 days on that stuff?

 

[BookHound]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote is great for even tight pistols because of its high lubricity factor.

And before you laugh, this was for a breast cancer survivor:

I like the Patriot Brown color a lot:

Mark

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Didn't mean to be a dick to the guys that asked about cerakoted scopes, just couldn't seem to logon for the last couple of weeks.

My scopes are USOptics and according to them, the tubes are coated prior to assembly.

 

[Indypendent]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

Cerakote.

I've used Duracoat in the past and it seems to buff out and turn shiny.

 

[L3IRQ]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I cerakote every gun I own now except my wilsons. Frankly duracoat doesn't even come close.

 

[xXlojackXx]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

How about Moly Resin? It seems like an interesting option since it claims to be 60 days salt water submersion resistant and meets all military spec requirements. anybody have experience with the stuff?

 

[Mark Housel]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xXlojackXx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How about Moly Resin? It seems like an interesting option since it claims to be 60 days salt water submersion resistant and meets all military spec requirements. anybody have experience with the stuff? </div></div>
I sprayed quite a bit of it before switching to Cerakote. I don't think it is as abrasion resistant as Cerakote.
Less expensive.
Not as many colors.
The Air Dry Moly Resin sucked to work with compared to the Air Dry Cerakote.
It has to be baked at a higher temperature than Cerakote.

For my purposes on Glock slides it meant always having to replace the plastic channel liner as it was melted completely.
OTOH, it made it easy to remove an replace.

 

[reximus]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xXlojackXx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like a landslide vote for Cerakote. I'll look at the recommendations for people to spray it. Thanks for your opinions! </div></div>
+1 for Cerakote.

I use a local guy (to me in Utah) - Ernie at Red Creek Tactical - or "RedCreek" here on the 'Hide. He's great to deal with, small local feel, and does great work. He has a LOT of cool custom patterns that he does too.

But there are a lot of other great guys on here that have already been mentioned. Just thought I'd give a shout out to my man Ernie!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'll openly admit that I'm not really a "pistol guy". I know how to tear down/assemble, but I've never gotten "into them" the way most enthusiasts do.</div></div>
...plus he's one of those pistol "enthusiasts" and does more custom pistol work than rifle. Not my cup of tea at the moment, but he does do some great pistol work!

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Cerakote vs. Duracoat

I watched a youtube video on the air dry cerakote. They guy did a 1911. After he stripped it down to the bare frame and slide, he hit the whole thing, gave it 4-5 days(?)to cure, then assembled it. He said that when he did it in Durakote it not only scraped off in the moving parts, it would also come off in large flakes. The Carakote, on the other hand, even the air dry version, didnt scrape, nor did it flake off anywhere. He did say that in the contact areas on the slide did show signs of mechanical movement, but no loss of material. He said it was more like it just compressed to adapt to the tighter areas. It took on like a glazed appearence and didn't drag on the parts.
If the air dry version is that tough, I can only imagine how strong the bake on version is.

I think thats a pretty clear win for Cerakote air dry. I am going to invest in a small air brush set-up and do all my stuff. I figure the initial investment is worth it. Sure beats the number of layers of krylon that are on my rifles.

Oh, question to the guys that have had pistols done. Have you noticed any signs of holster marks? I switch back and forth between leather and kydex, and I know that kydex is rough on a finish.