Rifle Scopes Scope Cerakoting?

[mdslammer]

Any know problems/issues after having the scope cerakoted?
How durable has the cerakoting been?
Does this void the warranty from the manufacture?

Thanks.

 

[precision308]

I duracoated a vortex scope along with a fixed 10 super sniper. Both got sent back to the manufacturer after about 5 years vortex fixed the painted scope and never mentioned it. Swfa just replaced it and never mentioned it. I personally wouldn't worry about it but that's me

 

[Dogtown]

Just make sure you use the air curing version of Cerakote. Baking optics is bad for your wallet and reputation.

 

[mdslammer]

Thanks guys. Good to know.

 

[K2Ballistics]

After duracoating around 20 scopes now, I think this is the way to go. As mentioned, you cannot bake your scope. As such, I prefer the color selection for Duracoat and it has held up well so far. You hopefulley aren't abusing your scope as much as say your stock or barrel.

My method for prep and paint:

Use nitrile gloves for handling your scope during prep and paint.

Clean scope thoroughly with a clean rag soaked in a bit of alcohol. Don't get any on the lenses.

I remove the knobs and mask off the inner workings. I then paint the knobs seperately. I tape the eyepiece lens without allowing the tape to touch the lens. 3" blue masking tape works well for this You will have to endure a small unpainted ring at the eyepiece, but there is usally a rubber piece there anyway that won't accept paint.


Cut small slivers of electrical tape to cover any markings or writing you don't want to paint over. If you prefer, you could paint over and then use a razor blade to remove paint after on these areas. Do not wait too long if you choose the latter. I am satisifed with the former, so I do not bother. You can also use shoe wax applied with q-tips to protect any areas that you do not want paint to stick to permanently (not the lenses!).

Keep the sun shade attached and stuff a clean white rag down the shade. This way you do not have to tape the objective and get your sun shade painted all in one step. It aslo helps with the next step....

I stand the scope up on its sun shade on a level surface for painting. This way I can spray the whole scope at once....well mostly....I go back later and get the shade edge and about 1" of the shade interior.....I leave the rest of the shade interior blacked out....you never see it anyway.

Also, no issues with Vortex for work on scopes that have been painted.

Good luck!

 

[Short-bus]

I've done a couple Nightforces in heat cure, but I only cure at 160 for 2 hours. I confirmed with Nightforce that this wouldn't damage them before doing the work. They certify the scopes to 200 degrees. Everything else I will only use the c-series paints.

There is an upside to duracoating scopes, down the road, if you decide to sell the scope, you can remove the duracoat with citristrip and a lot of patience, elbow grease, and q-tips. Cerakote leaves you with 2 options, repaint, or deal with it. You can blast it, but you're asking for disaster. You couldn't pay me enough to blast a scope, I won't do it...period.

If you want to do it yourself, just take your time on the prep. The absolutely most important thing to protect is the glass itself, everything else you have some flexibility with, but there's really not a undo button for cerakote applied to lenses unless it just doesn't bond and you're able to easily flake it off. I've never tried it.

I've talked to many a scope manufacture, and none of them had said they void the warranty for spraying a coat of paint on the scope. The less expensive manufactures have said no heat cure, but didn't say they would void a warranty if heat cure was used.

Branden