Anodized vs Cerakote: Which is Better for Your Firearms?
Are you looking to put your own unique stamp of personality onto your new AR-15’s lower receiver, but don’t know whether to anodize or Cerakote your rifle? Your search is over. We will break down all your options to aid you in your quest to find what coating works best for you and your weapon.
Feel free to jump ahead using our Table of Contents.
Why Treat Your AR-15 with Anodize?
Known as “Hardcoating” among gun manufacturers, anodization is a transformative, electrochemical procedure that coats your AR-15’s lower receiver with a decorative, corrosion-resistant sealant via immersion.
Essentially, the anodization process is the aluminum equivalent of a chemical peel for your firearm. An anodized finish adds extra levels of protection to your weapon’s innermost parts – Type III anodization being the most comprehensive form of weapons-grade reinforcement.
Type III offers the hardest anodized, friction-reducing coating available, which not only safeguards your weapon from the elements and the occasional fall, it also shores-up your rifle’s overall durability while keeping it from overheating during use in the field.
Cooler temperatures mean longer intervals between servicing your weapon, which only maximizes the lifespan of those internal parts that keep your weapon firing accurately and with precision.
Additionally, a Type III anodize-coating grafts a toughened layer of oxide to your AR rifle’s aluminum frame. The oxide treatment insulates your AR-15 from electrical interference – further safeguarding its internal metal and titanium parts from harmful outside electrical currents, which is useful when fastening electrical accessories and components to your firearm.
Anodized coating has become a veritable standard-bearer not only within the firearms industry, it’s made waves within the armed forces, as well. For instance, the anodized finish gives lower receivers a matte look, which reduces shine and aids in covert tactical operations.
Anodize has a number of favorable features to its credit, but the process is in no way perfect. For one, anodization is costly. The steep price tag includes the cost of waste removal during the treatment.
Another snag in the anodizing process is that it’s not like out-patient surgery, if you choose to anodize your rifle, be prepared for it to take some time. The procedure is a time-consuming rinse-and-repeat of sorts that sees your rifle go through multiple chemical submersions that both coat and reinforce your weapon’s outer frame.
Basically, be prepared to wait, because it’s going to take some time to properly anodize your AR-15’s lower receiver and its parts.
Anodization is not a full-proof cure-all for your AR because the treatment does not buff out external imperfections outright, and they may be even more noticeable to the naked eye.
Simple touch-ups from scuffing are also difficult to fix and normally call for re-anodization, which again, brings us back around to the process’s hefty price point.
Anodize coating also does not mesh well with all metal alloys, unfortunately. In fact, the hard coating process is limited to rifles with an aluminum frame, which may call into question anodization’s viability somewhere down the line. Other popular rifle-building metals like carbon and stainless steel – both of which are more durable than aluminum – are seemingly left out in the cold.
All that to say, anodization still sets a high bar as metal finishes go – the process has a proven track record and a respected methodology within the firearms community. If you’re looking to reinforce or just personalize the aluminum finish on your AR’s lower receiver, an anodized custom coating job is hard to beat.
Why Give Your Firearm a Cerakote Finish?
Cerakote is a popular, and oftentimes preferred, alternative to anodization. It’s a sealant that dresses your firearm with a thin, but hardened ceramic, anti-corrosive bond that, when exposed to extreme heat, creates an exceptionally tough and resilient coating.
The heating process not only ensures a better source of fitment to your receiver, but a stronger level of tolerance for your gun’s internals, which safeguard them from chemical damage, harsh environmental conditions, and your everyday wear and tear.
Like anodize, Cerakote’s coating is heat resistant, which keeps internal parts cool and in good working order. And cooler internal parts means minimized internal friction, and a better shooting experience overall.
Speaking of internals, gun enthusiasts have been applying Cerakote to some of their AR’s innermost parts. It’s been said that applying a thinly-layered coating to the bolt actually aids in shoring up the BCG’s durability while improving overall precision.
Compared to anodization, Cerakote not only produces a harder, smoother coated finish, it also offers a wider array of colors, decorative textures, and designs, which means more customization options for your AR-15.
Moreover, Cerakote adheres to most lower receiver surfaces including metal, polymer, and wood. Unlike anodize, Cerakote’s versatile surface application possibilities only further cement its viability within the gun maintenance space.
Cerakote’s popularity has only continued to grow in the realm of gun maintenance, as its tough, ceramic coating has several clear advantages over an anodized finish. But even Cerakote isn’t without its developmental shortcomings. One of the most glaring issues is that a Cerakote ceramic finish to a lower receiver costs more than one treated with anodize.
Like anodization, Cerakote’s ceramic bonding process is time-consuming, requires skilled labor, and must be done in a controlled environment. While an at-home install is not impossible, it can prove to be tricky without proper ventilation and equipment.
Also, curing time can take days for Cerakote’s coating to properly bond to a weapon’s surface, which could certainly impact both levels of production and time of completion.
Another point of contention would be the fact that while Cerakote’s coating is thinly applied, it may alter the ratio of thickness of your lower receiver. This change might negatively affect the overall fit of fastened components, thus causing the need for those accessories to be properly refitted to your rifle’s handguard.
While Cerakote ceramic bonding is extremely durable, depending on the level of rough handling over time, the coating will show signs of wear. In fact, unlike anodization, which is prone to scarring and scuffing, Cerakote’s ceramic finish has a tendency to crack in places from time to time – especially in areas of consistent contact – but only under circumstances where either prolonged use or rough handling were the culprits.
If your firearm’s Cerakote coating cracks, the repair process is not an easy DIY fix. More often than not, such an event will call for the affected area, if not the whole lower receiver, to undergo another Cerakote treatment.
That said, the results speak for themselves – the popularity of Cerakote is undeniable as polished lower receiver coatings go – its craftsmanship and bevy of customization options seem limitless and continue to outshine its competition. With Cerakote, it seems, customization is king. If price is no object and you’re only wanting the best for your firearm, Cerakote has just what you’re looking for.
Is DIY the Way to Go?
Is a DIY coat of paint the most cost-effective option? Yes. Does it still provide your weapon with a layer of protection against corrosion, scratches, and rust? Also, yes. But, a DIY custom paint job on your firearm can prove to be a bit of a gamble, so we want to give you some things to consider before getting started.
The DIY method is one that’s wholly dependent on your level of artistic ambition and ingenuity. The end result could make your weapon really stand out – certainly something to be proud of. There’s also the alternative where your AR resembles a toddler’s unfinished doodle on a restaurant placemat – understand what you’re getting yourself into before you make the attempt.
You want your weapon to end up looking clean and polished, and not look like some slapdash art project made with finger paints, for one. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, a DIY custom job can negatively affect the overall resale of your firearm, so bear these things in mind before attempting to go that route.
Anodize vs. Cerakote: An Environmental Checklist
With every breakthrough that comes to market in the firearms industry, environmental impact must be considered. In terms of anodize and Cerakote, we’ve put together a detailed environmental checklist that thoroughly discusses these scientific findings.
Effect on Aluminum Alloy Properties – The Cerakote ceramic finish has an unblemished reputation when it comes to bonding with aluminum. The ceramic coating doesn’t interfere with or cause the properties of these alloys to fatigue. Cerakote’s durable coating provides a strong advantage for rifle receivers and components that are subjected to the stresses of constant use.
Anodizing, on the other hand, isn’t quite as gentle to aluminum alloys. In fact, the process brings forth a porous oxide layer to the surface, and thus introduces a level of tensile residual stress to the metal’s properties. These new attributes will ultimately lead to the weakening of aluminum alloys over time, which is an issue that has been thoroughly researched and well-documented.
Ecological Consequences – The Cerakote application is remarkably eco-friendly – free from heavy metals – and stringently follows VOC regulations across all 50 states in the U.S. Moreover, Cerakote complies with REACH, ROHS, and Proposition 65 guidelines, which confirms its position as an environmentally conscious multi-surface finish.
Basically, Cerakote ceramic coating was thoroughly inspected by every applicable arm of environmental oversight in the United States and was deemed safe for commercial use.
However, the process of chromic acid anodizing has raised significant environmental concerns.
This specific anodizing method, in particular, results in the release of hexavalent chromium – a known carcinogen – into the environment. These hazardous impact findings have led to increased regulatory restrictions on the usage of anodize as a suitable finish for firearm components.
Taking into consideration its durability, consistent performance, expansive color range, and positive environmental impact, it’s no surprise that Cerakote outshines anodization, yet again.
The application of Cerakotes continues to be feasible worldwide, making it an accessible and safe coating option for AR lower receiver applications. With Cerakote, you’re not only choosing a high-performance finish for your rifle, but one that’s environmentally safe.
Final Thoughts
Both of the anodized and Cerakote finishes have their fair share of benefits and drawbacks – neither one is altogether perfect. But, if we were to choose, Cerakote’s the winner.
A Cerakote coating offers a more robust level of customization, design, and color palette on top of being an environmentally safe ceramic adhesive. Cerakote has the most advantages and the fewest blemishes upon its record.
So, if you’re looking to add a layer of protection for your firearm components, or in the market for new parts, we recommend purchasing parts with a Cerakote finish.
Which finish do you prefer for your AR? Tell us about your experiences with either anodize or Cerakote in the comments section.
Aaron Basiliere is a staunch 2A advocate, a firearms researcher, and one of the principal content creators here at CAT Outdoors. He has written in multiple professional capacities for the last 16 years. He has a BA in English Writing from the University of Wisconsin. When not writing for CAT Outdoors he enjoys drinking coffee, watching documentaries, and spending time with his family and friends.