Ceramic Coating Monobloc Slides

I am considering ceramic coating Monobloc slides with CeraKote (http://www.cerakoteguncoatings.com). This would be for threefold reasons: 1) wear mitigation 2) wear compensation, and 3) less friction.

Wear mitigation: The stuff is hard and would stop the principal reason for air leakage.
Wear compensation: The MC160 coating is air cured and one coat provides a 0.5 - 1.0 mil thickness coating. This might be perfect to replace material lost in worn slides. Perhaps it can be thinned to keep the thickness on the thin side. A 1 mil increase in the slide diameter should be acceptable for worn-in slides.
Friction: All the firearms coatings are said to reduce friction, but they have a "micro-slick C110" coating that is said to be specially formulated for sliding parts. It is air cured and provides a 0.1 - 0.5 mil thickness coating. I have found no data on its durability.

Both products are for spray gun application. Thus it is possible to mask off the carb bodies and apply the coating to the internal bores in lieu of the slides. It can also be a DIY, and as such the product costs only US$35. The website includes application data.

Obviously, this treatment does nothing to remove out-of-concentricity, or bore taper, but if the slides and bores are marked so they can be matched on re-assembly, such diameter imperfections will be matched. Also, there is no control to make up lost material in severely worn slides/bores, but whatever is gained should be an improvement.

Anyone see any problems, pitfalls, have comments, or has done this?

Slick

My only thought - If ceramic flakes off, not good for engine.

My only thought - If ceramic flakes off, not good for engine but then there are chrome plated brass slides . . . . .

xbacksideslider said:

My only thought - If ceramic flakes off, not good for engine.

Click to expand...

Good point John. From what I understand about the product, IF APPLIED PROPERLY to firearms, it positively does not come off. Manufacturer's data sheet says it can be applied to all metals. But this point is why I would seek out a manufacturer's certified applicator to do the work, rather than DIY.

Slick

probably no worse than the chrome coming of the slides. I have had that experience with them and would not use or recommend them.

xbacksideslider said:

My only thought - If ceramic flakes off, not good for engine but then there are chrome plated brass slides . . . . .

Click to expand...

I don't understand the point of plating and coating of slides. The carb bodies are what wears, aren't they?

the original slides were of the same materiel and as such was the main cause of slide-body wear whereas dissimilar materials don't have this issue.

L.A.kevin said:

I don't understand the point of plating and coating of slides. The carb bodies are what wears, aren't they?

Click to expand...

Even though you probably do have a mil wear in the bore, it's not uniform. It's usually front and back the sides may have no wear at all. Be prepared to hone out a little to achieve roundness or it may be too tight. Otherwise I think the coating is a good idea, I've used it in industry and it will not flake off.

Jaydee

Ever head that Yamaha used a Teflon coating on the throttle slides only on their 350 YPVS :?: :idea:

I had this on mine, and after a very high mileage, I just purchased new slides from the spares dealer.

jaydee75 said:

Even though you probably do have a mil wear in the bore, it's not uniform. It's usually front and back the sides may have no wear at all. Be prepared to hone out a little to achieve roundness or it may be too tight. Otherwise I think the coating is a good idea, I've used it in industry and it will not flake off.

Jaydee

Click to expand...

Jaydee75...you called it! I have about 6 mil F - B wear on the slides. I have not charged into this since I agree with you that it may become too tight.

Slick

If someone can go into the inoalist@yahoo, they might be able to find a post by Rick Simms. He used an airbrush to apply gear kote to his carbs. He then baked these at 300 or 350 for an hour. I don't remember if he used the slide as a hone before or after they were baked. I looked but I'm not very computer savvy, someone else might have more luck. It would be about 8 to 10 years ago.