Gunsmithing Cerakote Question

[smvmarine]

I just received my Bartlein 6.5 Creedmoor AR barrel. When I opened up the box I noticed it had been bead blasted which I didn't ask for. Not really a big deal, but I was planning on having it Cerakote'd graphite black. Will the bead blast mess with the finish or appearance of the Cerakote?

 

[kingzero]

Nope, it will need to be blasted again by a more aggressive media (100 to 120 grit AO) for the proper application of Cerakote.

 

[Easy_E]

From what I've read the bead blast is still semi gloss texture. When they apply the Cerakote it will be blast with something much coarser .

 

[Threadcutter308]

Bead blasting leaves a smooth finish that paint has a hard time gripping. 120 grit AlOx blasting is rough and paint adheres much better. Painting a bead blasted finish will give unsatisfactory results, requiring stripping and re-blasting with AlOx.

 

[smvmarine]

Its not smooth by any means. It's actually fairly rough. I know the shop that contoured my barrel knew I was gonna have it Cerakoted locally. So, I'm assuming they did some prep work on it. Thanks for the insight!!

 

[Threadcutter308]

If you were to look at a bead blasted barrel under magnification, you would find that the many millions of "divots" are actually pretty smooth at the edge of where they meet each other. Conversely, aluminum oxide blasted surfaces are very rough/ragged. Paint of any kind will adhere to a suface that is abrasive (AlOx) much better than it will to one that is bead blasted. The beads are fairly round, whereas AlOx is jagged and rough. I like satin stainless bead blasted finishes, I just won't put paint on them.