So I am doing a bit of research on handgun finishes. Traditional hot tank bluing seems to have gone away completely, the older style like Colt and S&W used to apply. Polish the metal to a mirror finish then hot tank blue. Colt deep blue finish (from the 1970s, 1980s) was probably the best bluing finish I can recall. Seems I recall there was some negative EPA environmental aspects of hot bluing. Perhaps that is why it went away?
Tenifer on the Glocks seems like an extremely durable finish. I purchased a used G22 gen 3 which was a LEO trade in and the tenifer finish was polished, almost gone in some smaller spots on the slide from holster wear. I found out from other posters here even tho the tenifer finish appears gone, polished away, the tenifer remains, still corrosion resistant. Just now i read that Tenifer and salt bath nitriding, or melonite, are the same finish.
So I recently purchased a Canik PT9SFX made in Turkey. The slide is cerakoted, which from what I have read is subject to holster wear long term, and chipping. Why would anyone coat their slide in cerakote versus melonite? I guess for the color options available in cerakote. Melonite is way more durable, but def color limited.
Perhaps cerakote is cheaper to apply? Spray and bake sort of deal. Must be cheaper that salt bath nitriding in manufacturing. Nitriding involves more metal prep, polishing, heated tanks, ect.
Then there is hard chrome and nickel finishes. Extensive polishing of metal to a mirror finish, multiple plating tanks/steps. Clearly more labor intensive.
Cerakote doesn't require that mirror like polishing. Light sandblasting for prep, spray on then bake to dry/harden finish. The cerakote finish has to be cheapest to apply.
Robar has a NP3 finish that co-deposits sub-micron particles of PTFE or teflon. Gonna have to read up on this process.
Ok, I know a lot of you out there have cerakoted pistols and ARs, how does it hold up? Does it chip long term? Experiences, good or bad?
Encouraging discussion of firearms finishes/re-finishing here. Experiences, on your wish list. Refinishing you have done yourself (cold bluing perhaps), or had a vendor or shop apply.
Any other options not mentioned above?
Or your personal favorite?
Tenifer on the Glocks seems like an extremely durable finish. I purchased a used G22 gen 3 which was a LEO trade in and the tenifer finish was polished, almost gone in some smaller spots on the slide from holster wear. I found out from other posters here even tho the tenifer finish appears gone, polished away, the tenifer remains, still corrosion resistant. Just now i read that Tenifer and salt bath nitriding, or melonite, are the same finish.
So I recently purchased a Canik PT9SFX made in Turkey. The slide is cerakoted, which from what I have read is subject to holster wear long term, and chipping. Why would anyone coat their slide in cerakote versus melonite? I guess for the color options available in cerakote. Melonite is way more durable, but def color limited.
Perhaps cerakote is cheaper to apply? Spray and bake sort of deal. Must be cheaper that salt bath nitriding in manufacturing. Nitriding involves more metal prep, polishing, heated tanks, ect.
Then there is hard chrome and nickel finishes. Extensive polishing of metal to a mirror finish, multiple plating tanks/steps. Clearly more labor intensive.
Cerakote doesn't require that mirror like polishing. Light sandblasting for prep, spray on then bake to dry/harden finish. The cerakote finish has to be cheapest to apply.
Robar has a NP3 finish that co-deposits sub-micron particles of PTFE or teflon. Gonna have to read up on this process.
Ok, I know a lot of you out there have cerakoted pistols and ARs, how does it hold up? Does it chip long term? Experiences, good or bad?
Encouraging discussion of firearms finishes/re-finishing here. Experiences, on your wish list. Refinishing you have done yourself (cold bluing perhaps), or had a vendor or shop apply.
Any other options not mentioned above?
Or your personal favorite?
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