Need info...Custom Finishes on pistols....Cerakote or others

[clayshooter99]

I know very little on these aftermarket finishes and doing some research for myself and a friend as we have wives interested in the Tiffany/Robin Egg Blue on something like a Glock 43/SW Shield/ P365. I found a place in Texas named Cerakote Services and X-Werks in AZ that both seem to supply a lot of guns that are listed on Gunbroker. Are there other finishes out there? Anybody know anything about durability? Is there a "king" to these finishes...any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[NHT3]

I think that most would agree that Cerakote when properly applied is probably the "king" of the spray on finishes. I have had a couple of Glocks refinished with cerakote and I've been surprised how durable it is. I believe it's much more durable that the finish on most Gen 4 Glocks.
I go to a local guy for my work and he's impressed me with the quality of the finish and his artistic abilities. YMMV

[FONT=&amp]NRA Life Member / [/FONT]Basic Pistol instructor[FONT=&amp] / RSO[/FONT][FONT=&amp]

[/FONT][FONT=&amp]"Under pressure, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. That's why we train so hard" [/FONT][FONT=&amp]
[/FONT][FONT=&amp]Unnamed Navy Seal[/FONT][FONT=&amp]

[/FONT][FONT=&amp]“Ego is the reason many men do not shoot competition. They don't want to suck in public” [/FONT][FONT=&amp]
[/FONT][FONT=&amp]
[/FONT][FONT=&amp]Aron Bright[/FONT]

 

[churchmouse]

NHT3 nailed. it.

AllenM here on Ingo has done all of my re-color. Never an issue with any of it.

 

[bmbutch]

NHT3 nailed. it.

AllenM here on Ingo has done all of my re-color. Never an issue with any of it.

2nd for AllenM, exceptional work!

 

[Crandall Crank]

Cerakote, when done properly (prep work included) is considered the best. The others fall in behind somplace. Dura-Coat is considered second by many with the Dura-Coat and
Aluma-Hyde (shake and bake) aren't really in the same category....ymmv

 

[lrdudley]

If you are into doing it yourself, take a look at DuraCoat. Does not require baking. It is available as an aerosol or a spray on. My only attempt was with the spray on. I went all in and blasted everything in a blast cabinet and used an airbrush and detail spray gun to apply the finish. Like any spray painting, ventilation is important. The wife wasn't too happy with the odor that the A/C sent through the house. This Star BM has had over 600 rounds through it since refinished and has been cleaned numerous times with no effects on the finish. Not a carry gun, so can't attest to how it will hold up to holster wear. https://www.duracoatfirearmfinishes.com/

[/IMG]

 

[Ggreen]

Cerakote is generally accepted as thre professional choice. Idk it is any better, but they support the pros by continually adding colors and formulas to their line up. For a simple single or two color you will find a lot of applicators. I've got a few allenm board guns and they are top notch, including my edc beater glock. I've seen good results of people using durakote at home as well, and im thinking aboot doing an ar using it.

 

[boogieman]

I don't know where you are located but there are local people that are very good at cerakote (and would appreciate your business)so no real need to send it to Texas. I personally use ZRTS in Noblesville for mine and have never had any kind of issues with his work.
https://www.zrtacticalsolutions.com/

 

[Doublehelix]

The slide on my 2011 was "ion-bonded" by Benny Hill at Triangle Sports, and I love the look, but I know nothing about the process or how hard or easy it is to do. To me it does not look painted on like the Cerakote finishes do.

Here is a link to a company that does this stuff, and it sorts of explains the process.

ionbond


Here is my 2011:

 

[Sniper 79]

Check out copper customs in valpo

 

[Mustang1911]

I just recently had a gun Cerakoted, and if it’s done right it seems to be a good (and very popular) finish. Although it is a finish that is placed on top of the metal, there are other finishes (nitride, hard hat, ion bond etc) which are a metal treatment and actually hardens the metal and therefor isn’t going to wear the same.

 

[Ggreen]

Those are not "finishes " as you think, more of a chemical process done after machining. Glocks are coated in black after that process for example. Standard Nitriding looks like steel and doesn't color. You don't lose that protection when adding cerakote