Ruger LCP Max Slide Coating Issues

[Alex G]

Recently purchased an LCP MAX several months back and have been carrying it off an on. I’ve normally wiped the slide down occasionally with a silicone rag and haven’t had any issues, until just getting it out after several weeks in its case. The slide had surface rust on the rear serrations fairly bad, so after wiping off the loose stuff, I decided to soak it in CLR to remove the rust like I’ve done on many gun parts in the past.

Before^
Little did I know that whatever cheap coating Ruger uses would completely strip off after only 10 minutes in CLR. SO, no time like the present to learn how to refinish a slide I suppose!

After^
Looking for ideas that would give it a nice coating, while making it more rust and scratch resistant than the previous Ruger coating. So far I’ve considered Cerakoting, Duracoting (the aerosol can stuff) and case hardening the slide. I’d rather not do a cold blue, as while it would look decent, it doesn’t do much of anything to prevent rust.


Any suggestions welcome!

 

[BBBBill]

Cerakote over fresh Parkerizing.

 

[Alex G]

Cerakote over fresh Parkerizing.

Any reason why to parkerize first? I’ve read and seen that cerakote should go on straight over the bare steel

 

[LoonWulf]

Good park would give the cerakote some extra bite I'd think. It's not something Ive tried before tho.

 

[Alex G]

Good park would give the cerakote some extra bite I'd think. It's not something Ive tried before tho.

Interesting! will have to look into it

 

[Kp321]

Lesson learned, anything that will remove rust will remove blue.

 

[BBBBill]

Any reason why to parkerize first? I’ve read and seen that cerakote should go on straight over the bare steel

Pretty much what LoonWulf said. I've not done it myself. I get the recommendation from one of the top 1911 smiths in the country, Chuck Rogers, who builds very high dollar pistols for discriminating gun nuts. I've handled a couple of his builds and they are exquisite.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I use duracoat, through an airbrush. Works well and is tough as nails once fully cured.

 

[Bartojc]

Note to self *DO NOT* soak blued parts in CLR.

I probably would not think that this would happen, but it makes sense when you think about it.

-Jeff

 

[BBBBill]

Little did I know that whatever cheap coating Ruger uses would completely strip off after only 10 minutes in CLR...

CLR is Calcium ,Lime, and Rust Remover. Bluing is RUST. A special form of rust, but still rust. Nothing wrong with Ruger's coating.

 

[Steve762us]

I want to say the main ingredient in CLR is phosphoric acid (same as ospho, etc). The slide appears in the pic, similar to steel after a soak in phosphoric
acid--sort of a "parkerizing lite" finish. As is, I think you could probably get good spray -kote finish results, with adequate (aka "perfect and complete" ) degreasing.

 

[wiscoaster]

Make it two-tone!! Cerakote the slide with "sniper gray".

 

[Alex G]

Make it two-tone!! Cerakote the slide with "sniper gray".

This is actually what I’m leaning towards! I’ve got an air compressor, just need the cerakote and spray gun. It’s a detailed application process, but it would also be neat to learn how to do it, too