Cerakote REVIEW - Should You Try DIY Cerakote?

Have you heard of cerakote or seen the benefits and wondered if you could DIY Cerakote? Our Cerakote Review should tell you everything you need to know before your decide to dive in.

Should I DIY Cerakote or pay someone else to do the cerakote process for me? Should I find a Certified Cerakote Applicator? How long does cerakote last? Is the cerakote process worth it? How much does it cost to cerakote your own firearm? Can I cerakote myself? Is the Cerakote starter kit all I need? What do other people say about the cerakote process? Should I buy this thing?

At Review This Thing, we always cover the FACTS: You can fast forward to the time stamps below if you're interested in a particular subject.

Start: 00:00
Fit: 0:39
As Advertised: 4:16
Construction & Durability: 5:48
Testimonials & Reviews: 7:19
Should you buy this thing?: 8:30

If I haven't answered all your questions about the Cerakote process and if you can DIY cerakote just ask in the comments below, and I'll be happy to try. Also comment below if you like the video and/or if you already have cearkoted your own things and have some input.

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*All opinions are ours. We are not paid for any of these product reviews. We did receive the starter kit free for review but our opinion was not influenced by that fact. Our goal with each video is to always provide a thorough, unbiased, and honest review of every product with no fluff - just facts and my feelings about it - so you feel like you can make a well-informed decision about buying the product.

[gman]

Started the video "heck I'm going to try it" finished the video "heck I'm going to pay somebody to do it". Thanks for the review!

[NLTJNET]

I was toying with the idea prior, but you video did help inspire me to want to give it a go. Thank you.

[Hatch]

A local certified person did a beautiful Camo pattern on my Springfield M6 Scout in .410 / .22. It is really indestructible now. You did a great job with yours, and a great video. Thanks guys, be well.

[robertbradley]

Excellent video. I’ve been anodizing parts for some time now, but the cost, mess and process has me wanting to go a different direction. I started looking at cerakote and decided that was going to be my next venture. I’ve got everything I need to start except the oven. I never even considered an electric smoker until I watched your video. What a great idea. I already ordered one online and plan to do my first pieces this weekend. Thank you for the video and all of the information.

[jamessparks]

got a cerakote kit last year for my bday, took me another year to get the rest of the equipment I would need but the 1st time I used it to resore my friends 1911 it came out beautifully. Ive been spray painting guns for a few years now with lots of success but Cerakoting them has taken my finished products to the next level. im using the oven cure H series now but plan on using some air cure C series as well and expanding my color combinations. 5/5 stars in my book

[tangomantactical]

I've been in bodywork and refinishing just about everything. Insurance claims, overalls, restoration, custom. Air brush and pin striping. I'm certified in PPG, and Sherwin Williams. It took me about a year just to adapt to the diffent spray technique and proper flash, bake, ect. I'm backlogged with 7 extremely artistic firearms, and 2 that are just 2 simple olods.

[robmatte]

I agree that it's tedious and time consuming, but if you do your homework you would have known that before getting into it. Like you, I like doing things myself and learning new things. So I've been doing this myself too and i find that once you get started on your project it's a commitment. Right now I am using their air cure products till I get an oven. For the folks that had theirs "blister up", they most likely still had some residue left behind and didn't properly clean the surface. Just my opinion. This is a fun project to give some objects a new life. I have Cerakoted a couple items so far and it is a learning curve for newbies. Practice makes perfect. Great video and review.

[wcz]

What amazes me is how talented some people are with the cerakote process I have seen some really beautiful jobs and textures.

[brick]

I went to Pittsburgh cerakote to get a custom Saiga 12 and a custom Saiga 7.62 rifle sprayed. Did simple color scheme, one ODG on black, and the other, black on ODG. They charged me over $2, 200.
And even though i was specific and said not to, they sprayed all of the inner workings (entire trigger and hammer assembly, gas system, bolt assembly, literally everything internal). Kinda like sending your Ferrari to get painted, only to find that they tore apart your motor and paint the inside of every piece.
This destroyed the trigger polish, bolt polish. The guns were literally locking up and not functional at all. It took days of grinding and polishing to get it back to functional. Next time I want a cerakote job, I'm definitely investing in the equipment to do it myself. Will certainly never use Pittsburgh cerakote again.

[BKKLB]

Thanks for the video. The electric smoker idea is a boon. I was looking at 30L electric toaster ovens but an electric smoker triples the available volume for the same price. I have all the paint gear minus the sandblasting cab from refinishing my kitchen cabinets. Good on ya!

[samlind]

I had the room, most of the equipment, and i find the time. Been doing cerakote for several years now. I've amassed about 200 colors in the various types of kote and have done about 100 things including other people's guns. The money I've made has pretty much paid for all of my stuff and the stuff I've coated personally. Is it for everyone to DIY not a chance. But if you're handy and are willing definitely do it.

[mr.c]

Really good video and excellent job on the cerakote. I like that trigger too.

[wcz]

It’s as well super talent of the people who do this work I have seen some pretty spectacular stuff !

[Rowganlife]

lucky me, i have everything. thanks for the video!

[Funwitguns]

The air compressor in the video that you showed are you able to run the sandblaster good considering it takes seven CFM. Also, I was thinking about getting the iwata gun from cerakote because it uses 1.8 cfm

[dookiemcdaniel]

What do you do with the plastic parts & scope? I'm assuming you wouldn't want to bake those.

[ashleywalton]

Definitely looks awesome! But I think I’m going to have to agree with Adrian on this, because I definitely wouldn’t want to take all those steps! Lol
I’d definitely go to a local person and pay to have it done.haha

[jeremybutler]

If I had space, I would start cerakoting all my stuff myself, but until then, I'll be paying by the piece.

[carlosreyes]

What's the difference between oven vs air cure. Which one is better.

[thaidye]

Hey! How much cerakote can a 4oz tester cover?

Did you happen to use the entire Benelli Sand 4oz tester for the AR?