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Thread: what finish for colt LW Commander?

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    29th June 2008
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    what finish for colt LW Commander?

    I want to re-finish my Colt Commander (aluminum frame) after gun smith work. Tired of thin blue finish surface rusting. Want to keep it black, if possible but want it durable to the extreme! What finish to use?
    Thought about Ceracoat, does it work on aluminum frame? NP3, tough not dark but would work. Help me out on this, guys.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    2nd June 2004
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    Are you concerned about the slide rusting? You mention an alloy frame, but aluminum alloy doesn't rust, and alloy frames can't be blued, they are typically anodized.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  3. #3
    Join Date
    4th June 2004
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    Wilson Combat refinished my LW Commander in Armor-Tuff and I'm very happy with the results. I had the frame done in green with the slide and all small parts black.

    https://www.wilsoncombat.com/1911-cu...tion/#finishes

  4. #4
    Join Date
    9th June 2004
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    Ion Bond is a hard dark treatment/finish. I think they can even apply it to aluminum. Expensive, though.

    The spray n bake coatings like Cerakote will work on steel and aluminum. The applier needs to know what he is doing, aluminum needs to be blasted just enough to roughen it for "tooth" to hold the coating but not to grind all the anodized surface away.

    If your aluminum frame was not cut up in the gunsmithing or much worn, I would leave it alone. I have a Sig-Sauer that was exposed to smoke and water. The steel finish is blotchy without being rusty, but the anodized aluminum receiver was untouched.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    30th March 2015
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    Don't be intimidated by what you may hear about Cerakote. I've done several 1911 frames and a two AR receivers and I find it's easier to work with than most spay paints. After some disappointing results using Brownell's Gunkote, I bought a cheap air brush set up from a local craft store and so far the Cerakote has held up very well. You will get a much nicer, uniform finish if you lightly sand blast or glass bead first, but it will stick to just about any surface as long as it's free of grease or oil of any kind, even oil from you hands. With the air brush it dries almost instantly, and you can recoat as needed, hang it in a toaster oven for a couple hours and your good to go.
    Likes (1) :
    oldCop (26th September 2017)


  6. #6
    Join Date
    10th September 2005
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    I had my old LW Commander's frame Cerakoted and I'm very happy with the results. However, I left the slide in the original blue, and I think the contrast is pretty attractive.

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