Gunsmithing cerakote over h series?

[steveea]

I sprayed my ar15 with h seres. Dim light, too little volume on hvlp, and worry of runs lead to underspray at some places. At those spot light black can be seen. I did not blast ano before coating per nic's recomendation. I learned after first run the importance of the phrase "parts must be fully wet out" in training video. My second run went better. I should have painted plastic first and metal second.

Any way to touch up. I can reblast but worried about removing ano.

 

[STR]

Re: cerakote over h series?

H series will not stick well to cured H series. Need to reprep the parts, and shoot over bear metal or plastic.

 

[steveea]

Re: cerakote over h series?

I now realize that the only parts I am having trouble with are those that did not get blasted - the hard ano 3. recievers and rails. Acetone soak, and prebake is not enough for those parts. I blasted everything else with 120 AlO. And those parts look good. Would a light blast at 30-40 psi be sufficient? Tough lessen but learned well!

 

[buds444]

Re: cerakote over h series?

I've yet to personally experiment with type 3 anodizing. However, from what i understand the hardness of that anodizing is much superior to cerakote. Therefore your best bet is to just give the cerakote something to grab on to. A lower psi while blasting, or potentially some sanding by hand to create some bite for the cerakote. Type 3 is very thin, so don't go hog wild on it. If you coat over type 3 anodizing, you benefit from the cerakote protection, plus the anodizing below. If you blast through the anodizing, the only protection you will have is cerakote, and then whatever type of aluminum is below.

I'm sure other experts will chime in, but do be careful. A lot of people don't like to blast and cerakote over type 3, so there must be a reason for it. Good luck though.

- Brandon

 

[OregonShooter]

Re: cerakote over h series?

You can blast it off the ANO by being careful at 40PSI on a good cabinet with lots of media flow

or 90PSI on a harbor freight WHILE holding the part 10-15inches away from the nozzle. At 90PSI it will be very aggressive with 120AlumOx, be careful.

It doesn't all have to come off perfectly, H-Sereis will stick for "touch-up" if you blast the base coat or sand.

 

[Redcreek1]

Re: cerakote over h series?

If you blast off the Cerakote you applied over the non-blasted type 3 it will adequately profile the type 3 surface without removing it. It takes a lot of blasting to fully remove type 3 hard anodize… Then recoat the whole receiver/part.

Trying to touch it up wont work.

 

[OregonShooter]

Re: cerakote over h series?

deleted... was saying the same thing as redcreek but more confusingly.

 

[steveea]

Re: cerakote over h series?

Thanks for the advice. I will do as suggested and update progress.