More DIY Cerakoting.....

[RickAnderson]

So I got me a FN 510 to go with my SA XD-M Elite OSP 10MM.
BTW, since I liked the Sportsman Warehouse exclusive OD Green XD-M 10MM, but can't get one since I am in MD, I cerakoted mine in OD Green, but over the entire pistol, not just the slide...

Love the 510's FDE, but can't help to notice the unsightly contrast of black.

I also fitted it with a EOTech EFLX now available in FDE, but a different shade than the FN...

Now I don't have a problem with Black Controls or Sights, that fits perfectly... ....My problem is the black Magazine endplates, especially the extended magazines, the MRD Plates that adapt the RDS to the slide being black seem to just jump out at me as they should be matching the pistol color... ...and the worst, a tactically colored pistol, but the extended magazines have the back shiny polished nickel plate....

So I broke out some left over Cerakote Elite FDE, disassembled, degreased, masked off, blasted and sprayed the several components I wanted to "de-black and de-chrome"... (yea, ok technically not chrome, but polished nickel plate is pretty close to chrome)
The Plastic Pieces curing in the oven at a lower temp...

The Metal Pieces waiting their turn at a higher temp....

 

[RickAnderson]

The end result... ....Cerakote FDE is a more muddy brown than the more Khaki FN FDE, but I'm still happy with the results...
While I was at it I did the slide/striker end plate... ...matched better than I thought it would... ...granted most like the contrast of a black end plate, I prefer it to blend in with the slide more....

The MRD Plate that adapts the RDS, I think this looks much better....

The Magazines....

The Flush fit 15 rnd, not a great match, but better than black...

The extended 22 rnd Magazines... ....yea, not a good color match, yet still better than black IMO...

Of course, no shiny polished nickel plate exposed anymore....

 

[powerboatr]

you used the wifes oven

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

With black being everyone's black and odg and fde not being everyone's color match it does suck when trying to match! Kinda reason being as not to infringe on Cerakote's color and having 1 of their own. I don't mind a little contrast, but sometimes it's to much! I do the black/tan, black/gray and black/odg 2-tones on ARs, but not going tri-tone if all possible. Your end results look good!

 

[RickAnderson]

you used the wifes oven

I dumped the nutzo wife, so its a bachelor oven. Many Bachelor ovens have seen far worse.
True, basic industrial hygiene dictates you'd never put anything toxic in an oven you also cook food in, but the cerakote leaves litterally no mess, residue or fumes behind. For how little I cure the cerakote compared to how infrequent I bake, plus I clean it thoroughly afterwards, I think I'm safe.

Actually, the only time the Cerakote really smells is while your mixing it. I was told it stinks horrible until its finished curing. I do spray outside staying upwind of it, so I supposed spraying inside (which requires ventilation and a respirator IIRC) it would stink also. But I've only noticed a bad smell is while I'm mixing it. Once laid down you have to hold it up to your nose to get any smell. Perhaps I'm just nose blind.

But I'll let you know if I grow a third eye or lose all my hair.... ....wait, already too late for the hair loss, but my paternal grandfather had male pattern baldness...

 

[RickAnderson]

With black being everyone's black and odg and fde not being everyone's color match it does suck when trying to match! Kinda reason being as not to infringe on Cerakote's color and having 1 of their own. I don't mind a little contrast, but sometimes it's to much! I do the black/tan, black/gray and black/odg 2-tones on ARs, but not going tri-tone if all possible. Your end results look good!

That is one thing I have noticed about Cerakote, perhaps because the coating is so thin, the substrate you coat really makes a difference in the color shade. The floor plates did come out darker than I had hoped, and while I'm a little disappointed in the Magazine's color match to the rest of the pistol, I look on the bright side, its still better looking than the black floor plates and definitely better than the exposed shiny polished nickel plate on the back of the extended mags.

 

[xdman]

That is one thing I have noticed about Cerakote, perhaps because the coating is so thin, the substrate you coat really makes a difference in the color shade. The floor plates did come out darker than I had hoped, and while I'm a little disappointed in the Magazine's color match to the rest of the pistol, I look on the bright side, its still better looking than the black floor plates and definitely better than the exposed shiny polished nickel plate on the back of the extended mags.

With lighter colors like FDE, It is recommended to do a “primer” base so all the parts end up the same shade. Or in the business we use different substrates to our advantage to do the 50 shades of FDE look.

 

[RickAnderson]

With lighter colors like FDE, It is recommended to do a “primer” base so all the parts end up the same shade. Or in the business we use different substrates to our advantage to do the 50 shades of FDE look.

I'm still an amateur with Cerakote, I was not aware that you can prime a surface then apply cerakote over it. Is there a Cerakote primer? Or do you use a color as primer and do 2 coats, I'm assuming flashing the first prime coat?

I used the Elite Series for this, which can't be flashed and stencil, because the best I can tell, Elite Series can't be applied over another coat. I suspect because of the self-lubricating properties that produce better abrasion resistance, would make it tough for more cerakote to adhere over a flashed cured layer.