Abrasive blasting anodized aluminum

[pklin1297]

Hello,

I am planning on refinishing the anodized aluminum frame on my Sig P6 pistol with cerakote (by myself), and would like to know what would happen if I abrasive blasted the frame with aluminum oxide first? I don't think it'll hurt the anodizing since it actually is a layer of oxide anyway, will it?

I have duracoated many times before on different surfaces including anodized aluminum, which Lauer Weaponery said would be fine to spray directly on, but results weren't great so I would like to blast it first to give it more "bite" this time.

Thanks much in advance for your input.

[tozan]

It should be fine as long as you don't try to blast the ano off. If you try to remove ano conpletely it sometimes will take it off un-evenly.

[pklin1297]

I don't have a setup to blast yet but am thinking about getting some equipment together. I've just been using a local deburring shop to do the blasting and they've done great jobs for cheap before. I'll contact them to see if they have any experience in blasting aluminum also...

[smoothy8500]

I refinished my Para Ordnance with Norrell's Moly Resin. I lightly blasted the alloy frame to give it some tooth for the finish to hold onto. This was 4 years ago and it is holding up great.

[kcstott]

Just keep the air pressure very low

[neubine]

If you cerakote over the anodizing you will start to get some thickness in your frame which will start to make things tight.

[pklin1297]

kcstott, how low should the pressure be? maybe around 40psi like the pressure I use for airbrushing, or somewhere around 60psi?

[kcstott]

depends on your system but mine won't pick up abrasive until it's at 60psi but mine is a big cabinet blaster.
I'd start low and work up from there. Test a small area before going full bore

[Gunsmith Dan]

You can do it either way does not really make a big difference whether you blast all the anodizing off or just make a pass over it to get the right profile. I have done both and find not real advantage to leaving the anodized finish from the stand point of adhesion.

The real advantage to removing the anodized finish is that your colors will not come out darker due to the dark grey backgorund from the anodized finish after blasting it.

The media grit you use for the correct profile for Cerakote is 100 to 120 grit ... not really gonna do alot of damage or take off alot of material (unless you just point the blaster at one spot for 5 minutes).

[SJgunguy24]

I only go over it lightly, I don't want to lose that hard coat that the anodizing provides.

[Gunsmith Dan]

the only anodized finish harder than Cerakote is Type III, type II is about the same.