Coating?

[lroy]

Was looking to get some small parts coated. I contacted the builders I got the parts from, but they just stated they don't do it in house.

 

 Can anyone recommend some places?

 

 

[CHARLES D]

I believe Cajun Gun Works now use NP3. I could be wrong. Worth checking out

[Bakerjd]

What kind of coating? PVD, Cerakote, black Nitride, hard chrome? Lots of choices. 

[lroy]

Was looking for a polished gold. Something like tin, perhaps. Not very familiar with the different methods.

[Bakerjd]

On 11/23/2020 at 4:18 PM, lroy said:

Was looking for a polished gold. Something like tin, perhaps. Not very familiar with the different methods.

Send @PCPEMark a message or email them. Hands down the absolute best company to get what ever coating and surface finish you want. He has been doing this for almost 30 years. 

[GeorgeD]

http://www.jabuie.com/ionbond.html
 

If you’re looking for black, ive used these guys for ionbond. Did a nice job. 

[Nick_shoots_fast]

Talk to Adam at atlas. They will sub it out and whoever he takes it to does a great job. 

[regor]

This has probably been covered elsewhere on the forum, but can anyone give me a quick overview of the pros/cons of the different coating types? Particularly interested in DLC/PVD/Hard Chrome.

 

[Benevolence]

Personally I’d do DLC. It’s a PVD process that is relatively low temperature (low risk of distortion) and is thin. TiN distorted my frame. Hard chrome adds 0.003” of material and is an electrolytic process. Richter Precision does a lot of PVD processes. 

[C-Money]

@regor I went through a similar decision path on a recent Limited gun purchase. I had to decide between black DLC and hard chrome. The pros of DLC are that it adds very little material so that no new fitting (or very little) should be required after treatment,, and it does have some corrosion resistance and high wear resistance. The color is usually black, and usually a matte finish. The cons are it isn't as good at corrosion resistance as hard Chrome, there is a ton of variation in application, and it typically costs more than Chrome.

 

The advantages of Chrome are it is a very uniform and well known process, it has very high wear and corrosion resistance, and it is pretty cheap ($250 for a whole gun at a few vendors). Downsides are possobly appearance (if you hate America and don't like guns shiny and chrome), wear shows up as discoloration in wear areas, and that the process adds the most material possibly needing to account for the process in fitting.

 

My own experience with both HC and a DLC finish has led me to like Chrome a bit more. Moatly due to appearance but also my priority is corrosion resistance and from my research HC is the best combination for durability, looks, and corrosion resistance.

[matteekay]

On 11/20/2020 at 3:10 PM, lroy said:

Was looking to get some small parts coated. I contacted the builders I got the parts from, but they just stated they don't do it in house.

 

 Can anyone recommend some places?

 

 

 

I was very happy with the pricing and service from Brazen Firearms. They did the barrel on the front gun and the slide and some small parts on the rear one:

 

 

 

I'm planning to have them finish my limited gun with a mix of TiN and Cerakote once it's ready.

[PCPEMark]

 would like to throw alittle bit out there and maybe it will help someone that is not familiar with finishing of firearms.

First let me tell you about myself. I started in this industry thanks to my oldest brother that was the head of the Colt Custom Shop for like 20 years. In 1990 he talked me into going to see a plater that was doing work for Colt and i took the job. I have learned to cut ( buff) guns to bring them back to looking good again by some of the best in the business...Fast foward 30 years and here i am, along with my wife the owners of precision custom plating and engraving.

Now i'm not saying i know all that there is about finishing but i have learned alot. Over the years i have tried many finishes and did my homework. 

This is a rough list of things that might help you decide which way you want to go.... I will not cover spray and bake finishes because i reall y haven't much experience with them.

Bluing--- the industry standard for 100+ years. Beautiful black finish will last many years if taken care of correctly. bluing will wear off rather quickly with holster wear.

Nickel--- Has been used as a finish that protects against the elements and as a pretty finish. more durable that bluing and if taken care of will last a lifetime. It is one of the softest applied metals but holds up well against wear. thickness depends on tank chemistry, temp, time in bath..but it is usually about.001 build up per surface area.

Chrome--- I personally think that chrome has proven itself over the decades. A extremely hard, durable, good looking finish that hold up well to wear and the elements. makes cleaning of the gun easier and chrome on the rails adds a lubricity. It is also an affordable finish compaired to others. it is appied to a thickness of about .001 per surface area

Gold titainiumnitrite and black nitride----Though we offer these finishes, they are not done inhouse. But we have tried many many places that do this service and all i can say is this....... Both are great finishes. Both are hard and durable, and good looking. The trick is findng the place that does it correctly. Meaning, applied with a smooth even appearance with no voids and most of all...a non hazy transparent appearance. After many places we finally found someone that offers such product.

DLC------ Oh boy do i have experience with this. It's the newest gotta have in the market today. We have tried ( no kidding) atleast10+ companies and we have two that we like. This is a beautiful finish..and i mean a beautiful black finish. The problem is, it is exspensive. Also most do not prep your gun before coating...thus i buff it and get it looking good and ship it to them, they apply finish and ship it back. The companies apply this finish 1.5- 10 micron thick. Just so you know, The average hair on your head is 80 microns thick. Even though it is that thin , it is very durable.

 

Well i hope this helps your decide on what finish fits you best...or atleast reading this made it easier to fall asleep.

[regor]

20 hours ago, Twinkie said:

My own experience with both HC and a DLC finish has led me to like Chrome a bit more. Moatly due to appearance but also my priority is corrosion resistance and from my research HC is the best combination for durability, looks, and corrosion resistance.

 

9 hours ago, PCPEMark said:

Well i hope this helps your decide on what finish fits you best...or atleast reading this made it easier to fall asleep.

 

Thank you both for your insight, it definitely helped clarify some things for me and give me a good idea of what I should look for. 

[matteekay]

9 hours ago, PCPEMark said:

 would like to throw alittle bit out there and maybe it will help someone that is not familiar with finishing of firearms.

First let me tell you about myself. I started in this industry thanks to my oldest brother that was the head of the Colt Custom Shop for like 20 years. In 1990 he talked me into going to see a plater that was doing work for Colt and i took the job. I have learned to cut ( buff) guns to bring them back to looking good again by some of the best in the business...Fast foward 30 years and here i am, along with my wife the owners of precision custom plating and engraving.

Now i'm not saying i know all that there is about finishing but i have learned alot. Over the years i have tried many finishes and did my homework. 

This is a rough list of things that might help you decide which way you want to go.... I will not cover spray and bake finishes because i reall y haven't much experience with them.

Bluing--- the industry standard for 100+ years. Beautiful black finish will last many years if taken care of correctly. bluing will wear off rather quickly with holster wear.

Nickel--- Has been used as a finish that protects against the elements and as a pretty finish. more durable that bluing and if taken care of will last a lifetime. It is one of the softest applied metals but holds up well against wear. thickness depends on tank chemistry, temp, time in bath..but it is usually about.001 build up per surface area.

Chrome--- I personally think that chrome has proven itself over the decades. A extremely hard, durable, good looking finish that hold up well to wear and the elements. makes cleaning of the gun easier and chrome on the rails adds a lubricity. It is also an affordable finish compaired to others. it is appied to a thickness of about .001 per surface area

Gold titainiumnitrite and black nitride----Though we offer these finishes, they are not done inhouse. But we have tried many many places that do this service and all i can say is this....... Both are great finishes. Both are hard and durable, and good looking. The trick is findng the place that does it correctly. Meaning, applied with a smooth even appearance with no voids and most of all...a non hazy transparent appearance. After many places we finally found someone that offers such product.

DLC------ Oh boy do i have experience with this. It's the newest gotta have in the market today. We have tried ( no kidding) atleast10+ companies and we have two that we like. This is a beautiful finish..and i mean a beautiful black finish. The problem is, it is exspensive. Also most do not prep your gun before coating...thus i buff it and get it looking good and ship it to them, they apply finish and ship it back. The companies apply this finish 1.5- 10 micron thick. Just so you know, The average hair on your head is 80 microns thick. Even though it is that thin , it is very durable.

 

Well i hope this helps your decide on what finish fits you best...or atleast reading this made it easier to fall asleep.

 

 

This was hugely informative - thanks for sharing!

 

Are there any (steel) parts that can't be hard-chromed? Obviously the slide and frame will work, but what about things like the grip safety, thumb safety, mainspring housing, barrel bushing, etc?

[Sarge]

9 minutes ago, matteekay said:

 

 

This was hugely informative - thanks for sharing!

 

Are there any (steel) parts that can't be hard-chromed? Obviously the slide and frame will work, but what about things like the grip safety, thumb safety, mainspring housing, barrel bushing, etc?

When I had my guns chromed I disassembled the gun and shipped it to APW with the request to chrome everything they could in “brushed” finish. Polished flats and barrel. They didn’t chrome the extractor but did every other part minus springs. 

[cnote]

dlc comes in colors now i believe

[PCPEMark]

I can't chrome titainium ..and pot metal, otherwise i can chrome just all metal. I will not chrome the internals unless asked for ( changes the action)

[PCPEMark]

I have not heard of dlc coming in different colors...but i do know that pvd does

[PCPEMark]

BTW Sarge, i worked for APW for 15 years. Also did a stint with Fords refinishing going back to when they were Checkmate. Still good friends with Horace and Larna

[Sarge]

1 hour ago, PCPEMark said:

BTW Sarge, i worked for APW for 15 years. Also did a stint with Fords refinishing going back to when they were Checkmate. Still good friends with Horace and Larna

It’s nice to have options especially since Metaloy closed. 

[matteekay]

8 hours ago, PCPEMark said:

I can't chrome titainium ..and pot metal, otherwise i can chrome just all metal. I will not chrome the internals unless asked for ( changes the action)

 

That makes total sense about the internals. I didn't realize you could do aluminum; it'd be pretty slick to have the magwell match the rest of the gun.

 

Really appreciate all the info. I might be reaching out in the next couple months when I'm convinced that my gun runs, lol.