Traditional “Gun Blue” that has been extensively used in the firearm manufacturing industry for years is neither corrosion resistant or hard wearing.
At Roedale Precision we use more modern coating and finishing techniques to protect our firearms.
Cerakote:
Cerakote is a technical ceramic coating product. It is a 2 part ceramic based finish that provides excellent corrosion resistance, is extremely hard wearing and is very pleasing to the eye, it is also available in a multitude of colours.
Cerakote performance surpasses Teflon based coatings by about 60%. Cerakote is used very effectively world wide as a technical coating on military hardwear, in the auto industry and in many other industries. Infact just about anything that needs protection from a harsh environment can be coated with ceracoat.
All external surfaces or a firearm can be coated with Cerakote. For metalic parts the H-Series coatings are used, this coating cures at between 120-150°C. For wood, plastic and carbon-fibre the C-Serie air dry coating is used. We apply both types of coating in house.
Duracoat:
DuraCoat is a 2 part coating which displays good characteristics, it is used extensively on stocks and other non metalic parts.
DuraCoat is used around the world for military and firearms industry applications.
With DuraCoat it is possible to coat gun parts in many different colours and cammo patterns. We apply Duracoat finnishes in house.
Hydrographic transfer: (ColorVision)
With the hydrographic water transfer coating process basicaly any pattern can be applied to any part. Also known as immersion printing, this is a method of applying printed design to three-dimensional surfaces. The hydrographic process can be used on metal, plastic, glass, hard woods, and various other materials. Also commonly known as “hydro dipping” due to the fact that the parts are dipped in water. The water transfer printing process is extensively used to decorate items that range from entire all-terrain vehicles and car dashboards, to small items like bike helmets or other automotive trim as well as firearms parts.
PVD: (physical vapour deposition)
PVD-Physical vapor deposition describes a variety of vacuum deposition methods used to deposit thin film coatings by the condensation of a vaporized form of the desired film material onto various workpiece surfaces. The coating method involves purely physical processes such as high-temperature vacuum evaporation with subsequent condensation, or plasma sputter bombardment. It applies a very hard surface to coated parts. Most cutting tools used on milling machines and lathes are PVD coated. We use it to coat rifle bolts or if required whole rifles. The coating achives hardness over 3000 HV !
Coatiert und Harteloxiert:
Anodizing is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts.The process is called anodizing because the part to be treated forms the anode electrode of an electrical circuit .Anodizing increases corrosion and wear resistance, provides better adhesion for paint primers and glues than does bare metal. Hard anodizing is typically applied to heavy wear industrial parts intended for use in aggressive or highly corrosive applications. These coatings are typically far thicker and harder than decorative ones, and usually lend the parts a durability approaching that of hard faced or case hardened steel. Hardcoated items usually have a dark gray to a black finish. This can vary depending on the aluminum alloy.
One of the main purposes of hard anodizing is to make the aluminum more resistant to corrosion. The thicker oxidized layer protects the finished part from being exposed to moisture, oxygen, and other factors. Sealed items are even more corrosion resistant. The outer coating is also extremely hard, typically much harder than the original metal. In many cases, a thick hard anodized coating can be as hard as tool steel. The most common specification is Mil -A-8625 Type III.
Bead-blasted Stainless:
Stainless barrels and rifle actions can be bead blasted to give a semi matt or matt finish. This can be oiled and left as a stainless natural final finish or provides the basis of futher coating processes.
