CeraKote OD and FDE Leatherman Chare TTis EDC kits.

[Metropolicity]

Been slow at MPC labs mostly because Project Skinth has exploded into a full fledged business.

Finally, I got around to taking apart a couple TTi's, selecting colours and finally sending them off to Jeff at 4Bush Weapon Refinishing to get Ceracoated.

He was kind of enough to give me a great price and on such little parts too!

I was on a quest to complete 2 colour kit, a FDE/Coyote Brown and a OD/Black kit.

To match, I have selected some inexpensive folding knives that would not on only complement the tools, color wise, but save the knife blade on the TTI.

For the CB/FDE I chose the Sanrenmu GB-763, which had CB G10 scales, 8CR13MOV steel and axis lock. Nice small blade, deep belly and great for edc and now part of the CB colour guard:



Along with the CB TTI scales, I got Jeff to spray one of my favourite lights, the Ultrafire A2R5 Stainless AAA light. The clip is a chromed stainless and I left it as is to add a bit of silver to the mix.



For the OD/black colour kit, I went for a bigger, badder blade. The Ka-Bar 6002 Warthog. It's pretty crappy steel, 3CR17, which at bes,t is comparable to 420J. But it's very nice shape, damn nice to hold and had a DEEP belly for chopping. The TTI's blade shape is nice for slicing and piercing but that's about it. The OD g10 handles and black teflon blade make the cut.



The OD green scales came out better than I could ever imagine, the coating is so even, a little matte and just perfect. Notice Jeff even coated the HEADS of the bolts. THAT is attention to detail.



For lighting, I went with a little bit more of a tactical look, since it is OD green/black. I Ordered a Romisen RC-A5-Q5 in OD. AA or CR123, this light's look and performance came highly regarded. The black clip was also a bonus.



For kicks, I went to my local army surplus and picked up a pair of OD/black EMT shears. This colour combo is hard to come by in gear so why the heck not



I would highly recommend Jeff (jeff@4bushweaponsrefinishingsystems.com)

Look at all those parts! I can't wait to get them back together and then build colour coded Skinths to match. Custom gear...just can't get enough of it!



Stay tuned for more assembly, glory shots, holster porn and other updates.

HACK ON!

[tattoosteve99]

If you don't mind telling us. How much did you pay or what is his going rate?

[Metropolicity]

If you don't mind telling us. How much did you pay or what is his going rate?

As with any kind of custom anything..it's kind of project by project basis.

I would rather not say but he's super quick on replies and very honest with his time budgets. Ganging up stuff is key, switch colours mid job would increase cost.

We had many emails going back and forth and he even reminded me weeks after I had forgotten.

[Syph007]

Looks awesome metro!  LOL @ holster porn!

You beat me by a day posting my own colored stuff.  I'm picking up my HA3 SAK scales from the electroplater tomorrow!

[Metropolicity]

I have been waiting on some other items in the mail. I started carrying some SAKs once a week and I have a White, Red and Yellow carry. I am trying to make a black one, but I need to find some Black Plus scales at a reasonable cost

[Syph007]

I have been waiting on some other items in the mail. I started carrying some SAKs once a week and I have a White, Red and Yellow carry. I am trying to make a black one, but I need to find some Black Plus scales at a reasonable cost

If you mean the regular black plastic sak plus scales I have 2 sets you can have.  I tore down 2 black compacts last week, and I don't need the scales for anything.  PM me your address if you want them.

[Metropolicity]

I also forgot to mention that I am still waiting on Jeff to send me these.

The photographs of the parts are his, not mine.

[Metropolicity]

FINALLY!

I got my parts from Jeff and had some time to assemble the OD green and black Cerakoted Charge TTi. Every part of these was coated, even the pivot bolt heads.

I am waiting on a few more OD green toys to come in and I will be constructing a special Skinth to house all these precious items.

Without further delay:













When I have a bit more time, I'll be assembling the Coyote Brown/Silver one.

[ducttapetech]

oh that is very nice

[nuphoria]

Woof

[J-sews]

Looks great Eric!


A question about durability of the Cerakote; would it be possible for you to remove a scale and try a little scratch test on the back side? I'm really interested in how tough it is

[Metropolicity]

Well lets say this, I had one of my flashlights done in Coyote Brown as well and I had to install the pocket clip again.

Its one of those spring clip- clip on deals and it used to scratch the stainless when i removed it.

It clipped on and didn't scratched the cerakoat a tiny bit, but no metal showing. I imagine it's going to be harder than anodizing, not as 'chippy' as powdercoat, but it'll 'brass' on the high spots over time. These are kind of going to be limited carry special items.

[Threeme2189]

That looks excellent

But where are the pics of the tools fanned out?

[bushidomosquito]

Looks great Eric!


A question about durability of the Cerakote; would it be possible for you to remove a scale and try a little scratch test on the back side? I'm really interested in how tough it is

I've done tons of research on it because I have a great shooting Ruger bolt action that I'm planning on having sprayed. It's pretty amazing stuff. From what I've read about it the key to adhesion is prepping the surface with blasting grit of just the right coarseness that allows the ceramic particles to settle into the tiny recesses and lock themselves in while locking themselves together when baked. J4bush over at EDCForum does it right from what all his Creakote customers say. Lots of testimony from people who say their flashlight/blade has gone through plenty and look fine. The finish will show rub marks like Eric said with the clip when something hard comes up against but it's very hard to scratch through to the metal. 

[Metropolicity]

Has some time, so I took a pR0n break.

Not looking it up...making it!

Here is the Coyote Brown Charge TTi with matching Ultrafire A2R5 flashlight.





And a little bit of floating magic.



And a quick snap shot of it with it's Coyote Brown folding knife companion.

[Tofty]

Leatherman should cerakote all their aluminium charge scales. The surface finish would last longer than whatever the standard coatingg is, and it could look as good as these do.
Great colour combinations Eric.

[Metropolicity]

Leatherman should cerakote all their aluminium charge scales. The surface finish would last longer than whatever the standard coatingg is, and it could look as good as these do.
Great colour combinations Eric.

The black anno is actually a pretty thick HAIII, BUT with any coating, even Cerakote, it's as tough as it's substrate. Even the 6160 they use won't survive a 1 foot drop onto concrete.

[Tofty]

Really, thats a shame.
Still cerakotes come in some pretty exciting colours which hard anodising doesn't.

[J-sews]

Looks great Eric!


A question about durability of the Cerakote; would it be possible for you to remove a scale and try a little scratch test on the back side? I'm really interested in how tough it is

I've done tons of research on it because I have a great shooting Ruger bolt action that I'm planning on having sprayed. It's pretty amazing stuff. From what I've read about it the key to adhesion is prepping the surface with blasting grit of just the right coarseness that allows the ceramic particles to settle into the tiny recesses and lock themselves in while locking themselves together when baked. J4bush over at EDCForum does it right from what all his Creakote customers say. Lots of testimony from people who say their flashlight/blade has gone through plenty and look fine. The finish will show rub marks like Eric said with the clip when something hard comes up against but it's very hard to scratch through to the metal.

Good to hear thanks I've got a couple projects in mind...

[Syph007]

Really, thats a shame.
Still cerakotes come in some pretty exciting colours which hard anodising doesn't. didn't

Lots of colors are available now in hard anodize.  I'm going to be running HAIII orange next.

[Metropolicity]

Really, thats a shame.
Still cerakotes come in some pretty exciting colours which hard anodising doesn't. didn't

Lots of colors are available now in hard anodize.  I'm going to be running HAIII orange next.

True. But the best thing about cerakote for me is the accessibility. And potential for a DIY.

[Beerplumber]

The black came out sooo nice, not powdery like BO and smooth as satin!


Stay multi my friends

[bushidomosquito]

Even a 1 foot drop on concrete is no fair test of metals coatings. If I may geonerd out a bit, hardened tool steel, which is harder than even the stainless parts of LMs and SAKs would fall between 7 and 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. That's right in the range of quartz and silicates like granite and topaz which make up plenty of the tiny jagged minerals poking out of concrete. Most metals don't stand a chance.

Still, as metal coatings go it is top of the line for what it can stand up to.
 http://www.amelonfirearms.com/Coating_Information.html
8000 abrasion cycles, 550 hours of salt spray and 1200 degrees F for extended periods without failing! Can't hurt to have a little NASA on your Leatherman.

[Gareth]

Meant to say this before Eric, but that coyote brown and steel looks superb.

[Metropolicity]

Meant to say this before Eric, but that coyote brown and steel looks superb.

Honestly, it looks like it should be on it from stock. If I remember right, the new Coyote Brown LM OHT is supposed to be Cerakoated Aluminum scales.

I just striped down my new Spyderco Captain (I got 2 of them mwhwha) and send it to be cerakoated in the same colour scheme as the OD Green/Black one.

[Gareth]

Meant to say this before Eric, but that coyote brown and steel looks superb.

Honestly, it looks like it should be on it from stock. If I remember right, the new Coyote Brown LM OHT is supposed to be Cerakoated Aluminum scales.

I just striped down my new Spyderco Captain (I got 2 of them mwhwha) and send it to be cerakoated in the same colour scheme as the OD Green/Black one.

(Image removed from quote.)

I'm certain you're right.  Lets hope that it heralds the end of the painted Leatherman and the new age of Cerakote.

[Metropolicity]

Well said, from what I read, it's not that much harder than painting. It's a lot of prep work and an extra baking step.

I want to see if I can learn how to apply it this summer, I sure hate sending a striped down brand new $240 knife across the border.

[Metropolicity]

Woo! The black got done today. The blade, liners and the bolts of the Captain and the pen tip and clip of a stainless Embassy pen.

Can't wait for the rest of the OD green parts to get coated.