Anodize or Cerakote?

[K_Dubbya]

Greetings,

If you have raw aluminum part that needed to be sealed for protective purposes what is the preference? Strait cerakote? Anodize? Both? What are your thoughts and where might someone find a local shop to anodize?

TIA!

 

[Project355]

Cerakote, Gunkote(K-Kote), or similar.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

If you're asking about a firearm, Type III anodizing every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Cerakote is paint and while it provides very good protection from corrosion it will wear off relatively quickly from parts that slide against one another. Anodizing is a process that results in an extremely hard layer that is integral with the aluminum and very resistant to wear from parts sliding against one another.

 

[K_Dubbya]

If you're asking about a firearm, Type III anodizing every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Cerakote is paint and while it provides very good protection from corrosion it will wear off relatively quickly from parts that slide against one another. Anodizing is a process that results in an extremely hard layer that is integral with the aluminum and very resistant to wear from parts sliding against one another.

That makes sense. Is this something I can do myself or will I need to research local shops that will do it?

 

[Steve in Allentown]

That makes sense. Is this something I can do myself or will I need to research local shops that will do it?

I know that for me that the first time I do something doesn't always turn out the way I expected. If you don't know what you're doing, you can easily eat holes through the aluminum. My advice is to find a really good gunsmith who has lots of experience with a shop that does anodizing. Not many 'smiths do anodizing themselves. Rather, they identify a company that specializes in this process and has a good reputation.

Here's a little reading that may be illuminating:
http://www.usanodizing.com/index.htm
http://www.theactionworks.com/finishes/

 

[edwardware]

Depends on the replacement cost of the part. If I could make 3 more parts for the cost of having one anodized, I'd be Cerakoting it and a spare.

On the other hand, this is a hobby. . . so you might look into a diy anodizing setup.

 

[Jim Watson]

Definitely anodize. But that is not something a local gunsmith or Bubba's Bumper Shop is set up for, you need a specialist.

I once scoped out a lightweight IDPA ESP with a regional gunsmith. We had everything settled but receiver finish. I asked on the gun boards and had everything physically possible recommended, so I stalled out. He eventually lined up an anodizing vendor but by then I had moved on.

 

[Blue68f100]

Hard Anodizing Type III is the most durable but does require an applicator setup to do it. The advantage is that your part is 100% covered and no dimensional changes. With Cerakote you will add 0.0005"-0.001" thickness to your part. The Baked catalized cerakote is best of the cearkote finishes for wear and durability but not as good as the anodize. I've been told that most anodizers will do it in batches, with a flat charge. I will be looking for one in the near future.

 

[mcb]

Both, Cerekote sticks to fresh anodizing wonderfully. Anodizing for the protections and then Cerekote to get the color you want.