Gunsmithing How to remove cerakote from scope

[wolfdawg]

I bought a Nightforce Benchrest 12-42 scope that appears to be Cerakoted in a tan/brown camo. This is going on a LR benchrest gun.
I would like to remove the coating to get it back to black!

Any ideas on removing the coating? I've tried a few eco-friendly paint removers, but nothing will touch this stuff. I don't want to ruin the scope.

What about coating a color over top of the camo?

Any suggestions would be appreciated?

Wolfdawg

 

[Brodie]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

I've removed bedding compound from scopes (leupold) using paint remover (full strength), didn't harm the anodizing at all.

 

[AWGunS]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

I don't know of any chemicals that will remove cured cerakote. When I have had to remove it in the past, it was with blasting.

Send it out to a profesional and have them prep and spray a black on it. It will save you a serious headache.

 

[Witch_Doctor]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

Media blasting. Send it off to be creakoted in black.

 

[mq1kael]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

you can coat new cera over the old cera with a light blast/degrease
If you're not scared to do it yourself, you can just degrease and coat over it with more cerakote, I've had good luck as the cera is so matte it's actually small humps/valleys
I can help if you PM with a little more info

 

[wolfdawg]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

Thanks for the responses.

I am either going to send it out and have it re-coated or try it myself.

Any suggestions on best price and quality on where to send it????

Wolfdawg

 

[AWGunS]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

No experience personally, except a few timely emails, but Short Action Customs can probably help you out. He has stellar reviews from members here...

 

[tpowers]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

Coating over the existing coating is an option if it does not have any defects or stencil transition lines. If it does they will transfer through the new coating and would personally bug the crap out of me. If you decide to send it out to someone then give me a call and I'll give you good price on getting it back to black for you.
Thanks,

 

[hugo121175]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

Try This..... http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1577257

 

[samnev]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

Just had the same problem with a TRG bipod. Nothing removed the cerakote. Had to have it sand blasted and recoated. I would send it to a professional to have it recoated.

 

[PCR]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mq1kael</div><div class="ubbcode-body">you can coat new cera over the old cera with a light blast/degrease
If you're not scared to do it yourself, you can just degrease and coat over it with more cerakote, I've had good luck as the cera is so matte it's actually small humps/valleys
I can help if you PM with a little more info
</div></div>

If you spray cerakote with too much air pressure, it will dry before it makes contact causing it to be charcoal black and like sand paper. I've found this true with "C" series anyway.

When I read your post, it made me think of over-spray.

 

[mq1kael]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

I don't really have a problem with it looking like charcoal so far, I've had good luck spraying it at 26 from my small gun and 36 from my large gun. What are you spraying it at?

To clarify, I meant small humps and valleys in the microscopic painting sense, not visually noticeable. I was told this by nics when I inquired as to why theirs was so much more matte than other companies matte offerings.They also claim theirs absorbs light because of this property(which is what causes it to look matte is the absence of light bounced back) and I applied it to a custom photon counter interior for the physics dept at the university here. I only spray their matte colors at the moment other than the gray, and it's kinda semi gloss to me which I use for things that will be on display or get used a lot. Anodizing on most higher end scopes are also rough (not visually) to get that matte finish. I have sprayed a few just straight over with a good degrease YMMV as I take a little more prep time than most

 

[PCR]

Re: How to remove cerakote from scope

I blast with 120 grit AO and try to disrupt the surface of anything I can get away with. Then clean with 91% alcohol.

I have the compressor set at 100psi and the gun at 40psi. I try to adjust the gun not to spray too much cerakote and make a few passes instead of one... but I tend to coat things with a lot of deep recess and sharp edges.