THE PHANTOM FINISHING PROCESS

Getting Catalogued:               As soon as your firearm enters the shop it is logged in and a work order tag is created. Projects are placed in the queue primarily as a first come first serve basis. However, LEO and Military projects always take precedence over civilian projects. The project is then secured until it is time for prep.

Disassembly:                         Each project is disassembled and all parts to be coated are separated from the parts that are not to be coated. The uncoated parts are returned to their secure location until assembly.  The parts that are being coated first go in a chemical bath where the oils and greases are removed.

Chemical Bath:                The parts are placed in a strainer and are submerged in an oil dissolving chemical and then scrubbed clean, this primarily applies to metal parts. In the case of plastics a quick wipe down with the chemical is used so as to not harm the plastic with the chemical bath.  When the parts are clean then they are off to the media blaster.

Media Blasting:                With the parts cleaned the parts are placed in a media blast cabinet and stripped of all existing finishes that will interfere with the applied coating process. The media that is used is very soft to ensure that the softer metals are not scarred. Even if there is no original finish that needs to be removed the surface is still blasted to ensure a uniform finish that adheres properly.

                                        In the case of scopes and sensitive electronics the component is not placed in the blast cabinet, but instead is hand sanded with steel wool and/or light sandpaper. In the case of scopes that typically have a milspec anodizing on them the anodizing is not removed, but thoroughly ‘roughed’ up so that the coating can properly bond.

                                       From here the parts and components are hung on a rack and are brought into the spray room. If they are being sent out to Ionbond then they are carefully boxed up and sent out to Ionbond so that they can apply their coating.

The Coating (Cerakote):       Whence the proper color and sheen has been mixed and placed in the HVLP or Air Brush Gun, it is all about properly applying the Cerakote to your project. With H series applications the parts are placed in the oven and cured with a proper temperature to time ratio. With C series applications the project will hang for several days to ensure a proper level of curing before being handled. If a camouflage pattern is being applied to your project then all parts will get a 1 color base coat. After that the pattern is applied using artistic methods of stencil placement and hand fades. After the parts have properly cured they are brought out and go back on the bench for reassembly.

The Conclusion:               The project is all assembled and ready to return to its rightful owner. All projects are guaranteed to not flake, chip, or peel. No chemical that I am aware of can harm Cerakote. However, Cerakote is not indestructible and normal wear and tear is to be expected. If any of these things do take place contact us immediately to have the issues resolved.