Need a cerakote / durcote / refinshing guy locally

[plank white]

Looking for a local guy who does Cerkoting / duracoting / refinishing etc. 

 

I have a couple guns I want done but the main one I want done is an XD45 and I don't know how or what the rules are for shipping etc. 

 

I am almost positive I can't just mail a handgun out and have it shipped back

 

I want the whole gun done not just the slide 

 

I am in the chattanooga area thanks for any help fellas

Edited September 12, 2014 by plank white

[dralarms]

If the person has an ffl you can ship it ups to them and they can send it back.

[Trekbike]

Since the slide and frame are the parts to be coated, could you send the stripped frame and slide and not have it qualify as a firearm?

[plank white]

If the person has an ffl you can ship it ups to them and they can send it back.

I didnt know that I thought it would have to be sent back to my local ffl and then I would have to pay them 40.00 etc. to get it back . If this is true then I may look into it if I can't find someone locally

Since the slide and frame are the parts to be coated, could you send the stripped frame and slide and not have it qualify as a firearm?

I have no idea man

[Lowpower]

I think the frame IS the gun. That means parts or no parts it has a serial number and is the firearm in the eyes of the 

batf so I'd be careful on mailing it to someone who is not an ffl.

[dralarms]

Low power is correct. The frame is the gun, it make no difference even if you strip it down completely. The exception is the sig model that has the serial number on the actual firing mechanism and the grip comes off of it.

[dralarms]

This tgo member, amendment2customcoating, is doing them and working on his ffl. Might want to get with him, might mean a trip to middle Tennessee, but he doesn't take 6 weeks to get it back.

[plank white]

This tgo member, amendment2customcoating, is doing them and working on his ffl. Might want to get with him, might mean a trip to middle Tennessee, but he doesn't take 6 weeks to get it back.

Wish he already had his FFL thats what I am looking for is fast service at a decent price, I saw is add under vendors but I am not anywhere near there and it just wouldnt be feesable to drive there and back once , much less twice. His work, prices, and services look awesome though, wish he was closer :(

[DaveTN]

Don’t know anything about him, but the OP in this thread does what you are looking for. Might PM him about the shipping issues.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/81629-mp9-fans/?hl=cerakote

[plank white]

Don’t know anything about him, but the OP in this thread does what you are looking for. Might PM him about the shipping issues.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/81629-mp9-fans/?hl=cerakote

thats the same guy we are talking about do like his work , wish he were closer , or had an ffl since I now know I can send "and receive" from an ffl

[Emperor_Po]

Old Hickory Gunsmithing in Soddy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[plank white]

Old Hickory Gunsmithing in Soddy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Nice! what was the ticket on that work , and turn around time, if you dont mind me asking ? 

Edited September 13, 2014 by plank white

[Emperor_Po]

[quote name="plank white" post="1189237" timestamp="1410569987"]Nice! what was the ticket on that work , and turn around time, if you dont mind me asking ? [/quote] This one was pretty pricey since he had to completely disassembly and reassembly. I'm thinking around $250

[plank white]

This one was pretty pricey since he had to completely disassembly and reassembly. I'm thinking around $250

Nice. and by no means am I saying it isn't worth it on something like a 1200.00 kimber but I just couldnt justify paying even close to that on an old 400.00 xd ... But it is nice work .

[Dolomite_supafly]

A firearm can be shipped to an FFL for "repair" and when completed it will be shipped directly to you without the need for going through an FFL. How you ship depends on what kind of firearm it is. A long gun can be shipped using the Postal Service. A pistol cannot be shipped using the Postal Service unless the shipper has an FFL. You can ship a handgun using FedEx or UPS but you are supposed to follow their TOS.

 

Before sending your firearms to ANYONE for work ask for a copy of their FFL and send it to the address on the FFL. If someone cannot, or does not, want to send you their FFL avoid them like the plague. There are a lot of garage gunsmiths out there doing coating work because it is easy to do. A lot of them do not know, or do not want, an FFL even though it is a legal requirement to do any type of work for a customer. A person can make on the spot corrections, with the gun owner present, without an FFL but if the firearm is to be left then an FFL is required.

 

So what can happen if you send your gun to someone without an FFL?

The ATF shows up and they are making their rounds to these refinishers without FFLs. Best case scenario is the refinisher gets a visit from a decent ATF agent the agent will help the refinisher fill out the appropriate forms to get an FFL and give him a warning. Worse case scenario is you get a an agent that seizes all firearms on the premises and the ATF holds them as evidence until the court case is done. And because the government works slowly this would likely take years. So you being the innocent party you would be without your firearm for years and even then I can guarantee you would have to jump through hoops to get the firearm back.

 

Again make sure you have an FFL in hand before sending your gun off.

[plank white]

A firearm can be shipped to an FFL for "repair" and when completed it will be shipped directly to you without the need for going through an FFL. How you ship depends on what kind of firearm it is. A long gun can be shipped using the Postal Service. A pistol cannot be shipped using the Postal Service unless the shipper has an FFL. You can ship a handgun using FedEx or UPS but you are supposed to follow their TOS.

 

Before sending your firearms to ANYONE for work ask for a copy of their FFL and send it to the address on the FFL. If someone cannot, or does not, want to send you their FFL avoid them like the plague. There are a lot of garage gunsmiths out there doing coating work because it is easy to do. A lot of them do not know, or do not want, an FFL even though it is a legal requirement to do any type of work for a customer. A person can make on the spot corrections, with the gun owner present, without an FFL but if the firearm is to be left then an FFL is required.

 

So what can happen if you send your gun to someone without an FFL?

The ATF shows up and they are making their rounds to these refinishers without FFLs. Best case scenario is the refinisher gets a visit from a decent ATF agent the agent will help the refinisher fill out the appropriate forms to get an FFL and give him a warning. Worse case scenario is you get a an agent that seizes all firearms on the premises and the ATF holds them as evidence until the court case is done. And because the government works slowly this would likely take years. So you being the innocent party you would be without your firearm for years and even then I can guarantee you would have to jump through hoops to get the firearm back.

 

Again make sure you have an FFL in hand before sending your gun off.

Nice info ,I don't plan on shipping anything anywhere unless atleast a few good tgo members recommend them anyway , but I do appreciate the knowledge thanks very much for taking the time to explain all that in such detail. This is why even when I am not posting or responding at all, I am still strolling thru TGO looking at great advice from great guys thanks man.

[Omega]

A firearm can be shipped to an FFL for "repair" and when completed it will be shipped directly to you without the need for going through an FFL. How you ship depends on what kind of firearm it is. A long gun can be shipped using the Postal Service. A pistol cannot be shipped using the Postal Service unless the shipper has an FFL. You can ship a handgun using FedEx or UPS but you are supposed to follow their TOS.
 
Before sending your firearms to ANYONE for work ask for a copy of their FFL and send it to the address on the FFL. If someone cannot, or does not, want to send you their FFL avoid them like the plague. There are a lot of garage gunsmiths out there doing coating work because it is easy to do. A lot of them do not know, or do not want, an FFL even though it is a legal requirement to do any type of work for a customer. A person can make on the spot corrections, with the gun owner present, without an FFL but if the firearm is to be left then an FFL is required.
 
So what can happen if you send your gun to someone without an FFL?
The ATF shows up and they are making their rounds to these refinishers without FFLs. Best case scenario is the refinisher gets a visit from a decent ATF agent the agent will help the refinisher fill out the appropriate forms to get an FFL and give him a warning. Worse case scenario is you get a an agent that seizes all firearms on the premises and the ATF holds them as evidence until the court case is done. And because the government works slowly this would likely take years. So you being the innocent party you would be without your firearm for years and even then I can guarantee you would have to jump through hoops to get the firearm back.
 
Again make sure you have an FFL in hand before sending your gun off.

So let me get this straight, if I have a buddy that knows how to cerakote, set trigger weight, lap scopes etc I could not leave my weapon with him? Or is this more for for-profit guys?

[Lowpower]

So whats the diff between parkerizing and ceracoting?

 

lp

[zybysco]

Check with Old Hickory. If you only want one color, then it is cheaper. At the very least, call him. He has his FFL and is a great guy.

[Dolomite_supafly]

So let me get this straight, if I have a buddy that knows how to cerakote, set trigger weight, lap scopes etc I could not leave my weapon with him? Or is this more for for-profit guys?

 

If he is doing it as a friend it will likely never make it onto the radar of the ATF. Those that are doing it for profit do a lot more than one or two friends. But generally if a person is accepting a firearm for repair and the gun is left overnight without the gun's owner present a FFL is required. If he is doing a lot of other people's guns too I would NEVER leave my gun there, even if we are friends, because you never know when the ATF will come asking why he doesn't have an FFL. No problem with him doing any work with you present.

 

There is some gray area because the USC mentions "for profit" so if the person doing the work isn't making a profit then it doesn't need a FFL. I personally do not believe that will keep you out of hot water.

 

BTW, the ATF is very specific about licensing requirements for those that refinish a firearm:

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/gunsmiths.html

 

Q: Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?

Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer.

[27 CFR 478.11]

[johnboy]

Volunteer Ordnance in Cleveland offers refinnishing, you might check with them.

[TGO David]

The requirement for an FFL also applies only to the serialized piece that actually is considered to be "the firearm" by the FFL.  For most handguns that's the frame.  Sending a Glock slide, M&P slide, or other component that does not bear the serial number, you are not violating any laws.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The requirement for an FFL also applies only to the serialized piece that actually is considered to be "the firearm" by the FFL.  For most handguns that's the frame.  Sending a Glock slide, M&P slide, or other component that does not bear the serial number, you are not violating any laws.

 

That's a fact.

 

I guess I should have broken it down a more to expound on the parts that are considered firearms and which are not. Sometimes I assume, yeah I know, everyone is aware of what parts of a firearm are the regulated parts and which are not.

[Omega]

If he is doing it as a friend it will likely never make it onto the radar of the ATF. Those that are doing it for profit do a lot more than one or two friends. But generally if a person is accepting a firearm for repair and the gun is left overnight without the gun's owner present a FFL is required. If he is doing a lot of other people's guns too I would NEVER leave my gun there, even if we are friends, because you never know when the ATF will come asking why he doesn't have an FFL. No problem with him doing any work with you present.
 
There is some gray area because the USC mentions "for profit" so if the person doing the work isn't making a profit then it doesn't need a FFL. I personally do not believe that will keep you out of hot water.
 
BTW, the ATF is very specific about licensing requirements for those that refinish a firearm:
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/gunsmiths.html

Ok, I guess the key words are profit and business. Good to know though, some things are just not common sense so a reminder is welcome. I guess my SOF gunsmith taking a look at my rifles is a gray area too.

[LawEnforcementSalesTN]

Scenario 1-> You swing by your buddy's house for a quick beer or twelve.  He works for Joe's Title & Loans down the road. He spent summers working for his dad tuning 45s and has a knack or skills that just blow you away.  You leave you gun with him to tune it for you and tell him you'll pick it back up when he's done.  He does this as a favor or you give him an old TV you're not using - I'd think you and your buddy are perfectly ok.

 

Scenario 2-> Same situation but your buddy does 5-10 guns per week.  His skills are putting a little money in the bank for him.  He's building a following by word of mouth.  Does this out of his garage like I do ;o) .. Ok still IF your buddy does this while you're over in the corning drinking up the beer in his fridge.  If you plan to leave you gun or any of the others plan to leave your gun, your buddy best be applying for a FFL.  This is the gray area I see during his transition phase.

 

Regardless of who you are, best NOT be shipping a gun or even a gun's serialized receiver to ANYONE that does not have a FFL.  Only exception are FFLs who are sending an item BACK to the original owner.  You can ship me a firearm, I can repair it and legally ship it back to you even though you do not have a FFL so long as it was you who sent it to me. 

 

As others have stated, know what part on your gun is considered the receiver/frame ... Most pistol slides, barrels, internal parts, etc...  CAN be shipped to anyone as they are not considered the registerable part.  Frame and Receivers whether whole or stripped are what to watch for.

 

My personal experience with the ATF has been such I'd want to say even in scenario 2 I don't think anyone would lose a gun. They 99% of the time want you to do the right thing and will help guide you. I'd think buddy would get instructions, maybe a warning to cease and assist until properly licensed.....BUT, there is always that one Prick among us who's wife just cheated on him with his brother or best friend and he hates the world right now... or he drives up and buddy has a Mercedes in the driveway he's paying for by doing this on the side under the table and winds up having to jump ATF agent's car off b/c he's driving a clunker and the battery is dead... point being we all have bad days and do things that are out of character for us the other 364 days of the year ;o)