MemphisMechanic Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) So you guys are gonna have to wait until tomorrow for "after" pics. (Not shown: my SSI Scales are black now.) Stripped bare and degreased: Masking: Sandblasted & hung: Airbrushed in 'stainless' cerakote: Spending four hours in the oven at 200 f: Edited April 4, 2017 by MemphisMechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbu Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Should be sweet. nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billthemarine2862 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Very Cool! can't wait to see the final product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 Sneak peek. Went with a matte / textured finish (used a thicker mix of coating & hardener) and love the result. Crappy phone pic in fluorescent kitchen light. I'll take better shots of the finished gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbu Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Did you upgrade to the "PD Optimized" mentally actuated, trigger free ignition system ? I thought Joe sent the only prototype up here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicoR Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Is that production legal in USPSA? I'd love to do it but I shoot IPSC and we can't do that. The blueing on my Stock III is so bad quality you wouldn't believe it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 @NicoR Per the USPSA website, as long as you don't use a significantly grippier texture then it is allowed: 11) I see that USPSA has decided to allow me to refinish the frame of my gun. Can I paint it with “crinkle paint” or some other finish which provides some texture? ANSWER: NO. Frames and slides may be refinished for cosmetic purposes only, and the finish cannot result in a competitive advantage. Any finish which is deemed to provide a competitive advantage – for example, a roughened texture in an area where grip tape is not allowed – would make your gun a “new/unapproved model” which would not be legal for use in USPSA Production Division. 12) I want to hard-chrome my gun, but hard-chrome provides “non-cosmetic functions” (such as lubricity, rust prevention, etc). Is hard-chroming allowed? ANSWER: YES, as long as the new finish provides no competitive advantage (such as roughened texture where stippling or grip tape would not be allowed, per Appendix E4). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarvis243 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 That looks really good. I want to do that with my match elite. I have never been a big fan of the two tone. Did you just mask off the top of the frame where the slide rides?Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael1one Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 3 hours ago, MemphisMechanic said: @NicoR Per the USPSA website, as long as you don't use a significantly grippier texture then it is allowed: 11) I see that USPSA has decided to allow me to refinish the frame of my gun. Can I paint it with “crinkle paint” or some other finish which provides some texture? ANSWER: NO. Frames and slides may be refinished for cosmetic purposes only, and the finish cannot result in a competitive advantage. Any finish which is deemed to provide a competitive advantage – for example, a roughened texture in an area where grip tape is not allowed – would make your gun a “new/unapproved model” which would not be legal for use in USPSA Production Division. 2 good to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicoR Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 [mention=64743]NicoR[/mention] Per the USPSA website, as long as you don't use a significantly grippier texture then it is allowed: 11) I see that USPSA has decided to allow me to refinish the frame of my gun. Can I paint it with “crinkle paint” or some other finish which provides some texture? ANSWER: NO. Frames and slides may be refinished for cosmetic purposes only, and the finish cannot result in a competitive advantage. Any finish which is deemed to provide a competitive advantage – for example, a roughened texture in an area where grip tape is not allowed – would make your gun a “new/unapproved model” which would not be legal for use in USPSA Production Division. 12) I want to hard-chrome my gun, but hard-chrome provides “non-cosmetic functions” (such as lubricity, rust prevention, etc). Is hard-chroming allowed? ANSWER: YES, as long as the new finish provides no competitive advantage (such as roughened texture where stippling or grip tape would not be allowed, per Appendix E4).I envy you guys so much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 (edited) In this case I think our rule makes more sense than IPSC's. There's no reason I can think of to forbid someone from customizing their gun with a new color except for: 1. Adding grit or texture to a previously smooth surface, like the front of a slide without cocking serrations. But that would really be rather obvious. 2. Hiding reshaping or blending edges. I can certainly see someone undercutting a trigger guard or backstrap for a higher grip, or relieving/blending edges on their gun and hiding it under a coat of paint. Edited April 5, 2017 by MemphisMechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aandabooks Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I think it looks great. How difficult is the cerakote process? I've been thinking about buying a kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicoR Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 In this case I think our rule makes more sense than IPSC's. There's no reason I can think of to forbid someone from customizing their gun with a new color except for: 1. Adding grit or texture to a previously smooth surface, like the front of a slide without cocking serrations. But that would really be rather obvious. 2. Hiding reshaping or blending edges. I can certainly see someone undercutting a trigger guard or backstrap for a higher grip, or relieving/blending edges on their gun and hiding it under a coat of paint.I totally agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 3 hours ago, aandabooks said: I think it looks great. How difficult is the cerakote process? I've been thinking about buying a kit. Degrease like crazy. Mask. Sandblast to bare steel. Mix 18:1 with hardener. Apply with airbrush. Cure in the oven (200 degrees for 2 hours.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ck867 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Looks great! I want to do this to my xtreme. Part of the grip area is starting to rust on mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 (edited) I've thought about getting certified as a cerakote applicator, but there's just not enough money in it for the amount of time it consumes. This took a total of about four hours total, stripping prepping masking and coating. Edited April 5, 2017 by MemphisMechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ck867 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 1 hour ago, MemphisMechanic said: I've thought about getting certified as a cerakote applicator, but there's just not enough money in it for the amount of time it consumes. This took a total of about four hours total, stripping prepping masking and coating. It's usually never worth it unless you are a high volume player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotDefense Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 turned out nice, i'm a big fan of the gun metal grey as well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waktasz Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Cerakote is too thick and rough for me to want it on the rails or inside the mag well. I felt a gun that a big time smith had 'koted at while I was at Area 8 this year and it made me cry how gross it was. Looked real nice though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotDefense Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 4 minutes ago, waktasz said: Cerakote is too thick and rough for me to want it on the rails or inside the mag well. I felt a gun that a big time smith had 'koted at while I was at Area 8 this year and it made me cry how gross it was. Looked real nice though. It takes a bit of trial and error on tight fitting guns as far as mix ratio and thickness. The micro-slick cerakote is awesome for inside the frame, goes on thin and has a great lubricity.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, waktasz said: Cerakote is too thick and rough for me to want it on the rails or inside the mag well. I felt a gun that a big time smith had 'koted at while I was at Area 8 this year and it made me cry how gross it was. Looked real nice though. What kind of lunatic doesn't mask those areas off? Oh right. Someone more concerned with how many hours of labor they sink into the job than doing it immaculately. Maybe someone who doesn't shoot competitively wouldn't. But I damn sure do. This is my third competition-oriented gun that I've cerakoted. I spend about 60-90 minutes with an x-acto knife and the good blue masking tape on each one. Edited April 5, 2017 by MemphisMechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, PatriotDefense said: It takes a bit of trial and error on tight fitting guns as far as mix ratio and thickness. The micro-slick cerakote is awesome for inside the frame, goes on thin and has a great lubricity.... Most applicators use an HVLP gun, too. I prefer an airbrush because I am not working in bulk on customer's ARs with lots of surface area... and I can lay it down as thick or thin as I want with a dual-action style airbrush. Edited April 5, 2017 by MemphisMechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
je85 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 (edited) What grit and material did you use for sand blasting? PSI? I'm going to be doing my rock island. Why did you bake at 200 degrees for 4 hours instead of 300 for 1 hour or 250 for 2 hours? Did you use h series or the new elite series? Looks great by the way! Edited April 5, 2017 by je85 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 I use the finest grit their instructions recommend. I actually baked at 250 for an hour then 200 for the rest of the night, because extra time in the oven doesn't hurt. H series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
je85 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I was just thinking that your 4 hr bake was a pro secret. What brand and model air brush do you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now