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-170 Titanium
	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-227 Tactical Grey
	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-256 Desert Verde
	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-264 Mil Spec Green
	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