Frequently Asked Questions

6254 Powers Ave., Suite One

Jacksonville, FL 32217

Phone: 904-425-2791

Fax:      904-638-6481

REFINISHING:

Q: How does Cerakote compare to DuraCoat or KG Guncote?

A:      As a Mil-spec coating Cerakote has been highly tested for military use.  Through an independent military test facility, Cerakote proved to be 7 1/2 times more wear resistant that any other firearm coating available (see chart on our refinishing page)  including DuraCoat and KG.  Further testing showed Cerakote to be 50 times more resistant to corrosion over DuraCoat and KG Guncote.  So if it is good enough for the military to use , it is good enough for us.  Remember that we stand behind our product and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Q: How does Cerakote compare to a hard chromed finish?

A:      Cerakote is available in a wide variety of colors including flats, mil-spec colors, and metallic's.  The negative of hard chrome is once you hard chrome your gun you cannot make changes such as lightning cuts, checkering, and the like due to breaking the hard chrome finish. Once you cut into your hard chrome it will allow rust and corrosion to enter the surface.  With Cerakote you can make these types of changes or change colors without any problems.  Using Cerakote you get a very durable finish with corrosion protection and the flexibility to truly customize your firearm.

Q: What is the turnaround time for refinishing?

A:      We work very hard to give you a reasonable turnaround time on your refinishing, but this can vary from job to job depending on the work involved for each piece.  Our standard estimate for turnaround once we receive your firearm is 2 to 3 weeks for a basic refinishing job. For those with extensive surface repair or other problems it may take longer. We want your refinish job to be excellent so we must include some curing time in order to give you the best finish for your item.

Q: Will Cerakote destroy the Tenifer finish on my Glock?

A:      First,  What is Tenifer really?  "Tenifer is a trademarked name for the end result of a chemical bath nitriding process that embeds nitrogen into an iron-containing alloy to create a corrosion-resistant finish that is a dull grey in color and extremely hard. The generic term for this type of process is carbon-nitriding. Other trade names for carbon-nitriding include Melonite, Sursulf, Arcor, Tufftride, and Koline."  Tenifer is a metal penetrating treatment that goes beyond the black finish you see on the gun. Since the tenifer process embeds into the metal only the black oxide finish is removed during the preparation process for the Cerakote layer.  Your firearms retain all the benefits of “Tenifer” plus Cerakote.

Q: Why do I have to have a break-in period after my firearm is refinished?

A:      With any refinishing the new coating will add additional layers of protection to your firearm and depending on the tightness of the fit of your firearm will  require a little bit of break in for optimal operation.   Follow this link for our Break In Procedures.

Q: Can I ship my gun directly to you for work or refinishing?

A:      Yes,  you can for more information and directions for shipping please follow this link for our Shipping & Ordering Policies.

Q: Can you ship my gun directly back to me?

A:      Yes we can.   Please follow the directions listed on our Shipping  Policies page.  We are a fully licensed Federal Firearms Manufacturing Company.  FFL# 1-59-031-07-2D-09354

Q:      How durable is my Cerakote Finish? What if I scratch it?

A:      Any finish can be scratched, most scratches can be buffed out and not to worry the protection of the coating is still there.

Q:      How should I clean my Cerakote Finished Firearm?

A:      Clean you firearm as you normally would.   The finish is resistant to most common cleaning solutions and solvents, with properties stronger than your firearms original finish.

LASER ENGRAVING:

Q: What Materials can be engraved or marked?

A:      Utilizing two types of lasers, we can mark on almost any material.

· Metal (coated & bare)

· Wood

· Ivory & Bone

· Fabric & Leather

· Paper & cardboard

· Plastic (sheet, film & molded)

· Rubber (natural, synthetic & foam)

· Stone (natural & synthetic)

Q: How do I Submit Graphics?

A:      Graphics should be submitted in a black and white, high resolution, vector, bitmap or jpeg files. Vector files are preferred, as they are scalable and high resolution. The laser works on the “Trash in – trash out” premises where if the supplied graphic is not detailed and sharp, the resulting engraving will not be detailed and sharp. During the proof and quality control inspection we check all laser graphic files to insure they meet our guidelines for quality.  Should we feel your supplied graphics file will not give sufficient quality we will place the order on “hold” and contact you to discuss the problem and solutions available.  Image files should be 300 DPI or larger to get the best results.

An extra fee will be charged if graphics need to be redrawn or are not up to our requirements to insure the engraving we put on your gear is the best quality. This fee would include having to redraw graphics, or substantially altering images so superior quality is obtained.

Graphics should be sent to Ian@GPIgun.com

Q: Are there different kinds of laser engraving?

A:      Stain Mark / Surface Mark: On metals and a few plastics, this is generally a permanent dark mark with no surface texture. This is often utilized on medical components and devices that must have a non-disrupted surface, or, in the case where customers want the smooth look and feel of the marking.

         Dark Laser Engrave: In this case, your gear is actually engraved past the surface leaving an oxidized, dark, textured mark, the laser vaporizes material. This procedure requires wiping vaporized material away from the engraving. Clean up passes may be run to remove the dark oxidization color from the engraving.

         "White" or "Frosted" Etch: Particularly used on highly reflective and polished parts the laser lightly disrupts the surface of the component, leaving a mark that appears white or "frosted".

         Deep Engrave: Deep engraving is a process where the laser engraves to depths greater than .002". A depth of  .030 can be achieved with deep engraving, with the cost depending on the depth required. Due to superior level of detail over other processes, deep engraving is a smart choice for the life on the engraving and security purposes where it is harder to remove markings that are engraved into the surface and not marked on the surface.

Q: Is my surface engraving permanent?

A:      Surface engraving is permanently burned into the metal. The only way to get rid of surface engraving is if the metal is actually removed. When performing a surface mark on anodized aluminum you get a white mark, where the laser actually removes/bleaches the anodization.

Q:      How long does it take to engrave my gear?

A:      We can generally complete all engraving tasks within a 5-day work week, which depends on the materials and quantity to be engraved.

Same day rush orders can be made at an extra cost as long as:

· You pre-send your graphics for approval

· You call and schedule you engraving time with us to make sure we have time on the day you bring your gear.

· Your gear has been shipped for a.m. or brought into the shop before 11 a.m.

Q: Can you restore my manufacturer’s logo and markings?

A:      Logos and markings can be restored if they are completely gone, as it is almost impossible to restore partial logos because we could not ensure the logo would be perfectly traced and engraved. 

Click on the links below for that section.

For questions or problems with this website please contact the webmaster

© 2010 GPI, All Rights Reserved