Fieldcraft FDE Cerakote surprise

saryan

saryan

GreyFox Inc
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 19, 2005
460
3
44
Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, Earth
www.greyfoxinc.com
#1
I ordered some FDE Cerakote. Painted my rifle and it looked fine. The next day I put the parts in the oven and they came out much darker than they went in. I am not really new to Cerakote and have painted a lot with duracoat. This is my first time with this color. The exact color is H265K. It doesn't look bad its just not what I was expecting. I really don't want to re do it but eventually might as I tend to do that. Any suggestions as to what might have happened?

Finish was blasted on the Larue mount but not the other parts. They were black anodized.
Mix ratio was 24:1

And yes, my barrel is not in there. I have a 12.5" Noveske planned for this as soon as I get the nod from the ATF.

2e6a6513.jpg

8fb77712.jpg


After Baking

272631_1409719419242_1720186972_672243_597948_o.jpg

271788_1409720019257_1720186972_672245_3568334_o.jpg

258591_1409719859253_1720186972_672244_3955332_o.jpg

4dbf7c10.jpg
 
#3
Re: FDE Cerakote suprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">like how close that is to the RAZOR in color. </div></div>
In person its slightly lighter. Kinda odd but it will do. I have a glock slide I am about to re do and I am curious how it will turn out.
 
#6
Re: FDE Cerakote suprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sumpter Steve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the info. I got an OBR inbound that I've been thinking of coating in FDE but now I may reconsider. </div></div>

Hey man if you need help evaluating that thing you just let me know
laugh.gif
 
#7
Re: FDE Cerakote suprise

did you leave blue tape on the parts when you cooked it and at what temp did you cook it and for how long and why did you wait overnight to begin the baking process
 
#8
Re: FDE Cerakote suprise

I would count that as a very pleasant surprise. I love how it turned out. Looks fantastic dark like that.

Damn nice. I wish my Noveske FDE Recce was dark like that.

I wouldnt change a thing.
 
#9
Re: FDE Cerakote suprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Steve_Aryan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">like how close that is to the RAZOR in color. </div></div>
In person its slightly lighter. Kinda odd but it will do. I have a glock slide I am about to re do and I am curious how it will turn out. </div></div>

Would love to hear the final results.
 
#18
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

No blue tape was left on it.
Cured at specified directions. I think it was 250 for 2 hours but that info is at work.
I waited overnight to cure it because my oven isn't one that allows me to hang parts in it. It has to be hard enough to set in the oven on a rack.

Sorry for the delay I had not checked this thread in a while. Thanks for the compliments.
 
#23
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Steve_Aryan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No blue tape was left on it.
Cured at specified directions. I think it was 250 for 2 hours but that info is at work.
I waited overnight to cure it because my oven isn't one that allows me to hang parts in it. It has to be hard enough to set in the oven on a rack.

Sorry for the delay I had not checked this thread in a while. Thanks for the compliments. </div></div>

I'd say the overnight wait plus not blasting the finish below may be what caused that drastic of a change? I only waited 5-10 min before chucking my parts in the oven.
 
#25
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J.Boyette</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would keep it.

Its a GREAT color!!!

Add some camo spray paint over it and you will be rocking a killer rifle.

John</div></div>

That is definitely a great base color for some spray can camo.
 
#26
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

Was there any reason the color changed so much after baking? I'm curious to find out what exactly happened and if there was any resolution.
 
#28
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gvanhyning</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The mix ratio for the hardener is on the extreme low end. I've always mixed at 18:1 and had excellent results. I have never had a need to go 24:1 and on a couple of occasions when someone wanted a glossy blued finish I have gone 12:1. Could be partially due to the mix ratio. </div></div>

+1

Also, I have used fde cerakote several times but never had results like that. I would say they sent you the wrong color but the first pics before you baked it is the color my parts have always turned out as. I wonder if it is because you waited overnight to put them in the oven
 
#29
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

So I sprayed two glock slides and then the front part of the rail I posted pictures of. I baked the slide in the oven at work. The two glock slides went home with two different guys and they baked them. My rail touch up is a perfect match. The two glock slides are way light. They look like the pre bake picture. So the culprit is the oven. I'm going to put s oven thermometer in there to see if it's that.
 
#30
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

could be a little too hot? Ive had that happen to me before, but only on sections of the parts that were too close to the heating element. also could be moisture or contaminant in your air line. either way, the ar looks good!
 
#31
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

Looking at the "virtual gun coater" on the NIC website, yours doesn't seem too far off from what NIC shows. A lot of FDE paint jobs do come out like the lighter color, but youf finished product looks close to what NIC shows. Could it also be a differrence in the base material? Aluminum vs. Steel?
 
#32
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

I just did an Mk18 in FDE cerakote aircure and had the opposite effect. Turned out lighter than desert sand. Bead blasted and acetone soaked the parts before painting, and followed the directions to a Tee. The paint in the cerakote jar looked correct but dried way too light.
 
#33
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

I have used the FDE and got that dark color on a few pieces by cooking it 100 degrees hotter. First one was my own gun by accident. I have done others by request for that color. 450 degrees. It has had no ill affects I can see on my gun. Not a safe queen.
Rob
 
#34
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

Did you blast the coated surfaces first? We use aluminum oxide to completely clean and "rough" the metal (not rough at all to the touch). I was only asking about the "base" black might have had a small part to play. but if your oven is off, it worked out if you ask me!
 
#38
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

Cerakote is a tenaciously tough finish, but not being able to predict the resulting color isn't a good quality for a coating to have.

Sounds like one product, 4 different colors from reading this thread. Good thing you baked all your parts at the same time.
 
#40
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griffin Armament</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cerakote is a tenaciously tough finish, but not being able to predict the resulting color isn't a good quality for a coating to have.

Sounds like one product, 4 different colors from reading this thread. Good thing you baked all your parts at the same time.
</div></div>

If you do it right, it always comes out the same. You can adjust sheen with your mix, but the colors dont change. However, if you bake at too high a temp, or too close to burners, or not in a proper curing oven, you can damage the color pigments.

The gun I did was in Patriot Brown and its supposed to be that color, no accident.

The object of my post was to show you could get that shade of brown without burning FDE in the oven...
 
#41
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

I had my 12.5 N6 done in FDE and it matched the tango down grips perfectly but a bit lighter than the Magpul stock. Yours looks more like patriot brown, I like it!
2011-08-06_09-46-29_560.jpg

The sight has been corrected!
 
#42
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

Any of the Cerakote colors will start to develop a darker brown tint at about 375-400 degrees. Did you just figure the 350 by the dial on your oven, or by an actual thermometer? I found my oven to be off by about 25 degrees in the house.
 
#43
Re: FDE Cerakote surprise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowstryder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you blast the coated surfaces first? We use aluminum oxide to completely clean and "rough" the metal (not rough at all to the touch). I was only asking about the "base" black might have had a small part to play. but if your oven is off, it worked out if you ask me! </div></div>
No I didn't blast anything except for the Larue mount.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Cerakote to match Manners Elite Swamp
Replies
2
Views
341
Short-bus
Short-bus
capthook
USMC M40 3-9X40 Redfield Cerakote
Replies
24
Views
2K
capthook
capthook
Buck Wilde
Cerakote for Small Areas: Pro Needed?
Replies
3
Views
153
Buck Wilde
Buck Wilde
3
Sako TRG 42 pre 2013
Replies
16
Views
1K
babyguppy
B
TheHorta
Gunsmithing Cerakote Pros: Do you bake Optics?
Replies
28
Views
1K
Wannashootit
W
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts