About our Firearms Refinishing Process
Inspection
Before we do anything, we will inspect your weapon for safety
and proper functioning. Weapons that are not safe to handle or
to fire will be returned to the customer. Alternatively, with
the customers authorization, we will have our gunsmith repair
the weapon before refinishing.
Disassembly
Where necessary, the weapon will be completely disassembled.
AR15 uppers have to have their barrels removed from the upper
receivers. 1911's and any other type pistols will be completely
stripped. Notes will be made where parts may require replacement
or service. Alternatively, customers may choose to send us
disassembled weapons, with or without internal parts. Once the
weapon is disassembled, we remove the front and rear sighs -
where applicable.
Degrease
Your
weapon and each of its parts will be individually degreased by
hand and brush to ensure that any carbon buildup or heavy grease
deposits are removed. This ensures that our blast media does not
get contaminated by oil - thereby ensuring perfectly clean
surface area to accept Cerakote™.
Acetone Bath
After degreasing, we will bathe the parts and firearm in an
acetone bath to remove any degreaser and to further clean the
steel surfaces.
Aluminum Oxide blast booth
All weapon components that are being Ceracoted will be stripped
by the use of aluminum oxide. We use this medium because the
aluminum oxide prepares the surface structure of the steel by
opening its pores. Bead blasting by glass media does not open
the pores and would not meet our rigorous quality requirements
for adhesion. Aluminum that has been hard anodized is treated at
low pressure to lightly scuff the surface as to not reduce the
effect of the surface hardness.
Spray
Freshly
blasted parts are strung on wire or placed in custom jigs and
immediately sprayed to minimize exposure to air and entrapment
to moisture. Each part is hand sprayed by HVLP gun, including
the smallest pins. We do not dip or use other methods of
Cerakote™ application. This is the most laborious part of the
process and takes the most time and concentration. Years of
practice and hundreds of satisfied operators results in
perfection each and every time.
Rack & Bake
After the application of the appropriate color, the weapon and
it's parts are hung by wire or placed on our jigs to eliminate
any surface contact and put in oven to bake according to
prescribed requirements.
Assembly
After
the parts cool, each part is inspected for proper coverage, look
and feel. Any part that does not meet our rigorous criteria for
perfection is stripped and submitted to the procedure again.
Your weapon is then assembled by our gunsmith and checked for
proper functioning.
|
|
Colors and Patterns
We do not use any other method of curing other than "H" series which is the strongest and most durable. Air cure systems do not meet our criteria where firearms are concerned.
CIF
will not apply digi-cam as the
parts that are not cured cannot be handled and the parts that
are cured cannot be sprayed again - since oven cured Crakote™
is not at all a good base for paint - it will not stick.
We
will apply a multi-cam finish - as the patterns can be applied in
layers without having to touch the product. All layers are
then baked into one another - and at the same time, ensuring
that proper adhesion and curing takes palce.
We may also apply a two tone refinish where the frame and slide may be of different color, or a different sheen of the same color. Such finishes apply to metal products only. Extra charges may apply.
*Our stocking colors are H-146 graphite black, H-151 satin
aluminum and H-199 desert sand. Other colors can be applied by
special order. Such request may delay the delivery of your
weapon based on the color availability and supplier stock.
CIF may revoke the two week turn-around-time guarantee in that
circumstance.
Special Order
Colors (some may be in stock)
![]() |
H-190 ARMOR
BLACK (OVEN CURE) A rich black with a matte finish - 1.0 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-190 Armor Black |
![]() |
H-147 SATIN MAG
(OVEN CURE) A soft metallic silver - 3.2 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-147 Satin Mag |
![]() |
H-170 TITANIUM (OVEN CURE) A dark titanium - 2.0 gloss units at a 60 degree angle |
![]() |
H-152 STAINLESS
(OVEN CURE) H-152 Stainless |
![]() |
H-227 TACTICAL
GREY (OVEN CURE) A charcoal grey with heavy metallic matte finish - 1.3 gloss units at a 60 degree angle |
![]() |
H-234 SNIPER
GREY (OVEN CURE) A dark grey with a matte finish - 1.6 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-234 Sniper Grey |
![]() |
H-200 HIGHLAND GREEN
(OVEN CURE) A forest green with a matte finish - 2.0 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-200 Highland Green |
![]() |
H-247 DESERT
SAGE (OVEN CURE) A tan sage with a matte finish - 1.1 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-247 Desert Sage |
![]() |
H-256 DESERT
VERDE (OVEN CURE) - 5.0
gloss units at a 60 degree angle |
![]() |
H-264 MIL SPEC
GREEN (OVEN CURE) Flat army brown with a hint of green -1.4 gloss units at a 60 degree angle |
![]() |
H-265 FLAT DARK
EARTH (OVEN CURE) Dark beige - 0.9 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-265 Flat Dark Earth |
![]() |
H-235 COYOTE TAN
(OVEN CURE) A dark tan with a matte finish - 3.1 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-235 Coyote Tan |
![]() |
H-236 O.D. GREEN
(OVEN CURE) A dark army green with a matte finish - 1.0 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-236 O. D. Green |
![]() |
H-212 FEDERAL
BROWN (OVEN CURE) A chocolate brown with a matte finish - 1.0 gloss units at a 60 degree angle H-212 Federal Brown |
![]() |
H-226 PATRIOT
BROWN (OVEN CURE) H-226 Patriot Brown |
Cerakote™ "H" Series Specifications
The "H" series was designed as a two part thermal cure system. It provides a very high quality, long lasting finish with high corrosion resistance. It offers unsurpassed levels of abrasion resistance and hardness because of the two part component system.
» Viscosity #2 Zahn cup of 13.0 sec
» Optimal film thickness
1.0 mil
» Passes the 5% salt spray test (ASTM B117) in excess of 2,500 hrs
» Pencil scratch hardness
(ASTM D3363) 7h
» Adhesion cross cut tape
(ASTM D3359) 5B
» Mandrel Bend (ASTM D522)
180 degree rotation with no coating loss
»
Impact
160/160 inch-lbs
» Heat stability of 525 degrees f for extended periods without failing





















