Paint, powder & polymer coatings · finish comparison
Cerakote vs Wet Painting
Cerakote and Wet Painting are both paint, powder & polymer coatings finishes; cerakote resists corrosion better (500–1,000 h vs 96–250 h salt spray).
Cerakote
Paint, powder & polymer coatings · $$$ · instant quote
Cerakote is a trademarked ceramic-polymer thin-film coating supplied in product-specific air-cure and oven-cure series.
Wet Painting
Paint, powder & polymer coatings · $$ · instant quote
Wet painting atomizes a liquid resin, pigment, and solvent or water system onto prepared metal or plastic.
When to choose which
Choose Cerakote
Cerakote is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Wet paint's.
- H-Series is commonly applied near 25 µm dry-film thickness
- Thin film preserves markings and sharper feature definition than powder coat
- Broad color and low-gloss options support cosmetic hardware
Choose Wet paint
Choose Wet paint when an open, non-proprietary paint system is required.
- Matches RAL, Pantone, or customer master colors
- Covers metals, molded plastics, and printed polymers with suitable primer
- Multi-layer systems can separate adhesion, color, and UV-protection functions
What the numbers say
- Cerakote resists corrosion better (500–1,000 h vs 96–250 h salt spray).
- Cerakote is the harder surface.
- Wet paint is the lower-cost option ($$).
- Cerakote is the thinner coating (20–30 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
- Cerakote tolerates more heat (200 °C continuous).
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Cerakote | Wet paint |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 83 Very good | 59 Good |
| Surface hardness / wear | 27 Low | 10 Minimal |
| Cosmetic quality | 88 Excellent | 90 Excellent |
| Lubricity | 30 Low | 15 Low |
| Cost | 55 $$$ | 30 $$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Cerakote | Wet paint |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 20–30 µm | 20–80 µm |
| Salt-spray test duration | 500–1,000 h | 96–250 h |
| Max service temperature | 200 °C | 120 °C |
| Electrical | Insulating | Insulating |
| Colours | black, gray, tan, green, blue, red, custom product color | RAL colors, Pantone colors, custom color, clear |
| Relative cost | Premium ($$$) | Standard ($$) |
| Added lead time | 4–8 working days | 3–7 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Cerakote | Wet paint |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | Yes |
| DMLS / SLM | Yes | With care |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | With care |
| Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Titanium | Yes | With care |
| Brass | With care | With care |
| Composite | — | With care |
| Copper Alloy | With care | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | With care | With care |
| Polymer | Limited | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
| FDM | No | Limited |
| MJF | Limited | Limited |
| SLA | No | Limited |
| SLS | Limited | Limited |
Cerakote vs Wet paint — frequently asked
What is the difference between Cerakote and Wet paint?
Cerakote and Wet Painting are both paint, powder & polymer coatings finishes; cerakote resists corrosion better (500–1,000 h vs 96–250 h salt spray). Cerakote is the harder surface. Wet paint is the lower-cost option ($$).
When should I use Cerakote instead of Wet paint?
Conversely: choose Wet paint when an open, non-proprietary paint system is required.
Is Cerakote or Wet paint cheaper?
Wet paint is the lower-cost finish ($$ against $$$ for Cerakote) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.
Which lasts longer in salt spray, Cerakote or Wet paint?
Cerakote. Cerakote is rated 500–1,000 h and Wet paint 96–250 h in neutral salt spray (ASTM B117 or the qualification hours of the governing specification). The figures are for the finish as specified on a clean, properly pre-treated substrate; sealing, thickness class and substrate alloy move them.