Question regarding cerakote patterns

[Germz]

I want to tackle the adventure of cerakoting my own firearms. I have some patterns and multi-colored ideas in mind but I am not sure how to achieve these effect.

I have read that cerakote does not like to adhere to itself once baked/cured, so how is this accomplished? I have researched that it stays wet until cured, so how can you apply a stencil and a second coat?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

[bauern]

Short cure times at lower temps; ex, 180* for 15 min.

[valley82]

Page 17/18 shows what is stated above to flash (partially cure) for stencils (multiple colors).

http://www.cerakoteguncoatings.com/resources/files/training/Manual.pdf

[kcstott]

I've had good luck baking at 150˚ for about twenty minutes, mask shot and bake do that till your last color is applied an bake at the highest temp your base material can take.

wood = 150˚
plastic = 150˚ to be safe
metal = up to 350˚

add an hour for every 100˚ you subtract from 350˚ starting with a one hour cure

[Germz]

Have you had any luck applying cerakote any other way other than HPLV to acheive "texured" patterns?

[kcstott]

Have you had any luck applying cerakote any other way other than HPLV to acheive "texured" patterns?

I've never wanted a textured finish so no, but also Cerakote's viscosity is so low it would be difficult to produce anything other then an orange peal effect.

I've sprayed a lot of materials through conventional and HVLP guns what kind of texture are you looking for?? I might possibly have a few techniques to share

[Germz]

I've never wanted a textured finish so no, but also Cerakote's viscosity is so low it would be difficult to produce anything other then an orange peal effect.

I've sprayed a lot of materials through conventional and HVLP guns what kind of texture are you looking for?? I might possibly have a few techniques to share

My wife likes leopard print, and while the idea of doing stencils sounds easy, I wanted to add the texture look of hair, which through regular painting is achieved with a large fan brush and "pulling" the paint to create the grain-like appearance of hair.

didn't know if something like that was possible with cerakote. something like this:

[kcstott]

Yeah that aint going to happen with cerakote, Atleast not easily,

First off if it was that important i'd try it on scrap first. I'd paint it with an HVLP then let it air cure a bit testing as you go. watching it carefully, using that brush try to get the paint to retain the brush marks, then partial cure lay down the stencil and paint your spots. Cerakote is so thin that if you could get the paint to thicken on the surface get the brush marks to hold, what ever you spray on top of the brush marks would show through.

[DarkSoul]

Look at people that have done "battle worn" Cerakote paint jobs, basically your just sort of dry brushing the second layer of Cerakote. It does give a textured look.

I have played around with it a bit, and it does work, BUT, it is not, IMO as resilient when brushed on like that, however, if it's the second, third, etc coat of Cerakote, it shouldn't matter.

I'm in San Jose , if your in the area, more than happy to help you out, help you through the basics.