AN INNOVATION OF NIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
866.774.7628 White City, Oregon 97503

ELITE & H-SERIESTRAINING
MANUALTRAINING VIDEO
CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO WATCH THE
ELITE & H-SERIES TRAINING VIDEOTABLE OF CONTENTS

ELITE & H-SERIESTRAINING
MANUAL
PHASE 1: DISASSEMBLY		

02

PHASE 2: DEGREASE		

03

PHASE 3: MASKING		

04

PHASE 4: SANDBLASTING		

05

PHASE 5: RACKING		

06

PHASE 6: GAS OUT		

07

PHASE 7: COATING PREPARATION

08

PHASE 8: SPRAYING

10PHASE 9: CURE SCHEDULE		14

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT16

TRAINING PROGRAM

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INTRODUCTION

ELITE& H-SERIES
Cerakote® Ceramic Coatings are designed for professionals and should beapplied by Cerakote Certified Applicators and coating professionals withproper training and equipment. This training manual is intended to be used
as a supplemental guide for certified and professional applicators. It is criticalto follow all instructions in this manual. If for any reason you are not willing to, or
cannot follow the steps in this manual, do not attempt to coat any product using
Cerakote®, or any other NIC product. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Cerakote® H-300/H-301 Clear Coatings: Please refer to the appropriate productspecific application guide at Cerakote.com
If you are coating parts that will sustain temperatures greater than 500°F or parts
that cannot be cured in an oven, refer to the high temperature coatings section at
Cerakote.com. Please refer to product specific application guide at Cerakote.com.

PHASE 1

DISASSEMBLY
Deviation from the Training Manual may yield different results in aesthetics or product performance.

Detail strip your project. If you are working with a mechanical part and are unfamiliar
with the level of disassembly, have a trained professional perform the disassembly andreassembly.
Take a photo of all the parts for accurate inventory. Make note of the substrate type oneach piece (i.e. steel, aluminum, plastic, composite, polymer, etc.).

Detail Strip your Project. Take a photo of all the parts for accurate inventory.

02

PHASE 2

DEGREASE
TIP
From this point on it is critical to avoid touching the parts with your bare hands. Use
powder-free latex (Item SE-355) or nitrile gloves to handle the parts.
Soak each metal part for 20-30 minutes in a degreaser such as acetone, brake parts
cleaner, tert-Butyl acetate or, Simple Green®. Spraying or wiping is not sufficient for metalparts; soaking is required.
Using a small Degrease Tank™ (Item SE-272) with a wire basket makes degreasing quick
and easy. To avoid losing smaller parts during the soaking process, place all smaller partsin a separate wire basket (Item SE-915). Following the soaking period, remove parts fromthe degrease tank and allow to air dry.

NOTE

DEGREASE TIP

There are alternative high-volume
degreasing methods that may be moresuitable for your situation. Please contact
the Cerakote Training Department todiscuss other degreasing processes.

Plastics, polymers, carbon fiber and fiberglass
should be thoroughly wiped down with adegreaser, such as wax and grease remover,using a lint free cloth.

Degrease your parts once your parts are detail stripped.

03

PHASE 3

MASKING
Begin by plugging and/or masking off any areas that you do not want coated.

NOTE
Improper masking with certain mechanical parts may cause tolerance or functionality issues.

Plug off any areas that you do not want coated.

Mask any areas that you do not want coated.

04

Trim any excess masking tape.

PHASE 4

SANDBLASTING
Sandblast the parts with #100 grit aluminum oxide or garnet sand at 80 to 100 PSI. Lightly
etch blast 30-40 PSI non-metal parts such as: carbon fiber, fiberglass, plastics, or polymers.

DO NOT hand sand parts as this will not yield a sufficient profile for optimal coating
adhesion.

DO NOT use any type of round blasting media such as glass beads or steel shot. Round
media will dimple the surface rather than etch it and will not yield a sufficient blast profilefor optimum coating adhesion.

DO NOT use sand or aluminum oxide that has been previously used to clean dirty,
greasy, or oily parts. Doing so will contaminate your blast media and cause possible
adhesion issues or defects in the finish.

< Sandblast parts and strive
for an even blast pattern.

Use the Shake N Blast Canister >(Item SE-221) for small parts.

TIPS FOR SANDBLASTING
If the part’s surface retains a shiny appearance after sand blasting, you have not blasted
enough. To promote maximum coating adhesion, continue to sand blast parts striving
for an even blast pattern.
Too coarse of sand or aluminum oxide will profile the parts surface too deep and won't create a
uniform finish.
Anodized parts will require sand blasting, however it is not necessary to completely remove theanodized finish. It is recommended to lightly etch blast at 30-40 PSI. Anodized parts that have been
sufficiently blasted should have a dull, matte appearance.

05

PHASE 5

RACKINGREMEMBER
Always wear powder-free latex or nitrile gloves when handling parts.
Avoid touching parts with your bare hands.

Hang or otherwise fixture your parts
so that you can access all the surface
areas with your HVLP/LVLP spraygun (Item SE-138).
A variety of metal hooks (Item SE195) in multiple sizes are ideal for
racking larger parts, while thin wireor a small parts rack (Item SE-346
and SE-347) are ideal for fixturing
screws, pins and other small parts.

Metal hooks are ideal for racking larger parts.

TIPS FOR RACKING SMALL PARTS
For smaller screws or bolts, clamp gator clip on threads.
For other small parts, clamp gator clip on a no-show
surface.
Heaviest pieces are placed at the bottom of the rack forbetter part stability.
Space parts accordingly for even coverage.

Small parts rack shown above.

06

PHASE 6

GAS OUT
Gas out will evaporate any remaining solvents from the degreasing phase while also drawing
out any possible trapped oils or contaminants. Heat metal parts in a convection style oven at
300°F (149°C) for 60 minutes.

CAUTION
Plastics, polymers, carbon fiber and fiberglass should be gassed out at a lower temperature,generally between 150˚-180˚F (65˚-82˚C) for 60 minutes.
If you’re unsure as to the temperature stability of your non-metal parts, contact the manufacturer prior
to gassing-out and curing.

SEE OIL?
If you see any oil residue or other indications
that contaminants were drawn to the surfaceof the part(s); re-clean the part(s) by repeatingphases 2, 4 and 6 (degrease, sandblast, gas
out).

Oil on slide shown.
This step will need to be repeated until nooil residue is visible after gas out. When thepart(s) are free of oil following the final gas
out process, proceed to Phase 7 Coating
Prep.

CAUTION
Allow parts to cool to room temperature prior
to re-degreasing.
Oil in seam shown07

PHASE 7

COATING PREPARATION

4 STEP PROCESS

Begin by agitating the Cerakote bottle until the coating has been mixed for 5-10 minutes. We
recommend a paint shaker (Item SE-369) for pints, quarts, and gallons. For testers, agitatingby hand is sufficient.
Determine how much Cerakote you intend touse before adding catalyst (see Table 1 Pg. 9)
Pot life for mixed Cerakote is approximately
1-2 hours in a sealed glass graduated cylinder,
beaker or aluminum spray gun cup. Mix only
what you intend to use to avoid coating waste.

STEP 1
1) Pour the desired quantity of Cerakote into a
Glass Graduated Cylinder (Item SE-147) or
Beaker (Item SE-259).

IMPORTANT!
Do not mix Cerakote and catalyst in
noncompatible plastic containers, as thismay compromise the integrity of the coating.
Compatible plastics for mixing Cerakote:
Polypropylene (PP), High-density polyethylene(HDPE) or Low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

STEP 22) Add the catalyst. See Table 1 Pg. 9 to determine
Cerakote to catalyst ratio for finish type.

STEP 3A)B)

C)3) (A) Stretch a clean, powder-free latex glove. (B) Place glove over graduated cylinder. (C) Tightly seal glove
over graduated cylinder. (D) Thoroughly mix coating by shaking for thirty seconds to one minute.

TIPS FOR AGITATION & STRAINING:
Frequent agitation of coating in the spray gun is recommended.
Colors with a high metallic content or high viscosity will require a 100-mesh strainer.
Non-metallic and low viscosity colors will require a 150-325 mesh strainer.

08

D)

MIXING PROPORTIONS
If proportions of Cerakote to catalyst are incorrect, or the combination of product and catalyst
are not thoroughly mixed, the quality and performance of the coating will be adversely affected.

NOTE
All Cerakote bottle labels list therecommended strainer size.
In-Cup 100 Mesh Strainer (Item SE-275)
In-Cup 150 Mesh Strainer (Item SE-276)
In-Cup 325 Mesh Strainer (Item SE-277)

STEP 4
4) Pour coating through the appropriate mesh strainer into the spray gun cup.

CLEANING EQUIPMENT
Clean all containers and equipment with acetone or a compatible degreasing solvent. A Cerakote
Wash Bottle (Item SE-257) and Cylinder Bottle Brush (Item SE-389) are helpful tools for cleaning.

TABLE 1: ELITE & H-SERIES CATALYST RATIOSFINISHCATALYST RATIO

Lower Gloss

24:1

Standard Gloss

18:1

Higher Gloss

12:1

09

PHASE 8SPRAYING
CAUTION: Spray in a well-ventilated, well-lit spray booth. Wear a respirator, protective gloves &safety glasses. Refer to the SDS for additional safety and handling information at Cerakote.com.

BEFORE SPRAYING: NOTES & TIPS
Check that all plugged and masked areas are secure. Remember Cerakote is applied very thin, andmost areas do not require masking. If you are unsure, contact Cerakote for assistance.
Ensure all parts to be coated are hung securely to avoid contact during the application process.
Do not coat mechanical parts that may cause tolerance or functionality issues.
During the application process, ensure that the coating is properly agitated. Due to the high levelof solids, Cerakote settles quickly and should be agitated frequently.
Do not begin the spraying process unless you are able to complete the curing or flash curing
process within 1-2 hours following the initial application. Letting parts sit uncured or un-flashedfor extended periods of time can reduce the performance of the finished product.

SPRAY GUN SETTINGS
Figure 1

1. PATTERN ADJUSTMENT KNOB
Controls spray pattern of atomized fluid.

Adjust in (Clockwise) for detailed circular pattern.
Adjust out (Counter-Clockwise) for larger oval pattern.
Use small circular pattern with lower airpressure for detailed work.
Use large pattern for large areas of coverage.
Counter
Clockwise

Clockwise

2. FLUID ADJUSTMENT KNOB

Controls the amount of fluid atomized through the gun.
Adjust in (Clockwise) for fine or detailed spray areas.
Adjust out (Counter-Clockwise) for full fluid usage.
This knob will affect the spray pattern when adjusted
in or out.
Use to adjust desired material flow.
Counter
Clockwise

Clockwise

3. AIR ADJUSTMENT KNOB
Regulates inlet air pressure.
Too low of air pressure will cause splatter.
Too high of air pressure will cause dry spray.

10

TESTING SPRAY GUN SETTINGS
Practice spraying on an easel pad to adjust the spray pattern and to practice your spraying
technique. Adjust the spray gun to achieve a 2-3” oval fan pattern, while spraying from a
distance of 3-5”. For hard to reach areas, adjust your spray gun settings to achieve a 1” oval withmoderate sized splatter.
A good practice exercise is to spray and curea few machine screws and matching nuts.
You should be able to screw the nut onto themachine screw without difficulty. If you can’t,
you may be spraying too heavily. For a more
precise measurement of coating thickness, werecommend using a Cerakote Mil Thickness
Gauge (Item SE-321).
Testing spray gun settings

BEFORE SPRAYING YOUR PART(S)
Blow off the parts with dry compressed air to makesure there is no trapped media in holes, seams
or pockets. Blasting media left behind will cause
surface defects. Make sure the parts are at room
temperature before application.
Start spraying in the most difficult areas of eachpart, then progress and finish to the easier areas.
This should help avoid runs and thin spots. For best
application results, adjust PSI settings as follows:
H-Series 20-25 PSI, Elite Series 25-30 PSI.

Before spraying, blow off all your parts.

APPLYING CERAKOTE
Strive for even coverage when spraying. The coating should appear wet but not so wet that thecoating will run. Cerakote will be wet to the touch until is it oven cured.
For H-Series, coating thickness will be 1-2 mils andElite Series is .6 – 1.1 mils. This is generally achieved
with 2 – 3 coats. The number of coats applied will varydepending on the color’s standard mil thickness range,
spray gun settings and spraying technique. Refer tothe TDS for the standard mil thickness range specificto the color or series.

When spraying, part should appear wet.
11PHASE 8SPRAYING CONTINUEDNOTE
If any coated parts are touched before the curing phase, they will need to be refinished. It is
recommended to remove wet Cerakote with a degreasing solvent such as Acetone or break parts
cleaner, followed by drying the parts in an oven until the residual coating has become tack free (dryto the touch). Sandblast to remove any contaminants and re-spray.

WET APPLICATIONTIPS FOR APPLICATION
Use an HVLP/LVLP spray gun with 0.8mm tip.
Recommended: IWATA LPH-80 (Item SE-138).
Spray with a 2-3” oval fan pattern from a distance of 3-5”.
H-Series: 20-25 PSI (operating pressure).
Elite Series: 25-30 PSI (operating pressure).
Use proper lighting to assist in seeing coating wet out.

NOTE
Allow parts to sit ambiently for a minimum of fifteen minutes following the application. Cerakote
will still be wet to the touch until it is oven cured.

DRY SPRAY: The most common application error is not getting enough solvent transfer.
Dry spray has a rough, sandpaper like appearance and istypically caused by:
Spraying too far away from the partToo much air pressure
Not enough material flow on the spray gun
Spraying in a hot environment

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CORRECTING DRY SPRAYTECHNIQUE
Ensure that you are no further away than 5" from the part.
Maintain a manageable speed to allow coating solvents to transfer onto the part(s).

SPRAY GUN SETTINGS
Adjust fluid volume to ensure you have adequate material being applied to"wet out" the part(s) in one coat.
Check that air pressure is no higher than 30 PSI for both H-Series and Elite Series.

ENVIRONMENT
Avoid spraying in extreme conditions (Ideal spraying conditions are between 60°-80°F (15°-26°C) and<70% humidity.).

MISTAKES
If a mistake is made during spraying (such as a run), do not attempt to wipe down the partand re-spray. Rather, remove the wet coating with Brakleen® or Acetone, allow the part to dry,re-sandblast, and re-coat.

CLEANING UP
Be sure to clean your tools and spray equipment with a compatible cleaning solvent. Contact
Cerakote with any questions regarding cleaning solvent recommendations. Dispose of any unused
catalyzed Cerakote according to local and state regulations.

Dispose of any unused catalyzed Cerakote and clean all parts of your spray gun.

DO NOT RETURN ANY UNUSED CATALYZED CERAKOTE TO THE BOTTLE
Pouring catalyzed Cerakote back into the original bottle will render the remaining coating useless.

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PHASE 9

CURING SCHEDULE
RECOMMENDED CURE TEMPERATURES
H-Series and Elite Series Cerakote have standard curing temperatures used for performance
testing. For curing temperatures specific to your substrate, please see the cure schedule table
listed below. Curing schedules specific to colors can be found in the Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
under product description.

FINAL ASSEMBLY
After curing is completed, remove the parts from the oven and allow them to cool. Parts areready for reassembly and use once they are cool enough to handle.

After curing is completed allow parts from the oven to cool, then assemble.

CURE SCHEDULE FOR ELITE & H-SERIES
If you are unsure as to the temperature stability of your parts, contact the manufacturer prior to curing.

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MATERIALTEMPERATURE

TIME

Metal H-Series

250° F (121° C)

2 Hours

Metal Elite Series

300° F (148° C)

1 HourPlastic and Polymer

150° - 180° (65° - 82° C)

2 hours

Composites i.e. Carbon Fiber or Fiberglass

150° Fahrenheit or 65° Celsius

2 Hours

FLASH CURE FOR STENCIL APPLICATIONS
For custom applications, a flash cure is required before applying vinyl stencils. Flash cure at
150-180°F (65-82°C) for 10 to 30 minutes, or just to the point of tack free (dry to the touch).
Allow parts to cool to room temperature before applying additional colors.

FLASH CURING (CUSTOMIZATION)
MATERIALTEMPERATURE

TIME

Metal, Plastic, Polymer, and Composits

150°-180°F (65°-82°C)

10-30 Minutes

NOTE
When using a metallic color as the base finish, an extended flash cure time of 10 to 15 minutes
after the point of tack free (dry to the touch) may be required to ensure coating adhesion whenremoving stencils with custom applications.

15

SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT
16

LPH80 1.2 FLUID NOZZLE &NEEDLE Item: SE-238

IWATA SPRAY GUN Item: SE-138
SPRAY GUN STAND Item: SE-301

IWATA SPRAY GUN CLEANING KITCERAKOTE 15" VINYL CUTTER
Item: SE-349

ANTI-STATIC TWEEZER
7 PIECE SET Item: SE-366

HIGH BAKE VINYL FILM

PLASTIC RAZOR BLADES - 10 PACK

Item: SE-345

Item: SE-367

Item: SE-258

PRICING & COMPLETE LINEUP AVAILABLE AT WWW.CERAKOTE.COM/SHOP/CERAKOTE-EQUIPMENT

We recommend the following products for the best results during the Cerakote prep andapplication process, available at Cerakote.com.

SHAKE N BLAST CANISTER

AIR PAINT SHAKER 1 GALCERAKOTE DEGREASING TANK

Item: SE-221

Item: SE-369

Item: SE-272

PRO SERIES SWATCH SET
Item: SE-2401

CERAKOTE MIL THICKNESSGAUGE Item: SE-321

CERAKOTE INFRARED
THERMOMETER Item: SE-322

CERAKOTE HOOK KITHEAVY DUTY SWIVEL HOOK

SMALL PARTS RACK - 6 CLIP

Item: SE-195

Item: SE-387

Item: SE-346

SMALL PARTS RACK - 10 CLIP
Item: SE-347

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TRAINING PROGRAM
Cerakote offers the only one-on-one training program for Cerakote ceramic coatings. Our instructors
consult with each customer prior to the training course to custom design each class to meet the specificneeds of each customer. Customers can apply any of Cerakote's industry leading ceramic coatings ontheir own parts, or parts supplied by Cerakote. Courses are taught at Cerakote HQs training facility inWhite City, Oregon, or onsite for qualified applicants. While every class is custom tailored to meet eachcustomer’s needs, below are topics typically covered in most courses.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?
• Metal preparation• Problem solving and troubleshooting defects• Gas out

• Proper equipment and operation• Racking techniques• Re-works• Coating selection for various applications• Cost analysis• Basic to Advanced coating application• Marketing strategies• Proper curing techniques and schedules• Stenciling & camo techniques

For more information about the Cerakote Training Program, give us a call at 1-866-774-7628

CLASS LOCATIONWhite City is located in Southern Oregon. We are
5 miles from Medford, Oregon, and approximately
280 miles from Portland, Oregon.
7050 6th Street
White City, OR 97503

CLASS LOCATION
Rogue Valley International Airport (MFR) is located 6 miles from NIC and provides daily flights fromseveral major west coast airports. All major rental car companies are located at the Rogue Valley
International Airport.

LODGING
Cerakote has negotiated discounted rates with several hotels in close proximity to our facility.
Information can be found at cerakote.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION
If at any point during the Cerakote application you have a question,please contact us at info@cerakote.com, or call us toll free at 1-866-774-7628.

STAY CONNECTED! Subscribe to Cerakote’s emails at Cerakote.com to receive the latest news,
information, and specials.

Additional Training Videos - YouTube.com/Cerakote
Web address - www.Cerakote.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/Cerakote
Instagram - @Cerakote
Twitter - @CerakoteFinish
Pinterest - Cerakote Coatings
SDS Sheets - Downloads section at Cerakote.com

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866.774.7628 | 7050 Sixth Street | White City, Oregon 97503