Apologies to Daft Punk for the headline. Cerakote is cheaper than most paint jobs but claims to be lighter, corrosion resistant and more resistant to abrasion. Will Cerakote be your next respray?
Over to Matt from Cerakote Up North to explain things further…
Cerakote is an ultra thin film technology that is in a paint form. The base of the paint is a solvent, this is the carrier of the ceramic particles in the paint. When we spray the paint – through very professional high quality Iwata LPH-80 spray guns – the solvent evaporates as the particles hit the part being coated and a 25 to 40 micron coating is left on the part.
What are some other benefits?
Over 200 colours. Plus any colour can be mixed with any other colour for custom applications.
Metallics and clear coats plus Cerakote FX (which is a metallic or pearl powder added to the paint) can achieve even more customisation, plus stencilling and Ombre designs.
Only 25-40 microns so it is four times thinner than powder coat. This means parts are given a coating that shows all the machined detail and welds etc. Plus Cerakote is three to four times lighter than powder coat.
In a corrosion test Cerakoted stainless steel outlasted plain stainless steel in a salt chamber by over 2,000 hours (24 hours versus 2034 hours).
Cerakote also outlasted any other coating in an abrasion test. And impact tests (being shot with rubber slugs from shotguns at point blank range) did not result in any cracking, even though the panels themselves bent and warped.
This frame was originally pink, the customer fancied a change and picked the Lollipop purple with black logos (logos are decals added by the customer) We turned this around within two days as the customer had a race meeting they wanted to attend on the newly finished bike.
The custom Cerakote frame above cost the customer £330. That’s one coat of Cerakote on the frame and swingarm including the crank refurb and Cerakote in a second colour. No primer, no lacquer, one good coat (50 microns), all threads were coated, stem area, headstock, swingarm pivots, bottom bracket area.
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Cerakote UP North Contact Info
If anyone would like to discuss Cerakote for their MTB or road bike project please get in touch with me (Matt) at Cerakote UP North – Based in Lancaster 01524 963232, mobile 07791 292 683 email: matt@howefab.uk
We would be happy for customers to visit to see the process, the quality and look of finished Cerakote parts and the huge range of colour options available.
Can you repaint carbon frames?
“all threads were coated” – is that a mistake, or can you really spray this into the bolt holes?
all threads headset etc with 50 microns? that’s enough to change a bearing fit significantly?
“all threads were coated” – is that a mistake, or can you really spray this into the bolt holes?
Was wondering exactly the same thing, 100 micron reduction in diameter could certainly have an effect.
Also the coating is 25-40 microns, but the Five had 50 microns applied. Again, typo or something else?
Other than those details, think cerakote would tempt me to do a repray (if my bike wasn’t fairly old and fairly neglected)
Might even add enough material to stop certain pressfit bottom brackets from creaking…
I wanted to try some of this stuff a few years ago for motorbike parts but it was totally unavailable in the UK. Can’t help thinking how awesome a Geometron would look in a fancy colour.
You can see the coating on the inside of the swing arm bearing seats and the shock mount!
To be fair – from the factory those shock mounts are covered in powdercoat. That era of Five clamps the bearings on place too, so might not care about the ID reduction
Cerakote also outlasted any other coating in an abrasion test.
What form did this abrasion test take? How does the coating stand up to real world riding in good old UK grit and mud?
Hi, Yes we can Cerakote Aluminium, steel, polymers, plastics and Carbon fibre. Some slightly different processes and Cerakote series are used for different materials. Cheers Matt
The reply link doesnt seem to allow a direct reply!
This is the link to the abrasion test: https://youtu.be/ksj-XJzVQik
UK grit and mud will affect any finish over time. But being ceramic Cerakote does not allow water ingress so you will not get the capillary action of water getting between the surface and the coating resulting in popping the coating off and leaving a corroded surface underneath.
Can’t help thinking how awesome a Geometron would look in a fancy colour.
You and me both. Stop torturing yourself!
Raw is still good though.
Cerakote can coat threads, nuts and bolts. We do it all the time. The fit is not affected and the cerakote stays on the threads.
Raw is awesome, Cerakote have a clear laquer that gives all the protection of ceramic but can be applied on polished alloy surfaces. It wont allow water ingress and capillary action corroded between the surfaces and the Cerakote
Thanks for the reply. Any tests showing how good the abrasion resistance is on a non-flat surface, like a tube?
It’s 25-40 microns (50mm microns is a typo) 😎
Just noticed one of the official Cerakote colours is called ‘NRA Blue’. There’s one for the Republicans amongst us.
I’m sure we could sort that out alongside the rest on powder coat and a lacquered frame.
Cerakote is not indestructible just like any other finish but the difference is that Cerakote doesn’t allow water incress if it gets chipped or scratched. This is a major plus point.
Raw is awesome, Cerakote have a clear laquer that gives all the protection of ceramic but can be applied on polished alloy surfaces. It wont allow water ingress and capillary action corroded between the surfaces and the Cerakote
That’s something I’ll keep in mind for future. I had issues with sweat staining my raw finish in the past but resolved that with liberal use of phosphoric acid on one raw bike, whereas my other raw bike is fine. I’m aware normal lacquer on raw polished isn’t a particularly durable finish.
Yes all threads can be coated. This bike went back together easily, no powder coat to rub down to try to make fit and all surfaces around the bottom bracket and headstock sprayed and protected inside and out
Any tests showing how good the abrasion resistance is on a non-flat surface, like a tube?
I’m sure we could sort that out alongside … powder coat and a lacquered frame.
That would be a very interesting test, would love to see the results of that.
Cerakote looks amazing, if it proves to be at least as abrasion resistant as powder I’d be up for a respray.
I once spent about 2 days polishing my Geometron to a mirror finish. It looked amazing but it was starting to dull before I even got the thing built. It was back to normal after a few rides.
A highly polished G1 with a clear finish would be amazing.
I need to know how to reply and it link the message I’m replying to as the reply side isn’t working
Use the “B-QUOTE” button, and paste the original message inside the tags.
Use the “B-QUOTE” button, and paste the original message inside the tags.
Just noticed one of the official Cerakote colours is called ‘NRA Blue’. There’s one for the Republicans amongst us.
i think National Racing Alliance 😉 there are some oddly named colours that’s for sure!
You can see the coating on the inside of the swing arm bearing seats and the shock mount!
This frame went together fine, around these areas we would do around 25 micron coating and then areas under the frame rails and around the headstock tube (not inside the headstock tube) around 40 microns.
I have nothing to add beyond purrrrrrrple…!
Some of the main benefits:
250-1000 degrees centigrade temp range without affecting the coating or colour (range depends on the Series of cerakote used)
Thermal shock resistant Totally resistant to brake fluid, wheel wash, brake cleaner, acid cleaners, petrol/diesal. If it chips it wont allow water ingress so the chip stays a chip it does not haze or crack paint around the chip. Totally resistant to road salt, mud, road grime etc Ultra thin 25-40 microns single coating process.
No lacquer and no primer to think about.
We can Cerakote designs onto the frame and leave no ridge between the Cerakote layers, unlike decals that will peel off and hold dirt and grime on the edges of the logo.
Looks good. Any reason why you couldn’t clear coat steel with it?
Plenty of companies have had difficulties with clear-coated steel rusting under the lacquer over time, some have stopped offering it because they’ve not been able to get it right.
That would be a very interesting test, would love to see the results of that.
Cerakote looks amazing, if it proves to be at least as abrasion resistant as powder I’d be up for a respray.
We will set up a test as soon as we can, its on the cards to do this but we need to find some time as the workshop is quite busy at the moment coming out of the summer months as we do alot of motorcycle parts as well as everything else.
That’s something I’ll keep in mind for future. I had issues with sweat staining my raw finish in the past but resolved that with liberal use of phosphoric acid on one raw bike, whereas my other raw bike is fine. I’m aware normal lacquer on raw polished isn’t a particularly durable finish.
Contact me directly and we can go through the options on the MC5100, I would be up for doing some extra MTB related tests on it also.
A link to our facebook, showing some other projects we do and alot of colour options etc: https://www.facebook.com/TopyokesUK
A highly polished G1 with a clear finish would be amazing.
TBH I like the slightly dull look my G15 has at the moment – it’s nice and even so doesn’t look out of place. However, oooft
Contact me directly and we can go through the options on the MC5100, I would be up for doing some extra MTB related tests on it also.
I’ll see. I might be exchanging one of my polished frames for an anodised black one (Geometron owners, we can’t help but fanny around with stuff) so might not have the issue to deal with in future if it all works out.
Looks good. Any reason why you couldn’t clear coat steel with it?
Plenty of companies have had difficulties with clear-coated steel rusting under the lacquer over time, some have stopped offering it because they’ve not been able to get it right.
That is a question I am going to ask Cerakote technical now, personally I cant think why it cannot be done as we have clear cerakote lacquers available for all surface finishes.
so whats the crack… i send you my frame with everything removed and you paint it?
Does it go over the existing paint? or strip back to bare then painted?
If there is any damage to the frame, chips, scuffs etc are you able to fill/fix those?
And is there a pallet of colours to browse?
@cerakote_up_north Not bike related (car) however how is the colour match between plastic and aluminium parts (coated in the same colour)? Do they come out indistinguishable? Is there any texture to the finish (or can there be)?
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