Cerakote or bead blast ID

[Tac-O]

I just picked up my rifle from the smith for a rebarrel job. I had him bead blast the barrel so it would match my Tikka action.

After getting home and looking at it in better light, I'm wondering if it's actually cerakoted. I think it was rubbing on something on my way home too, because now there is a mark where it appears to be rubbed off. I can also see very light turn marks

A. It doesn't look bead blasted
B. Bead blasting rubbing off??
C. Seeing turn marks under the bead blasting?
D. It's nowhere close to matching my action color

Thoughts? Is there any kind of bead blasting that would allow these things?

 

[shortgrass]

Let a bead blasted barrel rub against something and the bead blast will 'polish' off . There's no way to know what grit and what media Tikka uses, so a
'match' is unlikely. Barrel and action should both be blasted together if you want them to match.

 

[Tac-O]

Let a bead blasted barrel rub against something and the bead blast will 'polish' off . There's no way to know what grit and what media Tikka uses, so a
'match' is unlikely. Barrel and action should both be blasted together if you want them to match.

I did not know that. Whatever bead blast finish Tikka uses must be really burly and this one must be very fragile.

I had it in my back seat and I think the only thing it rubbed on was the plastic seat belt receptacle and/or the belt

 

[jpfrog]

That's just character. You can't get rid of it now- it has a story, and only you know and appreciate it. Enjoy that rifle!

 

[Tac-O]

I guess that's true. I hope it shoots!!

I'll be taking it out Saturday. I'm excited.

 

[GrayCreed]

What caliber? Have a Tikka too

 

[Carlos88]

Looks like it was vapor blasted.

 

[Tac-O]

What caliber? Have a Tikka too

.30-284

Looks like it was vapor blasted.

Whatever it is, I feel like I'm going to scratch it looking at it. It's got all kinds of marks on it now that I had it on my kitchen table cleaning the rail area

 

[shortgrass]

That is all that it takes to "polish" a bead blast finish, the rubbing against that plastic seat belt receptacle/belt.

 

[Backcountry sports]

I just picked up my rifle from the smith for a rebarrel job. I had him bead blast the barrel so it would match my Tikka action.

After getting home and looking at it in better light, I'm wondering if it's actually cerakoted. I think it was rubbing on something on my way home too, because now there is a mark where it appears to be rubbed off. I can also see very light turn marks

A. It doesn't look bead blasted
B. Bead blasting rubbing off??
C. Seeing turn marks under the bead blasting?
D. It's nowhere close to matching my action color

Thoughts? Is there any kind of bead blasting that would allow these things?

Looks ceracoated

 

[jrock]

It looks like it might have been blasted with aluminum oxide or some other abrasive blasting media. AL oxide cuts the metal creating microscopic edges which are easily worn down/polished. I do not consider this a viable finish.
In an attempt to reduce "scratches" on AL oxide blasted surfaces, I have used glass beads making light passes to knock the high points off. This significantly reduces the tendency to polish and I can ever so slightly lighten up the matte color to better match the action. I'm currently playing with my process and blasting medias to get better matches to factory finishes.

Its not Cerakote if it scratches that easily. Plus, I think you would see an added cost in your bill if it was.

 

[david.eustache]

That's just character. You can't get rid of it now- it has a story, and only you know and appreciate it. Enjoy that rifle!

Agony Years ago I would invest in very nice furniture on my firearms. These days my entire collection is synthetic/stainless. It sucks struggling with perfection

 

[rem.xp100]

Let a bead blasted barrel rub against something and the bead blast will 'polish' off . There's no way to know what grit and what media Tikka uses, so a
'match' is unlikely. Barrel and action should both be blasted together if you want them to match.

THIS ^^^^

I would CeraKote or GunKote it all if it were mine.

 

[gusd]

I have the barrels on my rifles bead blasted to minimize those marks just take some real fine steel wool and some hoppy's number nine and rub the barrel down it'll be all one even color and it won't show the rub marks .when I get home I can get you some pics if you would like to see what they look like.