“DIY” according to the Cambridge English Dictionary is the abbreviation for do-it-yourself: “the activity of decorating or repairing your home, or making things for your home yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it for you.”

That made me wonder if I could possibly convince Adrian that learning to DIY Cerakote could actually be a “Home Improvement Project?”

The main question we answer this week is: Can a regular Joe DIY guy actually get a good Cerakote finish at home?

This project started in collaboration with BYOAR , putting together a 6.5 Grendel of our own. We started from just a bunch of pieces and were able to turn it into a fully-functioning firearm.

But the thought was born - If we were going to have our new AR in a bunch of different pieces, why not do some sort of paint job on the metal to protect it AND hopefully make it look cool?

I had previously painted an AR-15 lower and stock from Palmetto State Armory, but that thing had gotten scratched all-to-pieces from me not doing a thorough paint job. There had to be a better way.

So, if I was going to paint and protect  this AR, I wanted to do it right.

I started doing some research and came across several different coatings. I could basically use anything from regular spray paint or Duracoat to Cerakote.

We knew Adrian’s CVA CASCADE barrel had Cerakote, and we've been really impressed.

So, I watched several videos on the process and started trying to figure out if I could learn to do the Cerakote process at home. One of my neighbors has a sand blasting cabinet, my ex-neighbor in-law paints cars as a side hobby - surely he could help me learn to spray right? We can do this!

At least that's what I THOUGHT!

As any naïve DIY’er, I was ready! Several weeks later and a LOT of learning later, the project was complete. We not only had the gun PUT TOGETHER, but it was coated with a thin-film ceramic coating that would be durable and hopefully protect the firearm from corrosion for years to come! (And it actually still fired properly!)

One of the main things that impressed me through the whole process was just how accessible the Cerakote Customer Service/Certified Trainers were to help this newbie.

Through a combination of many emails and phone calls, Ken (my new friend, even though he probably got tired of me!) helped me work through each step and even taught me his favorite and most effective application techniques.

Ken was significantly helpful and patient with me each time we interacted.

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This process definitely took some money, some learning, and A LOT of time.

But applying Cerakote yourself is absolutely possible for any DIY guy that’s willing to learn.

As with most projects, the end result is the only thing people see. I'm definitely a fan of the final result; however, I also relish the opportunity to enjoy the journey of getting there.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Cerakote process and if I can’t help, I’m sure Ken can!

Please enjoy this week’s video where we review the Cerakote DIY process, and subscribe or follow us on Instagram so you can keep up with future projects.

Thank you and stay tuned!!

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