DP, I'd like to know the difference between Satin Black and Stealth. I've found the black to be very durable.
Anybody Using A Kabuki?
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The satins are the ones that I've destroyed. I don't have any Stealths so I can't comment on those. I'd hope/expect they'd be more durable, given the elevated price-tag. The black satins scratch up EASILY though, at least in my experience.
I'll kindly step in for DP here, as a Stealth owner.
Before Provape started doing the Stealth process in-house, it was "factory authorized" by Provape, to be done by a company called VaporForce.
I spoke with the owner of VaporForce (Tim), about their process.
The Stealth is triple coated, right down to the screws that hold the window in place.
That was then.
Since "then" the P3 was released, and Provape brought the Stealth process in-house, and also made Tim (of VaporForce) their head of marketing(?)...
I'm not 100% sure they triple coat all the parts of a Stealth, but I hope they still hold to that.
This makes the Stealth, by the math, 3x more durable and wear resistant than the Satin Black, which is only coated once.
DP, I'm sorry your experience with the Satin Blacks has not been mine. My first ProVari was a Satin Black 2.5 Mini and it looks just as good as one I bought recently at one of the sales.
HB, I bought my Stealth P3 to use as a beater, but I couldn't do that. So it's been pretty much babied like the rest of my ProVaris, yet it does show a few marks and the bottom cap is worn. I recently went with the new High Performance End Caps in Stealth for my Satin Black P3s and within days they were showing wear and chipping. ProVape replaced them with Satin Sliver caps, which are fine. I still have one of the new Stealth caps on my steel P3 and it's holding up. Maybe I just got a couple of bad ones.
The only ProVari I've ever dropped on anything but carpet was one of my Ti P3s. I knocked it out of the cupholder on the door of my car and it went rolling across the parking lot at Walgreens. The only damage was the poly tank for the Kabuki was pretty scratched up, but I couldn't find a mark anywhere else.
HB, I bought my Stealth P3 to use as a beater, but I couldn't do that. So it's been pretty much babied like the rest of my ProVaris, yet it does show a few marks and the bottom cap is worn. I recently went with the new High Performance End Caps in Stealth for my Satin Black P3s and within days they were showing wear and chipping. ProVape replaced them with Satin Sliver caps, which are fine. I still have one of the new Stealth caps on my steel P3 and it's holding up. Maybe I just got a couple of bad ones.
The only ProVari I've ever dropped on anything but carpet was one of my Ti P3s. I knocked it out of the cupholder on the door of my car and it went rolling across the parking lot at Walgreens. The only damage was the poly tank for the Kabuki was pretty scratched up, but I couldn't find a mark anywhere else.
I had a Stealth ProVari 2.5 that I purchased from Vapor Force. I never had an issue with the finish although I did end up trading it off for something else - bad trade on my part. The person I traded with still has it and it is in perfect condition although he does not use it much. I did ask him a few months back if he wanted to trade it back - NO!
Since we are talking about ProVape, colors/finishes and Kabuki, I have some questions. I have been wanting a Metallic Bronze ProVari 2.5 for a while. I found one at Vapor Kings. Although not blem pricing it was on sale. I should be getting it in today’s mail. So my questions:
I have never been concerned about the finish chipping because what I have is the satin silver plus various Zen koted finishes. I suspect the “Metallic" Bronze color is painted on somehow. Will this finish chip? As far as using a Kabuki, if anyone has a Metallic Bronze ProVari, what color/finish Kabuki are you using with it? Pictures would be much appreciated if you have any — thanks.
I have never been concerned about the finish chipping because what I have is the satin silver plus various Zen koted finishes. I suspect the “Metallic" Bronze color is painted on somehow. Will this finish chip? As far as using a Kabuki, if anyone has a Metallic Bronze ProVari, what color/finish Kabuki are you using with it? Pictures would be much appreciated if you have any — thanks.
The Metallic Bronze is a Cerakote finish. It will not behave any differently.
I have had a kayfun custom coated to match, for a friend and his Bronze Provari.
Sadly, my FRIEND is the flaky problem, and has yet to provide simple pics of the setup...and my dumb brain forgot to take pics myself.
Thank you HBCorpse. LOL no worries on the picture — sounds like something I would do as well. My Metallic Bronze ProVari just got delivered and the color is much more beautiful than I anticipated...really nice.
Now to send it off to ProVape for a P3 flat top.
Now to send it off to ProVape for a P3 flat top.
Zenkote is the real deal. I worked 2.5 years in the Middle East deserts and the only Zenkote tube to show any ware was the aluminum graphite tube. 
Alright I'm itching for a ZNA Pro. With a Zenkote finish. Preferably Gunmetal. 
Absolutely itching.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Absolutely itching.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
HB, there is a HUGE difference between the two.
Cerakote is basically a powdered epoxy coat. There are many different types, by several different companies. It is easily available from Gunsmith supply houses such as Brownell's.
I cannot give you full details on Zen's process, as it is protected by the US Government.
It is much stronger and harder than DLC Which is the moniker for Diamond Like Carbon Coating which is a vapor deposition process, (PVD), in which the carbon bearing gas is introduced into a vacuum onto a product in a enclosed, charged atmosphere, and introduced by this super heated gas. It is incredibly hard, hence the DLC moniker. The substrate applied is Carbide. It has many properties similar to Diaman, hence the DLC.
Zens process is a very high tech highly controlled process that gives even harder surfaces than the DLC. As you know, Carbide can be used to cut even the hardest, most exotic metasl.
Consider the ZEN Cote a step above this!
Please go to youtube and search DLC process. The Zen process is top secret, so no vids on it. Here is a pic of a DLC coating applied to a Panerai 005 after first bead blasting the watch parts. ie, case, crown guard, and crown. It also has a custom carbon fiber dial, and gold hands and markers, filled with Swiss Luminova,
My Panerai 111 is being done this month. Can't wait to see her!!!
Knife
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Cerakote is basically a powdered epoxy coat. There are many different types, by several different companies. It is easily available from Gunsmith supply houses such as Brownell's.
I cannot give you full details on Zen's process, as it is protected by the US Government.
It is much stronger and harder than DLC Which is the moniker for Diamond Like Carbon Coating which is a vapor deposition process, (PVD), in which the carbon bearing gas is introduced into a vacuum onto a product in a enclosed, charged atmosphere, and introduced by this super heated gas. It is incredibly hard, hence the DLC moniker. The substrate applied is Carbide. It has many properties similar to Diaman, hence the DLC.
Zens process is a very high tech highly controlled process that gives even harder surfaces than the DLC. As you know, Carbide can be used to cut even the hardest, most exotic metasl.
Consider the ZEN Cote a step above this!
Please go to youtube and search DLC process. The Zen process is top secret, so no vids on it. Here is a pic of a DLC coating applied to a Panerai 005 after first bead blasting the watch parts. ie, case, crown guard, and crown. It also has a custom carbon fiber dial, and gold hands and markers, filled with Swiss Luminova,
My Panerai 111 is being done this month. Can't wait to see her!!!
Knife
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Other than Zen's process being protected, that's almost exactly everything I was thinking! Pardon my moment of feeling proud of myself.
It sounds like vapor deposition processes are better than Cerakote...
So I'm wondering if Provape would (or if they even can) put some Kabukis through the same vapor deposition process they used on the Graphite Grey metal pieces for the Radius.
Especially since there seem to be so many reports of their Stealth (Cerakote) finish chipping off the Stealth Kabukis.
When I've looked at pics of the chipped, flaking, or peeling Stealth Kabukis, I can tell you the surface underneath does not look sand/media blasted. That's a very important part of applying Cerakote, at least in my experience. I've worked very closely with a local applicator (vetted by his numerous contracts with local law enforcement and a naval base), and he has shown me how important it is for the surface of a metal to be sand/bead/media blasted, before the Cerakote is applied. Much like sanding before painting.
As I was saying earlier, I'm not sure if Provape has started using another vendor for their Cerakote application, if they absorbed their original vendor, or simply just started doing it on their own.
Whatever the situation, something isn't happening right, if these Kabukis are truly chipping and flaking as easily as those folks say they are.
In one case, a person had enough of the chipping, and just finished getting the rest of the Cerakote off the tank. In that particular case, the then "naked" Stealth tank looked just like the normal Kabuki...with a nice machined finish.
------
My overall point for bringing it up, or wondering aloud, is that I want a Kabuki that is color-matched to my new Radius.
Zen's grey is nice, but it's too shiny. The gunmetal is too purple/blue for me.
If Provape can't get a Kabuki coated in the Radius Graphite Grey for me, I'll have my Cerakote guy properly process my existing Kabuki in black. At least that will go better with the black/grey color-scheme Radius I bought!
HB here is a simple in home test of the DLC finish. Provari does not do the Zen Cote on their products. HOH does the work. I don't know if Zen would do it, or if it would have to go to Provape first.
If bead blasted first, (and HOH can do that as well). it would be the same color as the Panerai Pictured.
Trying to compare the hardness and toughness of Creocote to DLC is akin to comparing a Diamond to the paint on your car. Very much so! In fact, there is a vid at HOH that shows just how hard the Zen Kote is. It's unreal!!!
Knife
www.youtube.com/watch?v=02LAMOpEVq4
If bead blasted first, (and HOH can do that as well). it would be the same color as the Panerai Pictured.
Trying to compare the hardness and toughness of Creocote to DLC is akin to comparing a Diamond to the paint on your car. Very much so! In fact, there is a vid at HOH that shows just how hard the Zen Kote is. It's unreal!!!
Knife
www.youtube.com/watch?v=02LAMOpEVq4
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That is a nice lookin' watch!!!
Yeah if you did to Cerakote, what that man did to that clasp part, the Cerakote would come off.
Just for clarity, I'm aware that Zen handles all ZenKote processes.
But to the best of my knowledge, Provape is having the Stealth Kabuki coated themselves. Because the Stealth Kabuki is coated with Cerakote...
And, again, to be best of my knowledge, Zen does not do Cerakote. Because why would he? He's got a finish that is immeasurably stronger and more durable.
Yes, you are correct!
Knife
I hope you're not just sayin' that, big guy!
I'm all for learnin' and not above admitting when I'm wrong.
Speaking of Zenkote. Some months back I asked Zen if he would consider doing a make over on a V1 to commemorate my 5th Vaporversary. To my surprise he agreed with the understanding there would be no deadline. So I sent him this..
and received in return this..
Needless to say, I had not expected Zen to hand engrave my device much less supply a matching engraved Kabuki. So I wanted to give a shout out and a huge hat tip to Zen and HoH for making my 5th very special indeed. And the Zenkote color? I was told what it was called but I'm still not sure if he was messing with me or not lol.
Just a little side note. Turns out the device was not Zen or Cera Koted (or coated at all for that matter). It was treated with some form of surface metal finish. Zen explained it but that's not really my area of expertise. What I can say, it has the most extraordinary "feel and texture" I have felt on a mod to date. Its hard to explain but I guess I would describe it best as what he calls it, Ceramic Satin.
and received in return this..
Needless to say, I had not expected Zen to hand engrave my device much less supply a matching engraved Kabuki. So I wanted to give a shout out and a huge hat tip to Zen and HoH for making my 5th very special indeed. And the Zenkote color? I was told what it was called but I'm still not sure if he was messing with me or not lol.
Just a little side note. Turns out the device was not Zen or Cera Koted (or coated at all for that matter). It was treated with some form of surface metal finish. Zen explained it but that's not really my area of expertise. What I can say, it has the most extraordinary "feel and texture" I have felt on a mod to date. Its hard to explain but I guess I would describe it best as what he calls it, Ceramic Satin.
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