As if I need something else to do, I plan to start Cerakoting flashlights for people. So here is the plan. Y’all nominate somebody in the US and I will take a cheap light, coat it, and send it to somebody to evaluate prior to me opening up my for sale thread. That way it’s not just my pictures and opinion. It’ll be a cheap light so they can do a damage test on it to show what abuse the coating will take compared to regular anodizing. I will even send a duplicate light. That way, if they drop it at 5 feet to concrete, they can drop both of them to compare. They will both have damage, this is not an indestructible finish, but it should/will be better than anodizing. I normally would just coat a piece of pipe, but I want to be able to show the coating on a light to somebody else. That way, if you all are happy with the results, you won’t have any issues sending me lights and you will have a unbiased opinion of another member here. It can be whoever gets the most votes and is willing to take a few minute for a review and testing. RMM, Dale (DBCstm), KKW, Old Lumens, Nitro, whoever.
I’m worried these lights might not be the best test subjects. Denting the aluminum itself or breaking thw whole light in half is a possibility with Dale. Can the coating be blamed if the light underneath causes it to break?
Maybe just have dale send you one of his X6’s to coat. Then you don’t have to shell out for a cheap light, and Dale get’s to keep it when he’s done with it? He like lights with character.
Anything is possible with Dale. I bought cheap lights as I fully expect them to be destroyed. That’s part of the fun of this. Whoever gets them just needs to take pictures before the carnage and their I initial impression of the coating. After that, I don’t care. Drop them off a bridge. Hit them with a hammer. Set them on fire. Whatever floats your boat as long as it is equal punishment for both lights. I’d think it’d be cool if the tester posted a poll of realistic things people wanted to see done to them. I’m not worried about the light functioning. Hell, it wouldn’t bother me if a battery was never put in them. It’s all about Cerakote vs anodizing.
Let me add that I’d like to see:
1: scratch test- before the carnage, try to scratch each light with an object like a nail or something. Attempt to use equal pressure. Show the scratches. Then wipe each finish with oil and see if they are just as visible.
2. abrasion test- before the carnage, use sandpaper and scratch the surface the same number of times using about the same pressure. Show the scratches then wipe with oil and show them.
3. Heat- Cerakote is supposed to withstand a constant 525F. See what it can handle compared to anodizing. I’d like this to be done after the carnage though so it doesn’t damage the finish and affect the rest of the tests. Pour gas on it and set it on fire. I don’t care.
The reason I mention wiping it with oil is that I have pistols I’ve dropped and have light scratches/abrasions. I clean them with oil and the scratches disappear. I know, firearms stay oiled and flashlights don’t, but I just wanna see for myself.
Can the coating be blamed if the light underneath causes it to break?