Preparing a part
for Cerakote

Updated 19 October 2026

What to send with the quote

• A STEP file if you have one. We measure area and features from the model, plan the masking before the parts arrive and give the most accurate instant price. A drawing or clear photos with overall dimensions work if you do not.
• The material. Aluminium, steel, stainless, titanium, magnesium, a plastic or composite. It changes preparation and sometimes the finish.
• The quantity, and whether this is a one-off or the first of a batch.
• The finish, chosen in the Colour Room. You can see it on a 3D sample, or upload your own CAD and see it on your part.
• Masking notes: every thread, bore, dowel hole, bearing seat and mating face that must stay bare. If a face must be coated to a particular edge, say so.
• Condition: new machined, used, painted, powder coated or plated. Old coatings are stripped first and quoted separately.
• Your deadline, if you have one.

Tolerances: what 25 microns means

Cerakote is applied at about 25 microns (0.025 mm, 0.001 inch) per coated surface. On a bore that means the diameter closes by about 0.05 mm; on a shaft it grows by the same. For most clearance features that is nothing, and for anything with a press fit, a bearing seat, a sealing face or a tapped thread it is why we mask. Design rules we work to:

• Threads, tapped holes and dowel holes are plugged and stay bare.
• Bearing seats, bushes and press fits are masked.
• Sealing faces and gasket faces are masked unless you tell us to coat them.
• Clearance holes and cosmetic features are coated through.
• If a coated face is dimensionally critical, tell us the tolerance and we will advise, or you can machine it after coating.

What to remove before posting

• Bearings, bushes, seals, O-rings and any rubber or foam.
• Helicoils and threaded inserts if they could be damaged by blasting (we can plug them if they stay in; tell us).
• Bonded badges, labels and adhesive residue.
• Loose fasteners, studs and dowels that are not part of the coating.
• Oil, fuel and coolant. Parts should arrive dry; a quick degrease at your end is appreciated but not required, we clean every part on arrival.

Packing and sending

Wrap each part so machined faces cannot knock together in transit, label the box with the quote reference and send it to our workshop in Towcester (the address is on the quote and at the bottom of every page). If a part is damaged in transit we will tell you before it goes any further. We return parts the same way, each one wrapped so the finish arrives as it left us.

Batches and repeat work

For a production batch, send one part first if you can. We set the masking jig, confirm the finish on your part and agree an inspection standard with you, then every part in every later batch is matched to it. Tell us the expected volume and how often batches will come and we will give you a standing lead time and per-part price.

Questions people ask